Changes to the Commuter Rail Schedule: Will It Improve Service?

By CHARLENE ARSENAULT (Patch Staff)

BOSTON, MA — Following what it calls a "robust comment period," the Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority released on Thursday a new commuter rail schedule that will take effect on May 23.

"The changes are designed to improve performance and allow for greater schedule reliability," said the MBTA in a release.

The changes are designed to improve arrival and departure time consistency, and marks some additional express services.

Despite ridership changes and improvements to infrastructure, no major changes have been made to the T's commuter rail service in decades. The changes were developed using computer-based rail simulations, field testing and improved operations policies, said the announcement.

A new North Side draft schedule rolled out in November 2015, and then was altered to reflect public comment and concerns.

“After hearing feedback at public meetings and receiving thousands of comments from our customers, we have adjusted some schedules in order to better serve the people who use our commuter rail system,” said MassDOT Secretary and CEO Stephanie Pollack in a statement. “This comprehensive update – the most substantive changes in decades – will lead to improved service and customer dependability.”

View the new commuter rail schedules here.

Some of the highlights of the finalized schedules are:

NORTH SIDE SERVICE

· New “reverse commute” train from North Station to Littleton/495 to serve new employment growth in the area, at 6:45 a.m., as well as an early reverse commute to Fitchburg at 6:30 p.m.

· In response to comments received at public meetings:

o Haverhill Line: shifted arrival times earlier to better line up with job start times.

o Newburyport/Rockport Line: added later a.m. departures for school drop-off.

SOUTH SIDE SERVICE

· New Express Train from Worcester to Boston at 8:05 a.m.

· In response to comments received at public meetings:

o Providence/Stoughton Line: provided five peak-service stops at Ruggles Staion, the same as previous schedule.

o Framingham/Worcester Line: all ‘peak commuting period’ express trains to serve West Natick station, and Train 510 will make all stops in Wellesley.

o Needham Line: restored the Forest Hills and Ruggles stops to all a.m. peak trains, and shifted p.m. peak departures to better reflect the existing schedule.

Franklin Line: restored the Dedham Corp. Center stop on a.m. and p.m. Express Trains and the Readville stop on comparable local services. P.M. peak service realigned to better match existing departure times (exact times could not be replicated due to equipment constraints and corridor capacity).

Originally, commuter rail schedule changes were to take place over the winter, but there was an outcry from riders and legislators who were concerned about changes or reductions in service considering the issues the MBTA faced in the winter of 2015.

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