Spring 2018 Commuter Rail Schedules Out

[sonicdoommario]

https://mbta.com/schedules" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Eyeballing the Providence line schedule, it looks like trains 801 and 8805 were combined into one train. 801 would terminate at Providence and then turn to 8805 while continuing down to Wickford Junction, but now it's one train.

Also, the Providence schedules now show the arrival and departure times for trains going in and out of Providence.

[The EGE]

I cannot fathom why peak trains need to hold for 10 minutes at Providence. Seems like a great way to discourage ridership.

[Trinnau]

The schedules haven't actually changed, the departure time from Wickford and Providence is the same as it is currently, so this time was invisible before. All the non-rush hour trains only take 30 minutes to get from Wickford Junction to Providence but the rush hour trains take 40. So if your trip is from Wickford to Providence and you are looking at the train schedule, it says it takes 40 minutes and you might drive instead. Remember that service in Rhode Island is funded by that state, MBTA just operates it as an extension of their service. Rhode Island may be looking to encourage intra-state ridership with a destination of Providence. That ride suddenly looks much more appealing at 30 minutes instead of 40. Where the trip from Wickford to Boston remains unchanged.

The only reason I can think of why the extra time exists is that one of the tracks is much slower than the other two, which gives some dispatching flexibility while still allowing the train to depart Providence on time and not impact service to Massachusetts riders especially when the other branches start joining the NEC closer to Boston.

[sonicdoommario]

I've always wondered, how do MBTA trains operate between Wickford Junction and Providence? When leaving Wickford Junction, do MBTA trains stay on track 1 after merging from track 3, and then get back on track 3 to stop at TF Green Airport? Or does it go from 3, 1, 2, 1, 3 when going between those two stations?

And when going from TF Green Airport to Providence, does it stay on Track 3 the entire time?