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

[bigeman312]

Is there anywhere to see a list of the changes or do I need to open each line’s schedule and new schedule and do a manual side-by-side comparison?

 

[The EGE]

They reduced the schedule by 4 round trips, that does seem like a big step in the wrong direction for that line.

My understanding is that this is because of the variety of construction projects underway or about to start (Worcester Union Station / CP-44, Wellesley Square mini-highs, Natick Center [including track relocation], CP-16, I-495/90 interchange, and the Pike projects in Boston). I agree that the midday reductions are not good, but hopefully they are temporary.

 

[Riverside]

Is there anywhere to see a list of the changes or do I need to open each line’s schedule and new schedule and do a manual side-by-side comparison?

That’s why I usually do, unfortunately.

 

[WestMedford]

Mini-high platform installation at West Medford station Sunday. I’ll try to get better photos later this week.

 

[HenryAlan]

My understanding is that this is because of the variety of construction projects underway or about to start (Worcester Union Station / CP-44, Wellesley Square mini-highs, Natick Center [including track relocation], CP-16, I-495/90 interchange, and the Pike projects in Boston). I agree that the midday reductions are not good, but hopefully they are temporary.

Thanks, I was hoping it was something like that. I wonder what type of adjustments will be made when the Pike project gets under way.

 

[CheapLeak]

Just a question for future stations/equipment. If we installed automatic “platform extenders” on coaches, would it allow full high level platforms on lines that can’t have them due to freight clearances?

 

[F-Line to Dudley]

Just a question for future stations/equipment. If we installed automatic “platform extenders” on coaches, would it allow full high level platforms on lines that can’t have them due to freight clearances?

Yes. That's exactly how Brightline does full-highs on a freight clearance route. The platform edges lack a wood bumper edge and the Siemens coaches have platform extenders.

The problem is that you'd have to have an almost-universal fleet of platform-extender rolling stock to really make it work, as cars get scrambled all around the system. It would be a pain-in-the-ass cycling-wise to have strictly Lowell/HaverhillFitchburg/Worcester/Franklin-captive cars while various generations of other rolling stock (EMU or push-pull) are sprayed everywhere else. Enough of a pain-in-the-ass that the one-and-done expense of doing gauntlet tracks where applicable can lick most of the issue.

 

[Koopzilla24]

The problem is that you'd have to have an almost-universal fleet of platform-extender rolling stock to really make it work, as cars get scrambled all around the system. It would be a pain-in-the-ass cycling-wise to have strictly Lowell/HaverhillFitchburg/Worcester/Franklin-captive cars while various generations of other rolling stock (EMU or push-pull) are sprayed everywhere else. Enough of a pain-in-the-ass that the one-and-done expense of doing gauntlet tracks where applicable can lick most of the issue.

I thought the whole issue with doing more frequent but shorter consists on the weekends that was discussed in the forums before was that the MBTA particularly likes to keep the same consists assembled and assigned to the same lines most of the time to avoid a lot of yard action? I've been riding the same 4-ish consists every day for months now on Franklin Line trains 705 and 726. The T already sort of operates like this with 67 power door coaches exclusively assigned to the Old Colonies and Pullman BTC-1C and BTC-3 coaches exclusively on the North Side, not that they're incompatible with the rest of the system but they have exclusive assignments and aren't exactly floating around.

 

[Koopzilla24]

Franklin Line Double Track project page has received an update displaying some updated timeline elements.

Over a year to finish 1.5mi of track that has largely already been sitting out on ties but with no ballast for years now says to me that they're committing the absolute minimum of resources to this.

 

[bakgwailo]

Yeah, that doesn't sound like Phase 3 is going to be much of a priority.

 

[themissinglink]

Yeah, that doesn't sound like Phase 3 is going to be much of a priority.

Which is too bad, because Phase 3 is easily the most important one.

 

[Stlin]

Today the MBTA board voted to exercise the remaining 39 options available on the 2019 Hyundai-Rotem contract after the May vote authorized 41, courtesy of last months transfer of funding from the state. That will replace all remaining single level coaches on the CR system. Notably, my wish has been answered in the form of a new interior color scheme - albeit with the old seat style. ( edited with higher quality screengrabs)

Additionally, the T has issued a RFP for the overhaul of the HSP46s - they'll be going out for overhaul in the next couple of years to address some of the lingering teething / unicorn issues.

 

[F-Line to Dudley]

Additionally, the T has issued a RFP for the overhaul of the HSP46s - they'll be going out for overhaul in the next couple of years to address some of the lingering teething / unicorn issues.
View attachment 58040

They're still doing warranty mods and repairs from the original order that completed exactly 10 years ago, with 3 units currently out-of-service at Boston Engine Terminal for such repairs per NETransit (and the numbers have been steady for years...2-4 units out for warranty repair at any given time). The rebuild program is stupidly soon, as they're supposed to be rated for 25 service years before overhaul. But in reality the rebuild program has already been ongoing since Day 1. At least the HSP's don't break in-service anomalously much, so their problems aren't reflected in the MTBF stats. But man o man was that procurement a stinker. It drove MPI straight out of the passenger market after a decade-plus of basically leading that segment in sales (with their previous MPXpress lineup that the HSP platform was supposed to replace, because the MPX's couldn't easily be evolved for new emissions standards). At least the guts are mostly common-source parts (a mix of GE/Wabtec and MPI components from freight-land makes with large market shares) so parts availability won't ever be a problem, but the systems integration was nightmare-fuel overcustomized by MPI with overly fussy unicorn specs by the T on the fit and finish making things even worse. No other potential buyer has even held their noses at entertaining a buy of them, and MPI's last-gasp attempt at selling a dual-moded version of them to Amtrak and New York State got blown out of the water in the RFP by the market-dominant and superior Siemens Charger platform.

Exhibit A for overcustomization killing a procurement.

 

[GP40MC]

Speaking of single-level coaches: Three MBB's have gone to the Saratoga & North Creek RR out in upstate NY. Control Car 1528 with the Vet's wrap plus the 521 and one unknown (for now).
Word is two more Bombardier control cars went to scrap in Everett this week: 1640, 1651
Appearing on Ozark Mountain Railcar Thursday were ten 200 series coaches stored at Seaview down in Davisville, R.I. 206,207,209,216,228, 233,239,244,246 & 258.