Happy New Year 2008!!
This morning's commute, my first in 2008, was fine. The inbound P508 train on the Worcester-Framingham line was running about 10 minutes or so behind schedule. We got to South Station at 8:35 a.m. (the scheduled arrival time for this train is 8:24 a.m.).
The conductors never checked the passes or collected tickets/fares. What a great way to start the New Year!
I hope the MBTA/MBCR do a better job of ensuring that their employees are collecting fares. I can't imagine working as a retail clerk and letting people "buy" things without paying. I'm sure I would lose my job.
I wonder when the on-time performance rates for December 2007 will be posted? I know that Worcester-Framingham line did not meet the standard on-time performance rate of 95%. I just wonder how low their performance was?
PATHs Not Taken
3 months ago
11 comments:
Glad I found a blog to vent about the same problem :). I'm on the Lowell line (Anderson station), and stood on a cold platform waiting for the 8:07 and 8:15, which never came. When an 8:30 rolled around (calling itself the express, which would have been the 8:07), it was already so crowded and there were so many people jammed on the platform from the 2 missed trains that we couldn't all even fit on this one. I mean, literally, the conductors were pushing bodies in so the doors would close. They said the next one would be around in 20 minutes, but after awhile I just gave up and went back home to work from my basement.
Honestly, though, that's the first time it's ever been *that* bad. Still, lousy way to start the new year.
Duane,
I'm sorry to hear that you also experienced poor commuter rail service today on the Lowell line. Your commute sounded like a bad nightmare.
From conversations with my friends and colleagues, I am envious that you are on on of the commuter rail lines that travels into North Station. While you experience delays (and tough situations like this morning), your service does seem to be a bit better than the service on the lines that travel into South Station.
I guess the MBTA/MBCR are off to a rip roaring start. We're two days into the New Year and there were service delays on at least two lines (Lowell and Worcester-Framingham). This isn't a great way to improve on-time performance rates, is it?
Thanks for visiting TrainStopping. I hope you return to share your thoughts on commuter rail service in Massachusetts. It is my hope that service across the state will only improve.
Happy New Year!
Train Rider
I don't think there is enough room for my comments on the MBTA/MBCR service, or lack thereof! It has been deplorable since the summer! People are blaming the new Greenbush line, but it has been horrible way before the line opened. Trains not showing up, extremely late when they do show up, hot in the summer, freezing in cold weather, smelly, dirty, rude conductors -- I can go on and on. I'm hearing a lot about a "silent strike" by conductors because they are not happy. Who suffers? The public! As far as not collecting fares or checking tickets and passes, that's not right either. When things end up "in the red", we'll end up paying with another fare increase. It's true, can you go into a store and not pay for what you've purchased? Something has to be done about the horrible service. It's not getting any better. E-mails and correspondence "to the top" have gone unanswered from me and several others. WAKE UP!!! There is a serious problem somewhere in the organization and it needs to be corrected SOON!
You must have been on The Lucky Car this morning! I was on the same (P508) train, and they did collect fares. Second car from the front. The conductor is always friendly, too.
Anonymous - Actually, the comment field can support really long comments, so feel free to voice your opinion. I do agree that service was bad prior to the launch of the Greenbush line. But since that line started up in October, the service on my line (Worcester-Framingham) has been positively dismal. I absolutely agree that something has to be done. That's why I'm blogging about this issue. As a commuter and a Massachusetts taxpayer, I believe we deserve better service. If the conductors are so unhappy, then they should resign from their jobs. I'm sure there are people out there who would like the stability, salary and benefits of being a conductor.
Julie - If I didn't already have a commuter rail pass, then I would have been "lucky" to ride on the no-fare car. I'm glad to hear that they were collecting fares on your car. Perhaps I need to come and check your car out.
Train Rider
a coworker gambles on the no fare policy in summer. he gets a 12 ride pass instead of a monthly and banks on it lasting him most of the summer season. A tempting idea but I prefer the courtesy of my pass mailed to me each month.
Duane
http://www.commutesmarter.com
My guess is December's on time performance for Worcester-Framingham will come in below 40%. Service was in complete free fall last month. The weather cannot account for it. In fact, if you look at the statistics for just the two rush hour trains I usually ride to and from Boston(P508 and P531), I think it would approach a ZERO percent on-time performance (according to MBTA's 5 minute cut off). Seriously, it is that bad.
I am tracking my commutes this month to get a more precise figure to send to the Boston Globe and other media organizations.
Duane,
I also know many people who are opting to see how long they can ride the rails using just a 12-ride pass.
I've also toyed with the idea. However I purchase my commuter rail passes through my employer's deferred compensation program. And I am a strong believer that we need to pay for some service versus just riding for free. However, if the conductors on my line continue to not collect fares, I may actually take the gamble and try the 12-ride pass system.
Anonymous,
Great idea about tracking the on-time performance rates. I am also going to track my commutes (on the days that I ride the train into the city). I'm miffed that the Boston Globe, Boston Herald, Worcester Telegram & Gazette, and the Metro West Daily News have yet to publish the on-time performance rates for December 2007.
I'm concerned that the mainstream media does not care about this issue anymore, since the MBTA decided to extend the MBCR's contract. I hope the mainstream media becomes concerned, so more citizens will become informed about this issue. Thanks for visiting!
Train Rider
As bad as the service is there must be some level of accountability by the riders. People take their time getting on and off the train. It is selfish and inconsiderate for riders to wait until the train stops in order to put on their jacket and grab their bag. Clearly, the service requires drastic improvement, but it is clear the there won't be immediate changes anytime soon. A huge problem on the trains I ride is the excessive amount of time each train spends at a given stop. That is seemingly indicative not only to the service but also the riders slowly moving off the train.
I think I respectfully disagree with the last comment. The train schedule has always needed to factor in the time it takes people to get on and off, and I don't see any major reason why it's suddenly gotten significantly worse. Maybe we can attribute some of it to snow and icy conditions, people having more coats/umbrellas/etc...but such delays would be brief at best.
Plus, I pay for a seat, and prefer to sit on it until I need to get up. I find the people who spend the last 5 minutes of their trip standing in the aisles to be pretty silly. I have my laptop out and try to get work done, and I can't do much of anything standing in line like a sheep because there's going to be a race for the door.
Duane
http://www.commutesmarter.com
Regarding slowness among passengers disembarking/boarding at stops, I would agree. Usually my train (the 508) is good for a 10-12 minute late arrival, but if Framingham, West Natick and Ashland riders could step it up some, we'd get back 5-7 minutes right there. We often sit there in Framingham for five minutes waiting for people to board. Look folks, in other cities, the damn train comes flying in, you get the *&* on and it LEAVES.
See San Francisco's BART system. No, we cannot have the same thing here, but at least as commuters we can figure out that you gotta put in some hustle in order to make the system work.
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