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.