The Commuter's Rant, CR Style.

And it comes to that again, the MBTA Commuter Rail is having another one of its periodic meltdowns, which are both extravagantly irritating, and usually completely avoidable. While no rail system is impervious to delays, a well run line can prevent most of them, and cope with the rest. Note, I said 'well run line'. That does not include the (T) Commuter Rail, which is paid for by an incompetent public agency, and run by a profit-seeking company. In the Purple Line's operating structure, the MBTA pays for everything, and owns all of the locomotives, rolling stock, and stations, and basically everything else. With that and a staff of railroad employees, they believe it is best to contract out the operation to another company, who actually runs the trains, and therefore the CR system. Fun. This common strategy can create some problems of different natures, or all of them at times for the (T). One primary problem is that whenever there are delays, such as the massive issues this evening on the Fitchburg, Newburyport, and Haverhill Lines, the MBTA will immediately and loudly point the finger of angry blame at the MBCR, the company that has run the Commuter Rail since 2003. MBCR will inevitably respond by saying that the delays and problems stem from the dismal quality of the CR equipment, saying that the awful locomotive situation is the MBTA's fault for not paying for new equipment, especially after last year's fiasco in which the (T) tried to get new engines, and wound up facing a lawsuit if they took either bid for the contract. The new RFP due date again got pushed back to next Friday, though that is highly unlikely to happen. So, no new engines in the visible future. Complicating this is the noticeable evidence that the MBCR is not hugely concerned with the smooth operation of the system. This is quite understandable, as they are a for-profit company which wants the money, and is performing well within the MBTA's rather less than ideal (read: appalling) performance standards. I realize this post is kinda ending abruptly, but I have to organize some more rants on the Commuter Rail, which will come this weekend.

And so it goes, another day delayed forever 'neath the streets of boston.

The Brattle Rant, Part Two

So it's been a bit, but here is the more helpful end of the rant about the Brattle Loop. As is somewhat obvious, said loop is always parked full of trains during the day, and they are then removed at rush hour to be put into service to handle the ridership levels. However, the insanity of MBTA Logic renders the (T) incapable of realizing that it would be just as easy to put the trains in service at Government Center as anywhere else, but they would gain a distinct advantage if they were to do so. In putting the Loop in service, they would instantly gain the benefit of having more trains running to North Station to serve people on the GC-NS route, which is currently served by the two lines with the fewest trains. Additionally, using the Brattle would take some of the pressure off of GC, which already has issues when NoSta and Lechmere trains are forced to wait for the GC trains to unload before they can move up. With the Park Crossover that would mitigate this problem not being built yet, using the Brattle Loop would allow for the (T) to help the crowding situation by taking a NoSta or Leech out of service at GC, and directing outbound passengers to the Brattle platform. This would have the fringe benefit of reducing the crowding factor on some trains, especially the Leeches, which often pick up everyone, and some people would skip them in favor of a GC train and switching to the Loop. I would favor using the loop for service all day, as a shuttle could easily be run with maybe six to eight cars, turning at Lechmere or North Station and the Brattle Loop, and significantly improving service on the Haymarket end of the Central Subway with a solution that requires no construction, and only a little more effort and a few trains. At the very least, the MBTA should get into the habit of putting Loop cars into service in the afternoon, AT GC, so that they do not run empty while there are people waiting across the platform. The most irritating thing is that the Loop is used, if sporadically, for service, but no one realizes that it would be a great help every single day, not just FirstNight or when something goes wrong. The Brattle Loop represents a logical solution for the Green Line, it is already there, won't take or cost much to operate, and would provide much more in benefits than it would cost to the passengers of the agency that claims that it is 'Driven by Customer Service'. Oh, there I go again, using that silly 'logic' again, this is the MBTA, they couldn't comprehend a logical idea. Hopefully, someone besides me will realize that maybe using the Brattle Loop would be a really good thing. That'll be the day, until then, GRRR!

And so it goes, another day parked forever on the Brattle Loop 'neath the streets of boston.

Not Good

Only one word may possibly describe the politics of this state at this time, well maybe two: ABSURDLY CONVOLUTED!!!!!!!!! If people would be intelligent enough to look at various candidates, and their positions on actual and important issues, relative to the general and historical mindset of the region, then we might get some good politicians, maybe ones that would bother to help the Commonwealth, and its horrendously debt-ridden MBTA. It is really quite annoying to have people be able to choose part of the future of the state, based on whatever propaganda the media decides to issue. Anyway, I was hoping to not have to rant today, but obviously that didn't quite work out. I like ranting though, and I should be back tomorrow with some type of rant aimed back on track at the multitude of failings of the (T), until then, GRRRRRRRR.

And so it goes, another three years riding forever 'neath the streets of boston.

