Blizzard of 2010 Discussion / Delay Issues

[BostonUrbEx]

I hope a thread on this is okay!

Governor Patrick has just announced a snow emergency and announced regular Sunday service on all MBTA lines all the way through until the normal end of service. However, the Mattappan High Speed line will be bussed (no mention on a start time, and no mention on mbta.com yet) until end of service. Then someone from the T or MassDOT later said the line "does not perform well in the snow."


I wish I could get out there tonight, but no chance, unfortunately. Anyone think those MBCR plows will be out tonight? There will likely be alot of drifting overnight!

[Amtrak7]

I hope a thread on this is okay!

Governor Patrick has just announced a snow emergency and announced regular Sunday service on all MBTA lines all the way through until the normal end of service. However, the Mattappan High Speed line will be bussed (no mention on a start time, and no mention on mbta.com yet) until end of service. Then someone from the T or MassDOT later said the line "does not perform well in the snow."


I wish I could get out there tonight, but no chance, unfortunately. Anyone think those MBCR plows will be out tonight? There will likely be alot of drifting overnight!

MBTA site says 5PM. Also, all boats are out.

[BostonUrbEx]

Current alerts at time of posting:

Prov/Stou service will omit stops at Ruggles due to weather related conditions passengers may continue on to Back Bay and will be accommodated by the Orange Line for service back to Ruggles. Please see a Customer Service Agent at Back Bay. 12/26/2010 5:35 PM

Red Line is experiencing 15-20 min delays due to weather related conditions. 12/26/2010 6:28 PM

Red Line-Mattapan - Due to heavy snow and wind Mattapan Hi-Speed Line service will be suspended at 5:00pm on Sunday and resume sometime on Monday. Substitute shuttle bus service will replace regular train service between Ashmont and Mattapan. Please expect delays. 12/26/2010 12:46 PM

Diversion on the Route SL2: Design Center - South Station
Due to slippery road conditions.
All buses will be omitting 88 Black Falcon Pier
Connections can be made on Northern Ave.
12/26/2010 1:15 PM

All Commuter Boat Lines/Routes have been suspended due to severe weather conditions service will not resume until sometime Monday after11:00AM. 12/26/2010 1:33 PM

And multiple bus alerts due to weather, including this earlier alert sent via txt: "(All Bus Routes Alert) All Bus Routes are experiencing 30-45 minute delays due to slippery road conditions. 12/26/2010 5:07 PM"

[Ron Newman]

That's pretty good considering the conditions out there. If the T can keep running this well, why can't Amtrak?

[Dick H]

Amtrak's all electric operation between Boston and NYC depends on
that catenary that they are concerned about with the high wind gusts
of up to 60 MPH that are being predicted for much of the BOS/NYP route.
A power loss could leave a stranded train with no heat and just emergency
lights. The days of the New Haven RR plugging along with diesel locos are
long gone.

Just last week Amtrak had a train stranded in Marylnad for more than six
hours after a private high transmission power line fell across the corridor.
While the train still had lights and heat, all the switches, signals, etc were
inoperable. They did not want a repeat of that situation in this storm.

[Ron Newman]

OK but that doesn't explain Amtrak stopping service on the Downeaster (a diesel service much of which runs on MBTA track)

[sery2831]

I wish I could get out there tonight, but no chance, unfortunately. Anyone think those MBCR plows will be out tonight? There will likely be alot of drifting overnight!

The two main line plows were moved to a place to be pressed into service. They are not used until the snow has stopped coming down. So don't look for them in the snow. They are used to move the snow away from the tracks more than plowing snow on the tracks Regular trains move the snow out of the way fine alone.

[sery2831]

From the delays up on the site. Looks like system did pretty well for the size of the storm. Anyone have any commute story's? Or is everyone at home

[Diverging Route]

From the delays up on the site. Looks like system did pretty well for the size of the storm. Anyone have any commute story's? Or is everyone at home

My primary employer did an "emergency closing" so I didn't get to ride the 352 this morning. But I have another job that called me to work and that I can do from home

[BostonUrbEx]

Alerts and advisories as of time of posting:


Prov/Stou service will omit stops at Ruggles due to weather related conditions passengers may continue on to Back Bay and will be accommodated by the Orange Line for service back to Ruggles. Please see a Customer Service Agent at Back Bay12/27/2010 7:22 AM

Fairmount 747 07:20 AM, 748 07:55 AM have been annulled due to weather related conditions. 12/27/2010 7:21 AM

Kingston/Plmth 060 10:05 AM IB is experiencing 45-60 min delays due to a weather related problem. 12/27/2010 11:12 AM

