I'm on the lookout for a wrapped commuter rail train. I wonder what line got to have the train first? I tried to find some photos, but nothing has been posted yet.
My morning commute was fine. I was on the P508 train. We got to South Station at 8:21 a.m. As the headline says, it was packed on my car.
Showing posts with label Train. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Train. Show all posts
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Special Request
Train Stopping has been contacted by a reporter for a national publication who is interested in speaking with Boston-area commuters who have recently started commuting via the commuter rail/public transportation instead of driving to work due to the high cost of gas.
If you have recently started riding the rails or taking the bus instead of driving to work, please feel free to contact me, Train Rider, at worctrainrider AT gmail.com or send an email to Commute-a-holic at commuteaholic AT gmail.com.
The cost of gas impacts all of us. Commute-a-holic said it was the lead story on the Today Show this morning. One analyst believes that gas could go as high as $12 a gallon. Both Commute-a-holic and I remember the gas crisis of the 1970s. It is a shame that we squandered 30 years of dilly-dallying instead of coming up with viable energy options to fossil fuels. Hopefully the rising energy costs is a wake-up call for all of us to be more mindful of our decisions.
In commute-related news, I had a status quo commute. My train arrived to South Station at around 8:22 a.m. today and I took the Silver Line to my office.
If you have recently started riding the rails or taking the bus instead of driving to work, please feel free to contact me, Train Rider, at worctrainrider AT gmail.com or send an email to Commute-a-holic at commuteaholic AT gmail.com.
The cost of gas impacts all of us. Commute-a-holic said it was the lead story on the Today Show this morning. One analyst believes that gas could go as high as $12 a gallon. Both Commute-a-holic and I remember the gas crisis of the 1970s. It is a shame that we squandered 30 years of dilly-dallying instead of coming up with viable energy options to fossil fuels. Hopefully the rising energy costs is a wake-up call for all of us to be more mindful of our decisions.
In commute-related news, I had a status quo commute. My train arrived to South Station at around 8:22 a.m. today and I took the Silver Line to my office.
Monday, May 5, 2008
Great Rail Summit of 2008 This Friday
This Friday, May 9th from 8:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. the Great Rail Summit comes to Worcester. The event is being held at the DCU Center in downtown Worcester. Lt. Governor Tim Murray scheduled the summit and former Governor Michael Dukakis will give the keynote address.
Neither Train Rider nor I can make it, but we'll try to keep everyone posted about the event. The needs and challenges of rail service in Central Mass. will be discussed.
Neither Train Rider nor I can make it, but we'll try to keep everyone posted about the event. The needs and challenges of rail service in Central Mass. will be discussed.
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Missed My Train So I Took the P512 Train to Work Today
So I missed the P508 train this morning. I waited for the P512, which departs Grafton at 7:49 a.m.
What a cluster "eff." Initially, my commute seemed fine. However, when we got to Framingham, the P510 had not even left yet, so everyone waiting in Framingham got onto the P512. Then at the Natick and Wellesley stops, it seemed like we just sat on the tracks while they kept on making the same announcement that "our train was the Express train, etc." over and over again. Thankfull, due to the new train schedule, we were only two minutes behind once we got to Back Bay Station. We pulled in at 8:04 a.m. instead of the scheduled 8:02 a.m. time.
Blah! Not for the time we pulled into Back Bay but for the drama of today's commute.
What a cluster "eff." Initially, my commute seemed fine. However, when we got to Framingham, the P510 had not even left yet, so everyone waiting in Framingham got onto the P512. Then at the Natick and Wellesley stops, it seemed like we just sat on the tracks while they kept on making the same announcement that "our train was the Express train, etc." over and over again. Thankfull, due to the new train schedule, we were only two minutes behind once we got to Back Bay Station. We pulled in at 8:04 a.m. instead of the scheduled 8:02 a.m. time.
Blah! Not for the time we pulled into Back Bay but for the drama of today's commute.
Monday, March 17, 2008
Train Guru George M. Sanborn
While I was in college and graduate school, I interned at the State Transportation Library. Located in the State Transportation Building, the Transportation Library was an effort that was supported by the MBTA, Mass Pike and Massport.
I had the privilege of working with George M. Sanborn. George, a MBTA employee, was the preeminent authority on trains and transit systems for Massachusetts and beyond.
I read in today's The Boston Globe that George passed away on Saturday. The Globe wrote a lovely article about George. I was touched by this article because George did not have any immediate family beyond other train enthusiasts.
George was able to take his passion for trains and apply it to his day-to-day job. While he was cantankerous at times, it was really nice to work with someone who was so passionate about their field. He would always take the time to speak to any train enthusiast - from a 4 year old who liked "Thomas the Train" through MIT graduate students. Everyone who was interested in trains could spend time with George to learn first hand experience about trains and mass transit.
I'm sure George is riding a train somewhere.
I had the privilege of working with George M. Sanborn. George, a MBTA employee, was the preeminent authority on trains and transit systems for Massachusetts and beyond.
I read in today's The Boston Globe that George passed away on Saturday. The Globe wrote a lovely article about George. I was touched by this article because George did not have any immediate family beyond other train enthusiasts.
George was able to take his passion for trains and apply it to his day-to-day job. While he was cantankerous at times, it was really nice to work with someone who was so passionate about their field. He would always take the time to speak to any train enthusiast - from a 4 year old who liked "Thomas the Train" through MIT graduate students. Everyone who was interested in trains could spend time with George to learn first hand experience about trains and mass transit.
