MBTA Commuter Rail (Operations, Keolis, & Short Term)

Sounds like construction is moving quickly on the Foxboro station rebuild.
NBC10 Boston has learned that the temporary platform will be ready for Monday night's Patriots game against the Giants on Dec. 1 -- a first test for the project.
 
So, uh, a thought... the T runs cab cars for a reason, and as such there isn't exactly a plethora of wyes or balloons tracks across the system. How exactly do they plan on turning this around at the end of the lines? My understanding is that can't be considered a cab car, so is restricted to 15mph shoving moves. I'd normally say the locomotives can run around the train, but that defeats the point of an observation car, plus that car is labeled "do not couple to car."
 
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So, uh, a thought... the T runs cab cars for a reason, and as such there isn't exactly a plethora of wyes or balloons tracks across the system. How exactly do they plan on turning this around at the end of the lines? My understanding is that can't be considered a cab car, so is restricted to 15mph shoving moves. I'd normally say the locomotives can run around the train, but that defeats the point of an observation car, plus that car is labeled "do not couple to car."
T locomotives can't even run in reverse because there's no rear control stand on any of the revenue fleet (not even the GP40's, which used to have rear controls before they were converted from freight units), so detaching and running around the train via crossovers wouldn't even work. Usually when they've got a work consist with no cab car in it they run with double-ended locos. Which of course renders the observation car useless. Ironically MBB car 535 *used* to be a cab car (former cab 1515) before it got a mini-overhaul at Kinki-Sharyo that removed the operator's cab. The T then in-house gutted the whole vestibule end to install the obs window and seating.

Oh, well...I doubt it cost them more than a few tens of thousands of bucks to skunkworks the conversion, so it's not exactly a big loss if it has virtually no usage case and ends up getting sold to a museum operator after a few years of non-use. 🤷‍♂️
 
There's plenty of videos of the Readville switcher on Youtube having GP40MCs running in reverse.

E.g.

 
To circle back to the discussion about two pages ago, is steamrolling an option for the T? And if so, have we reached the point where it’s time to do it, or are there other, more “diplomatic” approaches still left to try?
I think the T needs some environmental permit from a Reading environmental board.
 
Artificial intelligence is helping the MBTA to predict problems before they happen. They're doing that by using oil samples taken from diesel Commuter Rail locomotives. And it's revealing some very big clues.
"Tells a lot about what’s going on inside," said Ryan Coholan, the chief operating officer at the MBTA. "It’s sort of a molecular black box." That could mean fewer trains breaking down and could also reduce delays.
[...]
The MBTA collects samples from each locomotive and brings it to a machine. It looks for abnormal levels of elements like copper, iron and zinc. "And now it’s looking for change in those values," said Coholan, while pointing to the computer. "That’s where the AI component really comes in."
He said the computer can find a problem instantly, something that could take two to three hours to do manually.
 
This doesn't sound like anything "AI". This sounds like an automated testing machine + the most basic data analysis there is. All they're doing is setting threshold values to trigger alerts.

This is all fine and good and I'm glad they're doing it, no criticism of that. It just has no more relation to "AI" than you using an Excel formula does.
 
The T has been doing this for at least a few years. I've heard Ryan Coholan discuss it before (I think on the Spilling the T podcast but can't say for sure.)

This is all fine and good and I'm glad they're doing it, no criticism of that. It just has no more relation to "AI" than you using an Excel formula does.
The vast majority of "AI" or "machine learning" applications the past ten years has been fairly basic regressions. While there are some exceptions (image/video processing, chat bots, control systems), skepticism is usually warranted for articles like these. It also doesn't help that most reporters are woefully uninformed in this area.
 
The T has been doing this for at least a few years. I've heard Ryan Coholan discuss it before (I think on the Spilling the T podcast but can't say for sure.)


The vast majority of "AI" or "machine learning" applications the past ten years has been fairly basic regressions. While there are some exceptions (image/video processing, chat bots, control systems), skepticism is usually warranted for articles like these. It also doesn't help that most reporters are woefully uninformed in this area.
The "AI" hook makes for a clickbait headline. That is all the media care about now.
 
