Something new: half AC
July 17, 2008 charlieonthecommuterrail.blogspot.com
This was a new one on me: coach #704 on the Franklin #715 train tonight (Thursday, 7/17/2008) didn't have air conditioning on one half. It was the half closer to the engine (and to Franklin, for that ...Notes: AC and announcements
July 15, 2008 charlieonthecommuterrail.blogspot.com
On Thursday, July 10, the air conditioning was broken on coach #611, on the #917 Stoughton train. It was a hot day. Fortunately I wasn't going to Stoughton...but I pity those who were.Yesterday, on Mo...Another gouge at the public from the MBTA
July 10, 2008 charlieonthecommuterrail.blogspot.com
Some time in the last few weeks the MBTA did it again. Just as they quietly took away the option of bringing a free guest on the T on Sundays, they've now taken away free parking on weekends and holid...Lest we forget...
June 26, 2008 charlieonthecommuterrail.blogspot.com
Overcrowding is still common on the Franklin line. This morning, though, it was particularly bad. By the time the #708 train (departing from Franklin/Forge Park at 7AM) reached Norwood Central (which ...Celtics on parade
June 19, 2008 charlieonthecommuterrail.blogspot.com
Throngs of people filled Boston to see the victory parade for the Celtics today, so perhaps it was inevitable that there would be problems on the Franklin #715.The train itself was packed, with lots o...Trouble on the Stoughton Line
June 19, 2008 charlieonthecommuterrail.blogspot.com
I chat with a lot of people about the commuter rail. Inevitably, many of them tell me about problems. Yesterday a woman told me about a memorable Tuesday on the Stoughton line.The morning train (short...A fire and a plan
June 16, 2008 charlieonthecommuterrail.blogspot.com
Part of the mystery is solved: according to WBZ, there was a small fire at South Station and a planned outage for repairs. I have to say, though, that a Saturday in June on a day that two festivals ar...A surprising series of screw-ups, part 2
June 16, 2008 charlieonthecommuterrail.blogspot.com
Arriving at South Station 31 minutes late didn't exactly help our schedule. The Cambridge River Festival ran from noon to 6 PM, and it was already well after 2. We headed towards the subway station. A...A surprising series of screw-ups, part 1
June 15, 2008 charlieonthecommuterrail.blogspot.com
I'm a weekday commuter; I don't normally go to Boston on the weekends. When I do, I usually go with my family, and we drive.But at around 150 miles for a round trip (including some incidental driving ...Trouble on the Franklin Line
June 4, 2008 charlieonthecommuterrail.blogspot.com
It was a tough morning on the Franklin #708 today.The train started out short a car. As a result, the place was packed; people were jammed in the aisles. And then at Dedham 128, there was a medical em...