MBTA Fines Commuter Rail Operator $434K for Late Trains

By Susan Petroni

The MBTA has fined the new operator of its commuter rail service $804,000 for late trains, cleanliness and other issues in the company’s first four months.

The contractor for the commuter rail service - Keolis Commuter Services - said mechanical problems and specifically old trains operating in the fleet as reasons for late trains serving Hamilton-Wenham station.

In October, the on-time performance of the commuter rail slipped to its lowest since Keolis began overseeing operations, at just 85 percent. The worst record was on the Fitchburg line at less than 65 percent in October. The Newburyport line, which serves Hamilton-Wenham station, was on time 75 percent of the time in October, according to the T’s scorecard.

The MBTA has set a goal of 95 percent on time for commuter rail trains. A train is considered on time if it arrives within 5 minutes of the scheduled time.

North Shore commuter have felt the problems. For example, there were two back-to-back evening commutes in recent weeks where a train was cancelled. There have been other instances of delays.

In July, Keolis Commuter Service began overseeing the commuter rail, including the Newburyport/Rockportr line, when it won the 8-year, $2.7 billion contract.

Included in the contract was penalties for service delays. The contract caps penalties at $12 million per year for Keolis. Penalties and fines can be levied for late trains, dirty trains and station, lack of heat or air conditioning on trains, and staffing issues.

The MBTA fined Keolis $434,000 for late trains.

The MBTA also fined Keolis $370,000 for poor fare collection, uncleanliness on the trains and at the station and staffing issues.

Keolis won the new contract this summer over the Massachusetts Bay Commuter Railroad Company, who had operated the commuter rail service of the MBTA since 2003.