Newtonville station reconstruction is anticipated to break ground in Spring 2026, according to the MBTA website.

Construction Timeline​

Early action work is expected to begin in spring 2026:
  • Railroad utility relocation
  • Retaining wall installation to enable station construction
 
Newtonville station reconstruction is anticipated to break ground in Spring 2026, according to the MBTA website.
So how are we feeling about committing to the 400ft platform length, and thus not being allowed to run trains longer than 4 cars to the station?

It feels like it can't possibly save that much money and is just going to unnecessarily limit the MBTA's options in the long run.
 
So how are we feeling about committing to the 400ft platform length, and thus not being allowed to run trains longer than 4 cars to the station?
The last time there was any information on the 400ft platforms was over 18 months ago. It may still be the plan, but it's hard to say for sure.

However, we do have this from the latest update:
  • Two fully accessible, high-level side platforms
  • Retaining wall installation to enable station construction
While, it's not much, it does mean that the island platform has been scrapped. This was a major concern because extending it would have been nearly impossible, while extending side platforms should be pretty straightforward. Also, the retaining wall will only reduce the ease of construction in the future. While I'm still not overly optimistic that the station will be 800 feet and built at a reasonable cost, the most recent capital projects seem to be taking baby steps in the right direction.
 
Rebuilding South Attleboro station is long overdue. It should be a top priority for the MBTA, since South Attleboro was one of the highest ridership stops before it closed.
 
Rebuilding South Attleboro station is long overdue. It should be a top priority for the MBTA, since South Attleboro was one of the highest ridership stops before it closed.
It will be interesting to see how a fully functional S Attleboro station performs with the Pawtucket Station just two miles down the tracks. Pawtucket is presently seeing in excess of 1k passenger boardings per weekday. Many of these are former S Attleboro users. Would think many that drive to the train would return as it is conveniently located just off the Rte 95 exit ramps. Pawtucket would however be poised to replace any lost passengers with the ongoing new residential development that surrounds the station - some 500 new units have either just opened or are in construction with approx 200 others in the pipeline.


Pawtucket-Central Falls Transit Center
MBTA Commuter Rail Station and RIPTA Regional Bus Hub
Opened 01/23/2023
New Housing Units close to Station Summary



PROJECTADDRESSUNITSSTATUSCONSTRUCTION
327 Pine327 Pine Street182Opened Summer-2025Conv & New
Dexter Street Commons71 Dexter Street150Under ConstructionNew
125 Goff125 Goff Ave140Under ConstructionNew
210 Conant210 Conant Street15Under Conversion ConstructionConv
RISE258 Pine Street179Design StageNew
Shortline Lofts180 Weeden Street29Under ConstructionConv & New
TOTAL695
 
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Cool new visualization of CR ridership by u/whegmaster on reddit:
1764708212430.png
 
However, the email chain, sent on the same day the ConCom was forwarded the formal request to yank the permitting application “without prejudice”, includes assurances from MBTA reps that they are now focusing on alternate locations. When applied to applications for variances or special permits, the term “without prejudice” is technically a legal distinction that enables applicants to refile petitions at any time. By contrast, any such proposals withdrawn “with prejudice” are treated akin to a denial and cannot be reconsidered for a two-year waiting period.
“After many internal conversations and in light of feedback from the community, we have come to the decision to not pursue the turnback track at the location we’ve discussed over the last several months.
We are actively discussing and vetting alternative locations for the turn, but a location has not been determined at this time,” MBTA director of government affairs Cameron Doherty wrote in an email to town officials, local residents, and members of the private Reading Turnback Committee advocacy group.
[...]
Though ecstatic the proposal has been scrapped, Prato is urging Doherty and other MBTA officials to also immediately rule out the possibility of pushing the turnback track location to the Wilmington line.
“We strongly urge the MBTA to include Reading officials and some residents in this selection process. If fear if you don’t, you are likely to get similar pushback,” said the Reading Turnback Committee member. “FYI - Our third refined alternative of pushing the turnback track north to the border of Reading and Wilmington will only worsen the community’s concerns regarding safety and gridlock due to increased gate closures.”
 

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