This recent Snowstorm Not a Pleasurable One for the MBTA!!

[Jahvon09]

The MBTA has had multiple problems with their transportation equipment in the last few days.

They are admittedly blaming the commuter problems on old equipment, noting that all of the rapid transit lines had suffer with problems except the Blue Line. The Blue Line has the most modern and up-to-date rail cars & other equipment.

Commuters have complained immensely. Even the Commuter Rail has suffered from problems with equipment! This is a definite sign that their old equipment is in dire need of being replaced with new ultra-modern and updated rail cars.

 

[F-Line to Dudley]

It's not the cars for Blue's problems. Blue is always susceptible to winter weather because of the ice buildup coming off the ocean spray. It cakes up on the wires, which chews up the padding on the cars' pantographs. It gunks up the switches. And it causes wheel-slip problems on slick rail. It's been like this since the day the surface part of the line opened in 1954. And this storm blew hard off the water, so the ice buildup was more severe than usual.

The only thing that they can do to improve this is replace the signal system, which still uses NYC Subway-style mechanical trip arms. Moving parts don't fare well with ice buildup, so a solid-state ATO or CBTC setup that eliminates those moving parts would help. Somewhat. It's still going to be the iciest of any of the 4 lines with extra winter pitfalls the others don't have to deal with as much.


Commuter rail...oh, hell yes, they're suffering from old equipment. But this is the last year that's going to be an issue with the new locomotives in testing and surplus old equipment starting to get pulled from service and put on standby by the time we get to Fall.

 

[datadyne007]

MBTA gripes can be directed here: http://www.archboston.org/community/showthread.php?t=971&page=146

 

[whighlander]

It's not the cars for Blue's problems. Blue is always susceptible to winter weather because of the ice buildup coming off the ocean spray. It cakes up on the wires, which chews up the padding on the cars' pantographs. It gunks up the switches. And it causes wheel-slip problems on slick rail. It's been like this since the day the surface part of the line opened in 1954. And this storm blew hard off the water, so the ice buildup was more severe than usual.

The only thing that they can do to improve this is replace the signal system, which still uses NYC Subway-style mechanical trip arms. Moving parts don't fare well with ice buildup, so a solid-state ATO or CBTC setup that eliminates those moving parts would help. Somewhat. It's still going to be the iciest of any of the 4 lines with extra winter pitfalls the others don't have to deal with as much.


Commuter rail...oh, hell yes, they're suffering from old equipment. But this is the last year that's going to be an issue with the new locomotives in testing and surplus old equipment starting to get pulled from service and put on standby by the time we get to Fall.

F-Line -- I hope that they can find a few old T maintenance people who remember the last bout of cold New England winters -- 60's - 70's when the kind of temperatures we are experienceing and lots of small snow storms were common

last year Joe Batardi
http://boston.cbslocal.com/2013/11/30/the-winter-outlook/ compared 2012-2013 to 1968-1969 and this year his model is 1967-1968

 

[Jahvon09]

It's not the cars for Blue's problems. Blue is always susceptible to winter weather because of the ice buildup coming off the ocean spray. It cakes up on the wires, which chews up the padding on the cars' pantographs. It gunks up the switches. And it causes wheel-slip problems on slick rail. It's been like this since the day the surface part of the line opened in 1954. And this storm blew hard off the water, so the ice buildup was more severe than usual.

The only thing that they can do to improve this is replace the signal system, which still uses NYC Subway-style mechanical trip arms. Moving parts don't fare well with ice buildup, so a solid-state ATO or CBTC setup that eliminates those moving parts would help. Somewhat. It's still going to be the iciest of any of the 4 lines with extra winter pitfalls the others don't have to deal with as much.


Commuter rail...oh, hell yes, they're suffering from old equipment. But this is the last year that's going to be an issue with the new locomotives in testing and surplus old equipment starting to get pulled from service and put on standby by the time we get to Fall.

Please note that I said that all the transit agency's RT lines had to suffer, WITH EXVCEPTION OF the Blue Line, to which I was referring to its rail cars.

But yeah, the Red & Oranges Lines both have automatic train control. The northern part of the Orange Line is having it installed.

The Green Line still uses the old system, mainly because 3 of those lines use street traffic lights to slow down, stop & go - E, C & B. It's the D Line that needs to be upgraded to the newer signaling system. In the tunnel and on the surface.

Had they done this years ago with the D Line, then they would not have had those 3 catastrophic crashes.

As for the commuter rail, the T has begun receiving new locomotives that would eventually replace the old ones.

And yeah, ice buildup is a major factor with problems on the RT lines. Especially on the third rail. It can stop a train from operating, just like it can stop a plane from flying.

What puzzles me is that they buy and install new trains into service, that's a good thing, but they are still using old outdated obsolete antiquated dinosaur signaling systems that have been proven by the NTSB to be so unreliable and dangerous!!

 

[Digital_Islandboy]

F-Line -- I hope that they can find a few old T maintenance people who remember the last bout of cold New England winters -- 60's - 70's when the kind of temperatures we are experienceing and lots of small snow storms were common

last year Joe Batardi
http://boston.cbslocal.com/2013/11/30/the-winter-outlook/ compared 2012-2013 to 1968-1969 and this year his model is 1967-1968

A lot of the really knowledgable MBTA people left in 2007-2008 when the cut back on wages began. Those that had the time vested bolted for the doors and sold their services back to the MBTA as expensive consultants. Penny wise, pound foolish on the state's part. The new people will have to learn now by trial and error. Be patient, the MBTA isn't on the upswing yet.

 

[winstonoboogie]

Please note that I said that all the transit agency's RT lines had to suffer, WITH EXVCEPTION OF the Blue Line, to which I was referring to its rail cars.

The Blue Line has fewer problems because they use overhead catenary and the pantographs on the cars can be equipped with ice cutters that are very effective.

The Braintree line of the Red Line has traditionally had more problems in the winter than the other rapid transit lines. Although it is equipped with third-rail heaters, they are not always effective. Stretches of third rail that are covered with ice can cause power fluctuations which in turn can cause the car's air-compressors to have problems. That can then contribute to brake problems and disabled trains.

 

[Jahvon09]

The Orange Line once had that problem as well, especially on the old El that ran along Washington Street.

In the winter when the trains came by you could see showers of sparks like the Fourth of July lighting up the street below.