BOSTON | Public Transport

[BarbaricManchurian]

Originally Posted by manrush

It's a nice system, as the transition between commuter rail and rapid transit are pretty seamless.

Also, is there any place along the Silver Line where dedicated bus lanes, separated from traffic, can be constructed?

They were planning to build a bus tunnel connecting the Chinatown/Roxbury and South Station sections of the Silver Line, though it's been delayed due to recession and NIMBYs. There's already a bus tunnel between South Station and the Ted Williams Tunnel, which counts as a "dedicated bus lane"

[BarbaricManchurian]

Also I think there's a dedicated bus lane on Chinatown surface streets

[greg_christine]

The following is some information on the Kinkisharyo trains used on the Green Line.

[bayviews]

Originally Posted by BarbaricManchurian

They were planning to build a bus tunnel connecting the Chinatown/Roxbury and South Station sections of the Silver Line, though it's been delayed due to recession and NIMBYs. There's already a bus tunnel between South Station and the Ted Williams Tunnel, which counts as a "dedicated bus lane"

Thats just as well, another bus tunnel would have been a waist of many hundreds of millions of $$$.

Seems a more practical & economical approach would be extend the silver line on the surface as a trolley bus rapid transit.

[flapane]

Originally Posted by greg_christine

The following is some information on the Kinkisharyo trains used on the Green Line.

And here's a freshly uploaded video of the inside (sry for the low quality): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SMx0WVk_naU

[manrush]

Originally Posted by bayviews

Thats just as well, another bus tunnel would have been a waist of many hundreds of millions of $$$.

Seems a more practical & economical approach would be extend the silver line on the surface as a trolley bus rapid transit.

MBTA seems to be allergic to anything that is "practical and economical".

Update: we can has North-South rail link?

http://www.boston.com/news/local/mas...orcester_link/

[Nexis]

My Recently taken MBTA videos , more to come.

[TheKorean]

Originally Posted by bayviews

Thats just as well, another bus tunnel would have been a waist of many hundreds of millions of $$$.

Seems a more practical & economical approach would be extend the silver line on the surface as a trolley bus rapid transit.

Why waste money building tunnel for freaking buses? Just run it on the road, slower but cheaper.

If you are gonna build underground make it a real subway, not buses. sheesh.

[Nexis]

My Boston Transit video...

[sidney_jec]

Originally Posted by TheKorean

MARC has superior equipments though. tried riding MBTA, very slow.

the green line is the only exception as for some part it shared the road space with other vehicles.
apart from that even Green line is fast enough.

Originally Posted by exxebrazil

is there any train that goes to gilette stadium?

no T goes there.
Commuter rail I don't know

[Nexis]

Originally Posted by sidney_jec

the green line is the only exception as for some part it shared the road space with other vehicles.
apart from that even Green line is fast enough.



no T goes there.
Commuter rail I don't know

The T is the commuter rail...

[Woonsocket54]

Gillette Stadium has gameday service from Providence on Pro-Stou Line and from South Sta on Franklin Line.

there are "plans" to have actual commuter service to Fxbro
http://www.mbta.com/about_the_mbta/t...t.asp?id=20111

Originally Posted by sidney_jec

the green line is the only exception as for some part it shared the road space with other vehicles.
apart from that even Green line is fast enough.

Green Line is slow both above and below ground. It's especially slow between Govt Center and Copley due to trains bunching up and 19th-century signaling technology. Might be slower below ground than in the notoriously slow Kenmore-Packards Cor B line stretch on Com Ave. The Green Line is an embarrassment for the MBTA and indeed, for all of US public transit. No one can really argue with that.

[massp88]

Originally Posted by Woonsocket54

Gillette Stadium has gameday service from Providence on Pro-Stou Line and from South Sta on Franklin Line.

there are "plans" to have actual commuter service to Fxbro
http://www.mbta.com/about_the_mbta/t...t.asp?id=20111



Green Line is slow both above and below ground. It's especially slow between Govt Center and Copley due to trains bunching up and 19th-century signaling technology. Might be slower below ground than in the notoriously slow Kenmore-Packards Cor B line stretch on Com Ave. The Green Line is an embarrassment for the MBTA and indeed, for all of US public transit. No one can really argue with that.

The D line is not bad at all. That's due to it not traveling along a road and having to deal with traffic and lights.

The B line is easily the worst, thanks to the number of stops and Comm Ave has a ton of lights.