Newbury/Rock experiencing 25-30 min delays due to signal problem 12/27/2010 5:05 AM

Red Line-Mattapan - Due to heavy snow and wind Mattapan Hi-Speed Line service will be suspended at 5:00pm on Sunday and resume sometime on Monday. Substitute shuttle bus service will replace regular train service between Ashmont and Mattapan. Please expect delays.12/27/2010 6:37 AM

Orange Line experiencing 15-20 min delays due to disabled train at Wellington 12/27/2010 11:36 AM

Orange Line experiencing 15-20 min delays due to disabled train at Wellington OB. 12/27/2010 11:29 AM

Green Line D IB experiencing 30-45 min delays due to disabled train at Newton Highlands 12/27/2010 10:00 AM

Green Line E is being diverted at Brigham Circle due to a fallen tree at Heath Street. Rt. 39 buses making local stops between Brigham Circle and Heath Street. 12/27/2010 9:56 AM

All Green Line service experiencing 10-15 min delays due to weather related problems. Please allow extra time to your commute. 12/27/2010 6:55 AM

Blue Line experiencing 10-15 min delays due to signal problem 12/27/2010 7:37 AM

Diversion on the Route SL2: Design Center - South Station
Due to slippery road conditions.
All buses will be omitting 88 Black Falcon Pier
Connections can be made on Northern Ave.
12/27/2010 4:33 AM

Multiple bus route changes, plus the following delays:
Route 47 experiencing 15-20 min delays due to weather related problem 12/27/2010 11:31 AM
Route 39 experiencing 10-15 min delays due to weather related problem 12/27/2010 11:27 AM
Route 119 experiencing 15-20 min delays due to weather related problem 12/27/2010 11:16 AM
Route 111 experiencing 15-20 min delays due to weather related problem 12/27/2010 11:15 AM
Route 99 experiencing 15-20 min delays due to weather related problem 12/27/2010 11:14 AM
Route 73 experiencing 15-20 min delays due to weather related problem 12/27/2010 11:13 AM
Route 31 experiencing 15-20 min delays due to weather related problem 12/27/2010 11:12 AM

F-1 Hingham-Boston and F-4 Boston-Charlestown will resume service at 11:00AM. F-2 Quincy-Boston-Logan and F-2H Quincy and Hull-Boston-Logan may resume at 2:00pm. 12/26/2010 1:33 PM

Attention Paratransit Customers: Due to the severe weather conditions, THE RIDE strongly recommends that you check with your contractor directly as services may be curtailed. Expect delays. The numbers are as follows:
GLSS: 888-319-7433
VTS: 877-765-7433
JV: 888-920-7433

[danib62]

Prov/Stou service will omit stops at Ruggles due to weather related conditions passengers may continue on to Back Bay and will be accommodated by the Orange Line for service back to Ruggles. Please see a Customer Service Agent at Back Bay12/27/2010 7:22 AM

I don't get this one. Are they too lazy to shovel the commuter rail platform at Ruggles?

[SM89]

Prov/Stou service will omit stops at Ruggles due to weather related conditions passengers may continue on to Back Bay and will be accommodated by the Orange Line for service back to Ruggles. Please see a Customer Service Agent at Back Bay12/27/2010 7:22 AM

I don't get this one. Are they too lazy to shovel the commuter rail platform at Ruggles?

They were probably trying to get it back on schedule. Not sure if the omission of one stop would do much though.

[sery2831]

I wonder if they omitted Ruggles because they were using the tracks that do not make the platform.

Hate to be a buzz kill, but no bus chat.

[jonnhrr]

Prov/Stou service will omit stops at Ruggles due to weather related conditions passengers may continue on to Back Bay and will be accommodated by the Orange Line for service back to Ruggles. Please see a Customer Service Agent at Back Bay12/27/2010 7:22 AM

I don't get this one. Are they too lazy to shovel the commuter rail platform at Ruggles?

My guess is that to make the Ruggles stop they have to use track 2 or 3, this way they can stay on track 1 and avoid potential issues with frozen switches.

Jon

[F-line to Dudley via Park]

Instead of wussing out on Mattapan every time there's a coating on the ground, can't they just take one of the Red Line plows or snow blowers down to the Codman connection? Those things are internal combustion engine-powered and they've got that miniature diesel loco work car that's sometimes at Cabot, sometimes on the unpowered Conley St. siding in Dorchester. If they can take the tight loop at the end of Cabot they ought to be able to turn around the Mattapan loop from the outermost to innermost tracks. The shuttle buses never fare all that well down some of those secondary streets in Milton that get subpar initial plowing in heavy snow.