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Article published Feb 5, 2008
On-time T trains pick up steam
Commuter service to Hub cuts delays
Delays on commuter trains traveling between Worcester and Boston, though more frequent than delays on other commuter lines, have decreased in recent months.
On-time performance across the entire 13-line Commuter Rail system dipped to record lows in 2007. The Framingham-Worcester line — the only line owned and operated by national railroad corporation CSX — historically has experienced the most problems, because commuter trains often are delayed by freight trains that travel the same route.
In 2007, 66 percent of commuter trains on the Framingham-Worcester line arrived on time, according to the Massachusetts Bay Commuter Railroad Co., which runs the Commuter Rail for the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority.
In 2006 and 2005, about 86 percent of trains on the Worcester line arrived on time. MBCR calls trains on time if they arrive within five minutes of their scheduled arrival time.
Officials could not pinpoint what caused delays to soar 20 percent last year, but blamed everything from bad weather and extensive track work to unproductive employees.
Over the last few months, on-time performance has improved for all rail commuters. Performance on the Worcester line, though still lagging behind the rest of the system, has improved from only 58 percent of trains arriving on time in November to 69 percent arriving on time in January.
Since the dip in on-time performance last fall, representatives from the MBTA, MBCR and CSX have held daily phone meetings about improving timely service.
In an interview yesterday, MBTA General Manager Daniel A. Grabauskas said those meetings seem to have helped.
“The good news is it appears to be paying off in on-time performance across the system, and particularly on the Worcester line. It’s not happening as quickly as I’d like to see — and certainly not as quickly as our customers would like to see — but we are seeing movement in the right direction,” he said.
State transportation officials have long voiced frustration at what they consider CSX’s priority to freight trains over passenger trains on the Worcester line.
“It’s always an extra battle to get on-time performance on the Worcester line,” Mr. Grabauskas said. “Our staff has been working cooperatively but making it clear that we were unhappy with the way things were going with on-time performance. … We’re moving in the right direction after six months of decline.”
He said improved service is a result of many factors, including better weather conditions, some additional staffing and more reliable mechanical equipment. Disgruntled union employees who caused a “work slowdown” last year now are being more cooperative, he added.
CSX spokesman Robert Sullivan said CSX initiated the now-regular phone conversations between transportation officials to improve on-time performance on the Worcester line.
He declined to elaborate what has surfaced in those meetings and directed questions about any specific changes made to improve service to MBCR.
“The important thing is MBCR, the MBTA and CSX started meeting, basically, daily to review the performance of the trains,” he said. “At that point the objective is to find out … what the issues were. There were a lot of issues.”
The Framingham-Worcester line stops 17 times from Union Station in Worcester and South Station in Boston. It is one of the best-traveled lines on the Commuter Rail, carrying more than 18,000 passengers each weekday.
On all Commuter Rail lines, just over 83 percent of commuter trains were on time in 2007, compared to 66 percent on the Worcester line, according to MBCR. Sixty-nine percent of commuter trains systemwide were on time in November, compared to more than 77 percent arriving on time in January.
Contact Priyanka Dayal by e-mail at pdayal@telegram.com.
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