Brookline is proposing a re-timing of signals to allow trolleys along Beacon St. to move faster. As it is now, the C can be hit or miss in terms of speed going into Kenmore.

[Woonsocket54]

problems east of Kenmore cause problems for B, C and D trains.

The D train has problems every time it rains and there's some wind - trees fall on the tracks or the wires, especially btw Reservoir and Riverside.

Bunching is a problem all over the Green Line.

Ear-splitting squeaks at Boylston and btw N Sta and Sci Pk.

The whole network is a laughingstock

[FDW]

Originally Posted by Woonsocket54

problems east of Kenmore cause problems for B, C and D trains.

The D train has problems every time it rains and there's some wind - trees fall on the tracks or the wires, especially btw Reservoir and Riverside.

Bunching is a problem all over the Green Line.

Ear-splitting squeaks at Boylston and btw N Sta and Sci Pk.

The whole network is a laughingstock

Even so, Philadelphia's Transit system is far worse than anything Boston can put up.

[Nexis]

Originally Posted by FDW

Even so, Philadelphia's Transit system is far worse than anything Boston can put up.

Indeed , there also expanding theres tenfold....funding is the only issue with there system. But Light Rail and streetcars seem to have a bright future in Philly.... Boston seems to have a bus fetish....

[flapane]

Philly should build at least a couple of subway lines (so that SE, SW, NW downtown areas are better connected), and increase the number of buses. IMHO their transit system is really undeveloped compared to Boston or DC, apart the Green Line.
Two heavy rail lines that cross the two main streets aren't enough for such a big city.

[Nexis]

Originally Posted by flapane

Philly should build at least a couple of subway lines (so that SE, SW, NW downtown areas are better connected), and increase the number of buses. IMHO their transit system is really undeveloped compared to Boston or DC, apart the Green Line.
Two heavy rail lines that cross the two main streets aren't enough for such a big city.

They have a massive streetcar network that is waiting to be restored , buses currently cover it....but the city and business owners want the streetcars back.

[Woonsocket54]

Text from MassDOT flickr account

image hosted on flickr

Copyright All rights reserved by MassDOT

MBTA New Locomotive, Boston South Station, February 7, 2011

MBTA today debuted a new diesel-electric locomotive on its inaugural ride from Worcester to Boston. The state-of-the-art diesel-electric locomotive is one of two trains purchased from the Utah Transit Authority, and marks the first time in more than two decades that new locomotives will join the MBTA’s commuter rail fleet.

MBTA New Locomotives 1 January 2011
By employing new technology that makes the engines more fuel efficient and prevents unnecessary idling, the new locomotives will reduce nitrogen oxide levels by 20 tons per engine annually. Each locomotive in the existing fleet burns 228,000 gallons of fuel per year, resulting in the release of 241 tons of nitrogen oxide. These new locomotives will burn about 36,500 fewer gallons while generating more horsepower. The energy savings will be about $78,000 a year per locomotive.

In June 2010, the MassDOT Board of Directors approved the purchase of an additional 20 new diesel-electric locomotives from Motive Power, Inc. of Boise, Idaho at a cost of $114 million. The 20 new locomotives will be brought into service in 2013 to replace the 20 oldest units in the fleet.

The MBTA commuter rail fleet operates under a contract with the Massachusetts Bay Commuter Railroad Company. The fleet consists of 410 coaches including 140 bi-level and 270 single coaches, and 80 locomotives. The fleet ranges in age from seven to 29 years. Commuter rail service carries approximately 148,000 customers round-trip each weekday.

photos from governor's flickr account:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/massgovernor/5425618134/
image hosted on flickr

Monday, February 7, 2011 -- Lieutenant Governor Murray holds a press conference to highlight the new commuter rail locomotive.

photo from MassDOT:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/massdot...n/photostream/
image hosted on flickr

MBTA- Lt. Governor Murray Inspects New Locomotive, Boston South Station, February 7, 2011
(Lt. Governor Timothy Murray inspects one of MBTA's new diesel-electric locomotives after riding the commuter rail to Boston South Station from Worcester)

another pic from MBTA

[manrush]

Originally Posted by Nexis

They have a massive streetcar network that is waiting to be restored , buses currently cover it....but the city and business owners want the streetcars back.

If only such sentiments existed in Boston. But we do get a shiny new bus tunnel.