MBTA Winter 2015: Failure and Recovery

Re: MBTA & Regular Driving May Be Shut Down During Coming Snowstorm!

chmeeee said:
Didn't even notice at first that the Harvard site includes the Green Line trains. Hopefully they'll update the app I'm using soon to include those as well.
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If you are an iOS user, the new "Greenline" app has launched. Sadly there is no Android version for it yet.

Jahvon09 said:
It is probably not the trains themselves.

Just read here that during those gale-force bitterly cold winds, that part of the OH catenary wire got knocked out in some areas.

So it is pretty much similar to the problems with the 3rd rail on the Red & Orange Lines. :shock:
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See post #314. 16+ Blue Line trains are currently out of service.
 
Re: MBTA & Regular Driving May Be Shut Down During Coming Snowstorm!

Oh look, it's snowing. Again.

I wonder if the BL fleet is suffering because the workers usually at orient heights are reassigned to try to get the OL and RL running?



Does anyone think that the buy america provision may be waived to get new trains sooner? I'm sure it would be a political shitshow, but I think "we can get these trains two years sooner if they are built over seas" would be a really compelling argument. That's really the only possible way I could see us getting a new fleet any sooner.
 
Re: MBTA & Regular Driving May Be Shut Down During Coming Snowstorm!

Jahvon09 said:
In or to MY recollection, it would mean that RT is not running at full capacity. Sort of similar to holiday / Sunday service.
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West said:
I wouldn't be surprised if there's a defined answer, but practically speaking, on a day like today, I bet it just means "we're doing the best we can but we don't want to pretend everything's going to be cool, because it won't be."
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This is more or less what I thought thanks! I have to take it get to the Cleveland Circle (vs. Bus from Kenmore) area via the Reservoir stop this afternoon and I'm not a frequent D line commuter so I wasn't sure. I guess I'll give myself a nice little cushion.
 
Re: MBTA & Regular Driving May Be Shut Down During Coming Snowstorm!

datadyne007 said:
See post #314. 16+ Blue Line trains are currently out of service.
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Note that the out of service car numbers from the WCVB graphic was a snapshot of the number of cars out of service at the low point. Most of the out of service cars are in shop for relatively minor issues, but it is a large number of cars all having different failures in a short period of time that is causing a backlog for the shops. Even A.C. motor cars like the Blue Line are not immune from snow getting in the motors and causing problems. The extreme cold can also cause brake issues.

The larger issue on the Blue Line has been the signals. They are not that old (1990s) but they are old technology (mechanical trip arms). With the large amount of snow and cold, the heaters have not been able to keep up. The cars have to operate in a by-pass mode because the trip arms may be stuck up because of snow/ice build up. When the brakes are in by-pass mode, the line has be operated as a "manual block", meaning the dispatcher gives verbal permission for trains to occupy blocks. I believe the blocks on the surface segment are: Airport-Orient Heights; Orient Heights-Beachmont; and Beachmont-Wonderland.
 
Re: MBTA & Regular Driving May Be Shut Down During Coming Snowstorm!

Any word on when Orange Line service is going to be restored beyond Wellington? How close are the crews to digging out the the tracks?
 
Re: MBTA & Regular Driving May Be Shut Down During Coming Snowstorm!

Lrfox said:
This is more or less what I thought thanks! I have to take it get to the Cleveland Circle (vs. Bus from Kenmore) area via the Reservoir stop this afternoon and I'm not a frequent D line commuter so I wasn't sure. I guess I'll give myself a nice little cushion.
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Things were being screwed up on the D Line even long before winter even came. I rode that line from time to time, and there was always a trolley breaking down and becoming disabled.

It has always been so problematic! :eek:
 
Re: MBTA & Regular Driving May Be Shut Down During Coming Snowstorm!

datadyne007 said:
If you are an iOS user, the new "Greenline" app has launched. Sadly there is no Android version for it yet.


See post #314. 16+ Blue Line trains are currently out of service.
Click to expand...



Why am I not surprised? But probably outside the tunnel?

That is just why I'm not going in town unless I absolutely positively have to. But they said that service in the tunnel seems ok. On ALL lines.

Bus replacement service is outside the tunnel everywhere, which also is STILL A HEADACHE that I want nothing to do with! :eek:
 
Re: MBTA & Regular Driving May Be Shut Down During Coming Snowstorm!

Forgot to tell y'all;

On the news at noon, it was reported that a commuter rail train in Weymouth has ran into a snow pile, crippling or stopping service there, meaning that the train has come to a screeching halt.

Said that the train should be back up and running by this afternoon sometime. Who was the stupo that messed THAT one up, I wonder?!
 
Re: MBTA & Regular Driving May Be Shut Down During Coming Snowstorm!

There is now a mountain of snow being assembled right on top of the "B" line tracks in front of Marsh plaza.

B-EF5JmCYAA0zt5.jpg


I don't think we're getting service back anytime soon.
 
Re: MBTA & Regular Driving May Be Shut Down During Coming Snowstorm!

