Train service on a section of the MBTA’s Red Line was halted for more than four hours Tuesday after a maintenance vehicle derailed and damaged the third rail inside Park Street Station in downtown Boston, the transit agency said.
The MBTA reported the derailment at 5:47 a.m. and annonunced at 10:16 a.m. that repairs had been completed and train service had resumed.
“The MBTA apologizes to Red Line riders affected by this morning’s incident involving a piece of track maintenance equipment,” MBTA spokesman Joseph Pesaturo said by email. The derailment canceled trains between Broadway and Harvard Square stations.
The delays frustrated commuters, some of whom said the MBTA’s chronic issues may force them to give up on public transit.
Franky Santana, 28, usually takes the Red Line to Cambridge and then a bus to his job in Watertown. But things don’t always go to plan.
“When there’s any delays or issues with the T, I’m not really surprised anymore,” he said. “I’m more surprised [if] there aren’t any issues these days.”
Santana said he tried using Uber as an alternative to the MBTA, but it was too expensive. With the frequent delays on the subway, he is now considering punting on public transit altogether.
“I’m most likely going to start driving soon,” Santana said. Getting a car will solve his commuting problems “tremendously.”
At Park Street Station, some passengers rushed to board buses before realizing they had gotten on the wrong one. MBTA personnel were deluged with requests for help.
Deedee Jones, 34, usually takes the Red Line to South Station and the commuter rail to the Route 128 station in Westwood, where she takes a shuttle to her office. On Tuesday, she had to pay for a rideshare to South Station and hope that she can make the connections she needs. If she misses the shuttle in Westwood, it’s a 25 minute walk to her office, she said.
“It’s ridiculous, it’s super inconvenient to us taxpayers,” she said. “I just, I hate it. I really do.”
No one was injured in the derailment, which took place at 4:45 a.m. Personnel were moving equipment and material through the Red Line tunnel for use during the impending upgrades of Kendall and Alewife stations, which is scheduled to start Saturday and last for 16 days.
The MBTA recommended that passengers use the commuter rail from JFK/UMass Station in Dorchester to reach South Station or take the commuter rail at Porter Square and travel to North Station.
The disruption on the Red Line caused other delays as well. During the height of Red Line problems, delays of up to 25 minutes were reported on two Silver Line buses, from Nubian Square to South Station and from Nubian Square to Downtown Crossing.
Red Line Update: Repairs to the track have been completed, and shuttle buses are being phased out. Normal service has resumed between Harvard and Broadway. https://t.co/zZQRuOKvKw
— MBTA (@MBTA) July 9, 2024
This is a developing story.
Sabrina Lam can be reached at [email protected]. John R. Ellement can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him @JREbosglobe.
Jessica Roberts is a seasoned business writer who deciphers the intricacies of the corporate world. With a focus on finance and entrepreneurship, she provides readers with valuable insights into market trends, startup innovations, and economic developments.