The Daily Report

Sorry for the lack of updates, but i've been both busy and annoyed lately. Annoyed on account of the fact that a number of idiots in the state are trying to ruin its political prospects by electing a REPUBLICAN SENATOR. FROM MASSACHUSETTS. Like he would be much help when the MBTA inevitably needs to get a federal bailout. Sorry. Rant over. Ok, so this morning, the (T) site said 20-25 minute delays on the Orange Line, so I took alternate transportation. In the afternoon, I went to Copley as always, and it was moderately peopled, a little more than normal, but not much. As I was walking down the platform, a train came in and decided to go out of service, AT COPLEY. I have a sneaking suspicion that it came off the Huntington branch, as it immediately disgorged a very large crowd of rather confused passengers, adding considerably to the platform crowd. Then after that train left, a Lechmere train came in. Packed to the gills, and completely impossible to board, so i skipped it out of sane reasoning and a desire to live till at least Saturday. Then three Government Center trains came in in a row. Fun times. Then and only then did a North Station train come in, and it was a slow journey behind the GC trains. But, because I was early and it was late, I made a good connection to the Orange Line, to begin stage two of the afternoon annoyance phase. First, on approach to Community College there was a NEMC-like stop characteristic of speeding, or when the train loses the ATO code. After that, the train then decided to overshoot Sullivan and then back up. And once again dumped the breaks while entering Wellington, before almost doing it again near Oak Grove. Really good way to run a subway, MBTA! So, over this long weekend and next week I will probably post a description of some MBTA terms, and maybe a rant or two, and hopefully not one on wednesday. Until then, be seeing you, and don't vote for Scott Brown!

And so it goes, another week riding forever 'neath the streets of boston.

The Daily Report

And here it goes again, another FRIGID week in Boston. Today started, unsurprisingly, with an Orange Line train that was both cold and late, though it was more cold than it was late, which sort of made up for the temperature issues, though one would think that the MBTA, which operates in winter every year, would remember one of these years that when winter inevitably rolls around, it gets cold outside. Duh-uh. Anyway, in the afternoon, later than normal, though actually normal for Monday, I go through the very cold air to Copley. And wait as two Government Center trains pass through. Yay. Then, after another little bit, a Lechmere train comes in, and in practice with Huntington Line Standard Operating Procedures, it was beyond PACKED. So, I didn't get on it, preferring to take my chances with the next train in the tunnel, with an unreadable sign. Luckily, the transit gods were not paying attention, and therefore allowed the next train to be a NoSta train, and nearly empty at that. So having gotten on a train, it was time to once again travel through the oddities of the Central Subway. At Arlington, on the Outbound side, there was a SINGLE Type 7 in the green/rust scheme, looking old and crowded, and this was shortly before the onslaught of rush hour, and they were running SINGLES. Kinda not well thought out. LRV 3417 (rerailer) was in its normal place, though with all its lights on, and I could ascertain that it now carries 'No Passengers' rollsigns, unless of course the car had been secretly replaced with 3453, which incidentally was gone from Boylston, though the other equipment remained. At GC, a double-7 train was parked at the Brattle Loop, and, led by the very rusty 3671 it later went light through NoSta. Stupid MBTA Logic. Also at NoSta, a single Breda was observed in service as a Lechmere train, after 4 pm. Fun. Orange Line was fine to conclude a mediocre monday. Later this week I expect to present an article about some various MBTA terms, and maybe a commentary on passengers, so that's what's ahead. Plus a Breda.

And so it goes, another day riding forever 'neath the streets of boston.

The Daily Report

Soooooo. As usual today started with the Orange Line. And as usual it was fine. Done with that. In the afternoon, I went to Copley a little later than usual to go home. Fortunately, there was a North Station train led by 3893 that kindly waited on the platform with the front door open for a number of passengers scrambling to get to the train. If only that happened more often. Unfortunately, through a combination of passenger behavior (a topic I will go into detail about at a later date), and the design of the Type 8, it was impossible to leave the front section of the car, despite open space in the rear, as people would and could not easily move out of the way. Typical. Anyway, the same equipment as yesterday was stored in Boylston, so nothing new there. However, the interesting bit of the day was Government Center. As my train sat in the station, a train led by 3894 moved in on the Brattle Loop, but unfortunately it seemed as though it was not put into service, as is horribly typical of the useless MBTA. Grrrrr. Also in the oddity column was the presence of a Boston College bound train, at NORTH STATION. Sometimes that happens in the early morning, but at four in the afternoon? Weird. The OL was also fine in the afternoon, as were most of the lines, given that the transit gods were completely occupied with a spontaneous fight with the railroad gods, requiring the intervention of the Transit Police. Actually, the situation has not been clearly defined, but there was at least one platform at NoSta's commuter rail terminal that was blocked off by the transit police. Interestingly that platform served the Downeaster, which may have been cleared of passengers by the (T) Police. They also managed to delay ALL of the Northside lines this evening, much to the delight of the weary and annoyed commuters. Whether this was a possible emergency or maybe the Transit Police just being kinda annoying, I do not know. Though, the MBCR has just gotten another extension, and with that they have nothing to worry about until the 2012 bidding, so they basically have free reign to inconvenience the customers, as they call them, with little fear of reprisals. Maybe they just used the transit police to do it for them, I dunno, but the police can already be a bit inconvenient, especially when they decide it's time for a 'random' bag search that has almost no chance of providing any real help whatsoever. Oh well, whatever pleases the politicians whose corrupt ways leave the (T) in financial limbo. To conclude, I have one prediction for the MBTA in this new decade: DOOM. See ya!