Looks like that spot near BU.

The way that things are going right now with PT, I'm not the least bit surprised on what else might happen next. :rolleyes:
 
Re: MBTA & Regular Driving May Be Shut Down During Coming Snowstorm!

datadyne007 said:
JFK <> Ashmont service has resumed!
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Awesome! Ashmont Branch up-and-running after only ~65 hours. Let's see if they can break the one week mark between closures of that branch for the first time in a long time.
 
Re: MBTA & Regular Driving May Be Shut Down During Coming Snowstorm!

Is that the one that runs from Ashmont Station to Mattapan Square?

Forgot about THAT one! :eek:
 
Re: MBTA & Regular Driving May Be Shut Down During Coming Snowstorm!

Jahvon09 said:
Is that the one that runs from Ashmont Station to Mattapan Square?

Forgot about THAT one! :eek:
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No. The Mattapan trolley is down for the count. This is regular red line service to Ashmont.
 
Re: MBTA & Regular Driving May Be Shut Down During Coming Snowstorm!

So the Mattapan trolleys are not in service. Not surprised, the way that things have been going. More than likely, that line has the same problem as the other lines do!
 
Re: MBTA & Regular Driving May Be Shut Down During Coming Snowstorm!

Mattapan Line has been shut down since the first initial blizzard. In practice, it's shut down when there is 4 or more unches of snow as the PCCs do terrible in the snow. Wouldn't be surprised if it doesn't reopen until mud April...
 
Re: MBTA & Regular Driving May Be Shut Down During Coming Snowstorm!

Jahvon09 said:
Forgot to tell y'all;

On the news at noon, it was reported that a commuter rail train in Weymouth has ran into a snow pile, crippling or stopping service there, meaning that the train has come to a screeching halt.

Said that the train should be back up and running by this afternoon sometime. Who was the stupo that messed THAT one up, I wonder?!
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Jahv -- SPECIAL for those blaming all of the problems on inadequate "Investments"

Why was the train allowed to plow into a snow bank?

  • A snow not shown on Google Maps at HQ when the train was dispatched
  • B snow not shown on Garmin on GPS the Engineer was looking at
  • C didn't realize that snow could fall on the Greenbush Line when it was built and the operating plan was developed
  • D it wasn't in the contract when we [Keolis] signed up to run the Greenbush Line
  • E snow not shown on work order on what should be done by the operating personnel to resume operations after line was closed for Sunday
  • F ???? Huh???
  • G -- added by popular demand -- the NYT [formerly the parent of the Globe] wrote a story about the "End of Snow" -- so it couldn't be there on the route

and the answer is F Huh???? ;)

from the WHDH web site
http://www.whdh.com/story/28127145/mbta-commuters-face-cancellations-on-greenbush-line

MBTA commuters face cancellations on Greenbush line

Posted: Feb 17, 2015 9:58 AM
Updated: Feb 17, 2015 6:05 PM
Reported by Kris Anderson
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-- a disgruntled commuter wrote:

"Some passengers received the alert too late and arrived at the station with no train to take." Um....no, not quite. The MBTA sent an alert stating that the first inbound Greenbush train was delayed. They then sent out another alert, stating that the 2nd inbound Greenbush train (the 6:37am) was delayed 10-20 minutes due to snow.

We know now that there was a train stuck in snow at the Weymouth Landing station FROM THE NIGHT BEFORE!!! This tells me that either:
1) The MBTA knowingly and willfully lied, sending alerts that contained erroneous information (wouldn't be the first time) or,

2) The MBTA literally had no idea that they had a dead train on the tracks from the night before. Why else would they send out alerts that the first two trips of the day were delayed? If this is the case, then this is scary, especially when you consider the safety implications. Who's minding the store, er....trains?!?!!
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Re: MBTA & Regular Driving May Be Shut Down During Coming Snowstorm!

On a positive note, my D branch commute home was decent. Not great but decent. I boarded at Park about 4:45 and it kept a decent pace out to my stop at N Highlands. No help to the B, C, or E riders, not to mention the other lines or Keolis run equipment, but at least some glimmer of hope that progress is being made to dig out from under. The platform was very clean at Newton Highlands, though still badly constrained from so many previous snows.
 
Re: Dr. Beverly Scott resigns

Does anybody have any thoughts on Baker's attempt to get full service before the 30 day time frame?

"Gov. Charlie Baker said he is working with MBTA officials to do everything they can to get the T back to normal service.

“Beverly Scott said 30 days, we're viewing that as sort of an outer limit. Our goal is to work collaboratively with them to get different parts of the system back online as soon as possible,” Baker said."

Also, it is strange that the article said "Baker said he was unaware of Scott's 30-day plan when she announced it Monday."

http://www.whdh.com/story/28130775/gov-baker-says-focus-is-on-getting-mbta-up-and-running
 
Re: Dr. Beverly Scott resigns

There have been some embarrassing communication fails between the MBTA and the Governor's office since the snow began.
 
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