I'm sure George is riding a train somewhere.
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Commuter Rail Delays = Not Just Because of the Weather
"Springtime in January" is how best to describe today's weather.
What does the weather have to do with the commuter rail trains? Well, usually most of the delays are because of the weather . . . too hot, too cold, too rainy, too windy, too snowy.
Well, for some riders on the Middleborough/Lakeville inbound train this morning, the weather had nothing to do with the delay (just to prove that crappy train delays aren't always caused by the weather).
My manager's train caught on fire this morning and they had to be moved to another train, which then broke down and then had to be pushed into Boston. Talk about a commute from hell.
Fortunately, I have yet to experience a fire on the Worcester-Framingham line. But the Middelborough/Lakeville peeps had a pretty lousy way to start their day.
What does the weather have to do with the commuter rail trains? Well, usually most of the delays are because of the weather . . . too hot, too cold, too rainy, too windy, too snowy.
Well, for some riders on the Middleborough/Lakeville inbound train this morning, the weather had nothing to do with the delay (just to prove that crappy train delays aren't always caused by the weather).
My manager's train caught on fire this morning and they had to be moved to another train, which then broke down and then had to be pushed into Boston. Talk about a commute from hell.
Fortunately, I have yet to experience a fire on the Worcester-Framingham line. But the Middelborough/Lakeville peeps had a pretty lousy way to start their day.
Thursday, December 6, 2007
Chilly Willy
This morning's inbound commute was OK.
I think the heat wasn't working in the first car, although I can't be sure. I just noticed everyone who was standing to board the first car had to come to my car.
We ended up sitting outside of BU for about 10 minutes because we had a red signal for some reason. Random delays.
I think the heat wasn't working in the first car, although I can't be sure. I just noticed everyone who was standing to board the first car had to come to my car.
We ended up sitting outside of BU for about 10 minutes because we had a red signal for some reason. Random delays.
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
Halted
It is a brisk 20 degrees outside, so I don't know why I thought that today's commute wouldn't be extra long.
I'm blogging from the train. We're stopped in Framingham. There are two trains ahead of us, one of which is broken down at Natick. So we're sitting and waiting ... Going to be a lovely day on the train. NOT!
Joy oh joy, we get to pick up two trains full of people (the broken down ones). Yay!
If the T knows that trains are broken, why can't they coordinate efforts with their buses and bus people in from the other stations (such as Natick). But noooo, instead they'll just keep on loading up the train I'm on and move people slowly into the city.
It is going to be a long commute!
I'm blogging from the train. We're stopped in Framingham. There are two trains ahead of us, one of which is broken down at Natick. So we're sitting and waiting ... Going to be a lovely day on the train. NOT!
Joy oh joy, we get to pick up two trains full of people (the broken down ones). Yay!
If the T knows that trains are broken, why can't they coordinate efforts with their buses and bus people in from the other stations (such as Natick). But noooo, instead they'll just keep on loading up the train I'm on and move people slowly into the city.
It is going to be a long commute!
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Welcome
Perhaps there isn't a better day to launch a blog about the trials and tribulations of commuting by commuter rail in Massachusetts than on the busiest travel day of the year.
I've been commuting into Boston on the Worcester-Framingham-Boston Commuter Rail line for close to five years. And I'm tired of the delays. I'm tired of paying $250 a month for what amounts to second class service. If I could only get paid back the time and the money spent traveling into Boston on the Pike, sitting in traffic - perhaps I wouldn't have to commute into Boston anymore.
This morning I read two articles that have angered me and inspired me. The Boston edition of the Metro confirmed what I have known for months - that the commuter rail employees are actively waging a silent strike (http://www.metrobostonnews.com/us/article/2007/11/21/02/5337-72/index.xml).
The second article, from today's Boston Globe, published yet another article on commuter rail delays (http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2007/11/21/commuter_rail_delays_are_worst_in_a_year/).
I'm tired of waiting on delayed trains or sitting in traffic in my attempt to get into work. I'm motivated to take action and I hope I can inspire some of my fellow commuters to engage in a conservation that will improve commuter rail service in Massachusetts.
Happy Thanksgiving and here's to finding a blissful commute.
Train Rider!
I've been commuting into Boston on the Worcester-Framingham-Boston Commuter Rail line for close to five years. And I'm tired of the delays. I'm tired of paying $250 a month for what amounts to second class service. If I could only get paid back the time and the money spent traveling into Boston on the Pike, sitting in traffic - perhaps I wouldn't have to commute into Boston anymore.
This morning I read two articles that have angered me and inspired me. The Boston edition of the Metro confirmed what I have known for months - that the commuter rail employees are actively waging a silent strike (http://www.metrobostonnews.com/us/article/2007/11/21/02/5337-72/index.xml).
The second article, from today's Boston Globe, published yet another article on commuter rail delays (http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2007/11/21/commuter_rail_delays_are_worst_in_a_year/).
I'm tired of waiting on delayed trains or sitting in traffic in my attempt to get into work. I'm motivated to take action and I hope I can inspire some of my fellow commuters to engage in a conservation that will improve commuter rail service in Massachusetts.
Happy Thanksgiving and here's to finding a blissful commute.
Train Rider!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