And so it goes, another day riding forever 'neath the streets of boston.

The Daily Report

Happy New Year, and say hi to the first Daily Report of 2010, yay. The day started out as most do, with a morning ride on the Orange Line from Oak Grove to Boston. Fortunately, the OL was fine this morning, and on time, though I was running a little late. As you will see shortly, the transit gods certainly overlooked the OL today, leading to clear conditions and good service, for the (T). This afternoon's Green Line ride was also on time, though there were a few points of note. First, I took a Lechmere train today, as there were no trains in the tunnel, and the train was remarkably uncrowded for a Huntington Ave Branch train at that hour. Weird. Additionally, the several lights of a weird lower room in the tunnel, quite close to Boylston past 3417, were on again, which is rather unusual, though by no means unheard of. Boylston itself was also a picture of oddities, as the wall track on the outbound(westbound) side was filled with work equipment, including a large white and yellow machine of unknown type or number, the green wire car often found there, and most importantly, the MOW Boeing LRV 3453, the green one with some original plug doors. It has inexplicably been parked there intermittently for a while, maybe the Reservoir cold was taking its toll on the old Boeing. Cool. The Brattle Loop was again parked full of trains, following MBTA logic which does not allow anyone to think that if they use the loop on FirstNight, maybe it would be useful on Every Night. Figures. Anyway, my second OL train was on time at NoSta and had plenty of seats, which of course is because the transit gods were today focused on the Blue Line. The Blue had the major problem of the day, as a 'disabled train' here meaning one stuck at Maverick without power, held up the line for two-plus hours, leading to bustitution between GC and Airport, while the passengers were stuck in the tunnel on the train for around two hours. As MBTA delays go that is kinda a bad one, especially for the usually-good Blue Line, which only infrequently appears on the T-Alerts page, especially compared to the Red. Evidently the transit gods saw fit to mess up the Blue today to try and even the balance a little, I just hope they keep away from the Green tomorrow. In other news, the Red Line had some minor problems, and the Commuter Rail isn't doing all that great today, but all in all, if the Blue Line didn't get you, the (T) was relatively OK today. The Daily Report is now officially back from its holiday hiatus, and will be back tomorrow and beyond.

And so it goes, another day riding forever 'neath the streets of boston.

FirstNight Report

First, I want to wish you a Happy New Year, and welcome everyone to 2010. Now, back for a moment to 2009, for a report of my little adventure on the MBTA tonight, for a trip to the fireworks. So, going in a little before six was fine, with not very much in the way of crowds on the Orange Line, though there was a small crowd on the NoSta Green Line platform. While waiting for a GL train, an OL train passed through the station on the outbound (northbound) out of service. I can see positioning it for inbound service, but it could have run in service with not a great decrease in speed. Odd. Anyway, I took a Breda to Government Center, and then proceeded to the fireworks and festivities. Heading back home around 8:30 ish, having passed through the free faregates, I managed to miss a Lechmere train. This makes me officially the luckiest person writing on this blog. Having missed said Lechmere, I was of course forced to wait for another train bypassing GC. Soon enough came a screech, similar to that of the trains heading out en route to Park Street, however this particular curve screech was different, a bit higher pitched, and quite unusual. The source soon revealed itself as a Type 7-Breda combo led by 3705 pulled in on the Brattle Loop, signed for Government Center, though it soon changed to Lechmere, with the (T) employees telling everyone on the platform looking for eastbound service to take that train. I was expecting service on the Brattle Loop today(yesterday), as that is typical on New Years Eve due to the heavy ridership and logistical issues, and I was glad to get to ride it. However, it still irritates me that though they are capable of using the Loop once a year, they do not take logic's next step and use it ALL THE TIME, as MBTA logic prohibits any action designed to improve customer service. Duh. Anyway, the day, and year, were well finished by a trip on the Loop, though an attempt to take a train on the other half was unsuccessful, as none were headed only to GC. Anyway, a good trip on half the Brattle Loop, and a Happy New Year, hopefully 2010 is the one where the MBTA decides that use of the loop is a GOOD IDEA. See you in 2010!

And so it goes, another year riding forever 'neath the streets of boston.