Bumpy Beginning for New 'Heart to Hub' Commuter Rail

Boston, MA - The highly publicized new Heart to Hub Worcester-Boston express line's inaugural run arrived -- you guessed it -- late.

The train rolled into South Station at roughly 9:12 a.m. Monday, about five minutes past its planned arrival time.

On board were a handful of state leaders, including Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito and the state's transportation secretary, Stephanie Pollack. It was a showy first-run for the line, hailed as the first high-speed, non-stop train between Worcester and Boston. It is designed to make the trip in under an hour.

• READ MORE: Worcester to Boston in Less Than an Hour: MBTA Introduces 'Heart to Hub'

Given all that fanfare, it seems a little less than auspicious to see the train arrive behind schedule on day one. Then again, five minutes isn't all that bad. As Globe transit reporter Nicole Dungca notes on Twitter, by the MBTA's official standards, it's not even "technically" late.

Monday also heralded a new schedule for many commuter rail lines. Details here.