Amtrak Signal Failure Makes Mess of Commuter Rail Service at South Station
Photo by Margaret Burdge
Update: Thursday, 11:00 a.m.
A representative for commuter rail operator Keolis says riders can expect the delays to last into the afternoon commute, reports NECN.
9:53 a.m.
The Red Line’s delays have been downgraded from severe to minor.
#MBTA #RedLine: Update: Minor delays due to earlier disabled train at South Station: https://t.co/lLknNJGbWN
— MBTA (@MBTA) February 18, 2016
Previously:
An Amtrak signal failure is to blame for a major disruption in MBTA commuter rail service at South Station Thursday morning, with officials urging passengers to seek alternate transportation.
We urge passengers to please take alternate transportation as the Commuter Rail is experiencing major delays due to an Amtrak signal outage.
— MBTA Commuter Rail (@MBTA_CR) February 18, 2016
The signal trouble, located between South Station and Back Bay Station, backed up trains on the Needham, Providence/Stoughton, Middleborough/Lakeville, Fairmount, Framingham/Worcester, and Kingston/Plymouth lines. (The Franklin line was not affected.) Commuter rail riders have been asked to transfer to the subway at Back Bay, Forest Hills, and JFK/UMass stations.
The Red Line is also experiencing severe delays in both directions due to disabled train at South Station, according to a service alert issued at 9 a.m. Thursday.
The MBTA filed suit against Amtrak in federal court earlier this month, after Amtrak demanded tens of millions of dollars to service and repair the Attleboro line, which is owned by the T. The MBTA argues that this demand is unconstitutional, and that Amtrak already agreed to provide these services at no cost in a previous, still valid contract.
