The MBTA plans to increase service on the Framingham/Worcester Line and we would like your suggestions for train times on the expanded schedule. With 13,000 customers riding with us every weekday—and growing— this expansion will build on the additional peak train departures introduced last fall and spring. We are also undertaking additional improvements to the Worcester Line, including a new station at Yawkey, track and signal upgrades, and adding new trains to the fleet. These investments will increase capacity, allow schedule flexibility, reduce travel time, improve reliability, and enhance safety, comfort and convenience.
To help the MBTA develop an expanded schedule that will best serve customers and stakeholders, please attend an upcoming Public Information Meeting and share your feedback. Meetings have been scheduled for the following dates and locations:
Monday, November 18, 2013, 7:30 PM
CMRPC, Union Station
2 Washington Square, 2nd Floor
Worcester, MA 01604
Wednesday, November 20, 2013, 7 PM
Nevins Hall, Memorial Building
150 Concord Street
Framingham, MA 01702
If you are unable to attend a meeting, and would like to comment on the expanded service planning for the Framingham/Worcester Line, please email your suggestions to [email protected] by November 22, 2013.
In a related story, I just missed a train on the Worcester line because the MBTA online trip planner app – although it does say “approximate” times – gives connections that assumes T arrival times are much more accurate than they really are. I’ll know for next time I guess.
Steve, for commuter rail times I use T-on-time:
http://www.t-on-time.com/build/158/welcome.html
Choose your line and train time and as long as the train has its gps on it will give very accurate departure and arrival times. If it does not have the GPS on it will count down until the scheduled time, which of course may very if you are getting on at a “flag” stop.
I take the commuter rail 4 days a week. It costs me $173/month from Newtonville, plus $5/day to park (that goes to the City of Newton). The service has been increasingly erratic, with both delays and other service issues. It is not uncommon for me to not get a seat between Newtonville and South Station. So the “user experience” is increasingly not that different from taking the Green Line, but at much, much greater cost. On a much higher level, I can see why people decide it’s worth the small amount of extra money to drive in. to the city The cost and hassle savings of being a good egg and going on the train vs. driving in isn’t what it should be to encourage societally-beneficial behaviors.
I have no idea what the demand is or if there’s sufficient capacity on the line to do this, but what if there were a Newton local train which terminated on the abandoned Riverside spur? More Framingham trains would run express through Newton, shortening the trip time for riders from more distant suburbs, while Newton could enjoy more frequent and more regular service and Newton riders could actually find a seat. Tie the Newton local to new stops in Brighton/Allston and the proposed DMU service to the Seaport district to avoid congestion at South Station. For a bonus, connect the line to the Riverside T station (where they’re building a new garage) and maybe we could see some reverse commutes or connections to Green Line stops like Woodland for Newton Wellesley.
@Adam – CSX sold much of its track rights between Boston and Worcester to the MBTAa year or two ago, theoretically creating some of the capacity you’re thinking about.