2017 Commuter Rail Delay Discussion Thread

[Backshophoss]

Believe that "T" alert person needs a caffine injection,STAT!

[hi55us]

Providence Train #821 will be operating into North Station today. Passengers are advised to hold their breath as the train plows over the traffic on the Rose Kennedy Greenway.

[nomis]

Significant delays continue this afternoon.

The T-Alerts are getting interesting. This one has some "Alternate Facts."

Stoughton Line notice: All passengers on Train 915 will board alternate train at Canton Junction Station continuing en route to Stoughton.
Affected direction: Outbound
Affected trips:
915 (4:20 pm from South Station)

It's the Stoughton dinky, the perfect way to move people around while they get their daily exercise.

[dm1120]

All kidding aside, what happened yesterday was truly unacceptable. Why is fixing a switch so difficult? And more importantly, why does this keep happening?

[nomis]

IIRC, Commercial Power equipment was fried for the switch machines as well as some interlocking cabinet components.

[BandA]

So this is Amtrak's electrical fault! Time for MBTA/Keolis to take over maintenance on the NEC instead of paying $20M/yr to Amtrak??

Which direction is outbound on the Providence-Wachusett train, lol

[tguy077]

0639 out of Haverhill running behind. Control cab problems maybe.

[MBTA F40PH-2C 1050]

Been away for a bit working a bunch....but what happened 9/17 right at the perfect time, aprox. 5:15am, a hawk landed on the catenary and made contact with the Spaulding St. OHB, which in turn, killed the bird and surged the power, which in turn fried the Interlocking. 901 and 801 were the first causalities, then 800, 802, 804, etc. C&S had to manually spike and lock each switch, then hand throw each switch point and moveable point frog to get 901 off the mainline, and onto the branch so that the NEC could be straightlined for movements (which had to be handthrown all over again)

901/902 and 900's equipment acted as shuttles between Cant. Jct. and Stoughton, then people transferred to the mainline trains. Each train needed a Rule 241 to get thru JUNCTION, and it didn't help that the cab signals weren't picking up for quite some distance. phew! i think that is everything haha

Later in the day, the wire in which the bird fried (was gonna be replaced that night) finally came down in the middle of the interlocking after 2160 or 86 went thru JUNCTION, just as the evening rush was about to begin. It was a terrible chain of events at the perfect time again which created single track between Mansfield and Readville

All kidding aside, what happened yesterday was truly unacceptable. Why is fixing a switch so difficult? And more importantly, why does this keep happening?

Amtrak's C&S crews worked as quickly and safely as they could, as did we Keolis crews that morning. Everything was pure chaos at the worst possible time and couldn't have gone and smoother, or quicker than it did. Takes time to get the spare parts, and install them. Interesting note, all the bulbs on the home boards on the Stoughton Branch (6E and the 4E) had to be replaced because of the power surge and the bulbs popping

So this is Amtrak's electrical fault! Time for MBTA/Keolis to take over maintenance on the NEC instead of paying $20M/yr to Amtrak??

Which direction is outbound on the Providence-Wachusett train, lol

This was completely out of everyones hands, there was nothing more that could have been done. Blame nature on this day of delays

[butts260]

Are surge protectors available that might have eliminated much or "all" of the surge damage? I'm thinking particularly of the switch electrics. Sometimes I wonder how much a 241 can cost!

[Diverging Route]

802 went mx at Wickford Junction this morning, and eventually limped to Providence (an hour late) where it was cancelled. 804 was crushed with 802's pax, and made extra stops inbound.

[Frode]

Again???

Providence/Stoughton Line trains may experience 15-25 minute delays due to an Amtrak signal issue near Route 128. Individual alerts will be sent as needed.

Last updated: Mar 02 2017 04:31 PM
Sent by the MBTA.

[sonicdoommario]

Providence train 801 (5:30AM from South Station) apparently operated express from South Station to Providence yesterday, due to a mechanical issue and leaving Boston behind schedule. 801 already skips a few stops (Ruggles, Hyde Park, Canton Junction), so was this a straight shot from Boston to Providence?

[Diverging Route]

The north side is down FIVE sets this morning. 300 and 304 are among the victims.

[EdSchweppe]

The north side is down FIVE sets this morning. 300 and 304 are among the victims.

Not to mention that for the second day in a row:

• 401 cancelled
• 491 extended to Wachusett to turn into 410
• 492 cancelled
• 408 held at Littleton, then run on 492's schedule inbound
• 410 expected to be 25-35 min late

[octr202]

Adding to it:

285/286 cancelled. 206 rerouted via Reading to cover the local stops, but had a medical emergency at Greenwood for further delays.

Over on the Eastern, 191/192 looks like it got the ax. 102 also apparently had a mechanical issue and the T alerts sound like 104 overtook it somewhere in the process.

Will be interesting to see if they can put the fleet back together for this evening's rush hour.