Second Ruggles CR platform

Bumping this thread...its been 11 months since there was any action in this thread...has there been any progress in real life?

Back in June, there was an update given to the FMCB: Contract No. S31CN02 – Ruggles Station Commuter Rail Platform Project (PDF)

• Improve MBTA service and MBTA and Amtrak operational flexibility: Currently 30% of inbound commuter trains bypass
Ruggles Station requiring a transfer at Back Bay Station to the Orange Line to get back to Ruggles. By adding a new platform to
service Track 2, more MBTA Commuter Rail users will be able to directly access Ruggles Station.
• Improve station accessibility: Four existing elevators will be replaced and a new elevator will be added to improve station
accessibility.
• SGR: Address interior and exterior repairs and improvements to bring the facility up to a State of Good Repair.

Groundbreaking was in August. Construction should start by the end of the year and be complete in 2019.

Four new elevators! What is wrong with the existing elevators? The existing elevators (and the station) are newer than the subway cars and some of the CR coaches...

There has been quite a bit of visible progress on this project. When passing by on a train on track 1 or 3, one can clearly see the cut out in the concrete wall alongside track 2 and the makings for the base of a new high level platform. It's located a good bit east of the track 1/3 Island platform, and appears shorter in length, but it's possible that there is more to come in terms of length.

ohalloranchris wrote:There has been quite a bit of visible progress on this project. When passing by on a train on track 1 or 3, one can clearly see the cut out in the concrete wall alongside track 2 and the makings for the base of a new high level platform. It's located a good bit east of the track 1/3 Island platform, and appears shorter in length, but it's possible that there is more to come in terms of length.

The existing platform is 1050' long, although much of it is blocked off. The new one will be 800'.

I'd imagine once the platform is in use, inbound Providence trains that go into Boston can actually make it into Boston quicker. They can stay on Track 2 when leaving Hyde Park/Route 128 and not have to cross to track 3 at FOREST (when leaving Hyde Park they practically crawl until they get to the interlocking), so they can travel at top speed.

Although I wonder if any express trains (808 coming to mind) will start stopping at Ruggles when the new platform is up, or if it will be more of like a Boston Landing situation on the Worcester line.

I believe the intention is to have most or all MBTA trains stop at Ruggles once the platform is completed. Ruggles is such a major hub (especially for the LMA) that a lot of people see huge savings in travel times.