Boston’s new $2.2 billion subway expansion must slow trains’ speeds to just THREE miles per hour while fixing defects that could trigger a derailment – meaning most commuters will go faster can walk
- The Green Line extension, which opened last year, is already experiencing problems with the tracks, resulting in train speeds being drastically reduced
- Last month, the system added 18 speed limits and removed just one
Boston’s new $2.2 billion subway expansion had to slow train service to just three miles per hour, meaning most commuters can walk faster.
The Green Line extension, opened last year by the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, is already suffering from problems with its tracks — meaning train speeds have been drastically reduced.
The broken tracks – caused by metal being too close together in many places – cause trains to travel slower than the average person can walk.
This is despite the fact that they were closed for repairs just a few months after opening.
There is a risk of derailment when trains travel at full speed on the narrow tracks, so extra slow service is now required on Line 11 on the Medford Branch and 3 on the Union Square Branch.
The Green Line extension, which opened last year, is already experiencing problems with the tracks, resulting in train speeds being drastically reduced
MBTA CEO Phil Eng took over the struggling agency in April
Several rounds of scanning of the transportation system have identified several issues related to track width.
Last month, the system added 18 speed limits and removed just one.
MBTA CEO Phil Eng said in a statement when he took over the struggling transit agency in April: “We remain committed to addressing the infrastructure issues we inherited, caused by years of divestment and prior decisions that led us to this point have.”
“We know we have a lot of work ahead of us, not only to restore public trust as we lift speed limits, but also to rebuild our workforce and reorganize our leadership team.”
Taylor Rossi, who was driving on the Medford turnoff, said she occasionally accepts slow speeds – but Tuesday was the worst she’s ever seen.
The broken tracks – caused by metal being too close together in many places – cause trains to travel slower than the average person can walk
She told the Boston Globe, “I feel like I probably could have run faster.”
MBTA’s dashboard showed trains traveling at speeds of three miles per hour during some stretches of the route.
According to the newspaper, cyclists and pedestrians raced past the train on the tracks.
An MBTA spokesperson told NBC10 Boston: “Earlier this month, MBTA track inspectors conducted a regular geometry scan of the Green Line Extension tracks and found some areas where the width between rails was slightly outside the limits of regular track standards.”
“The MBTA is working to determine the cause of these gauge deviations.”
There are plans to lift the three speed limits at the Union Square branch until the branch reopens, spokesman Joe Pesaturo said.
He said: “We are making every effort to resume this work this week.”