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| B&M Depot, Haymarket Square, Boston MA (circa 1889) |
Showing posts with label railroad. Show all posts
Showing posts with label railroad. Show all posts
Monday, March 16, 2026
Boston & Maine Depot, Haymarket Square Boston MA - circa 1889
Friday, August 8, 2025
The Granite Railway, America's First Railroad - Quincy MA
Shown below are the two commemorative tablets attached to the granite obelisks at the foot of the railway incline. They appear to have replaced original cast-metal ones.
Thursday, May 1, 2025
New Rail Company Restarts Operations on Rockland Line
(SOURCE: Maine Public - Nicole Ogrysko)
Freight operations are resuming on the Rockland Branch railroad. The Unity-based company Maine Switching Services finalized a lease agreement with the Maine Department of Transportation earlier this week to begin using the nearly 57-mile long freight line."We are reactivating signaling systems at railroad crossings to allow for freight rail to resume," said Finn Kelly, government relations manager and spokesperson for Maine Switching Services. "We do have customers who are actively wanting to move their products now."
Customers include Dragon Cement Products in Thomaston, which will use the freight line again to move products, Finn said.
The Rockland line's previous operator, Midcoast Railservice, stopped operations in August after Dragon Cement stopped production. A subsidiary of the German company Heidelberg Materials is closing on its acquisition of Dragon Cement.
Maine Switching Services is not yet proposing to add passenger rail service on the Rockland branch, though Kelly said it remains a goal for the company. It's also exploring the possibility of offering scenic train excursions.
Midcoast Railservice had been working with Amtrack, Maine DOT and the Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority, which operates the Downeaster, to add passenger service between Rockland and Brunswick. But those plans died out when Midcoast ceased operations last summer.
Maine Switching Services has, however, submitted a proposal with Maine DOT to restore rail service on the 33-mile stretch from Brunswick to Augusta, known as the Lower Road corridor. The company said the corridor is viable for passenger rail.
But the proposal is at odds with recommendations from the Lower Road Rail Use Advisory Council,
a group of nearby residents, town officials and some state lawmakers. The council wants DOT to remove the railroad track and construct a recreational trail from Brunswick to Gardiner.
Kelly said Maine Switching Services is talking with trail advocates and believes both groups could achieve their respective goals.
"They want to see economic development. They want to see environmentally friendly and accessible transportation, and those are the same things that we want," Kelly said.
The Legislature is considering a bill that would authorize DOT to remove the tracks for trail construction
Saturday, September 10, 2022
New Push for Boston-to-Montreal Passenger Trains
(SOURCE: Wilson Ring, Holly Ramer, https://apnews.com/article/travel-boston-canada-d2600621dc5fa2ce2af2a3b7825a65b7)
PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Rail advocates are dusting off a proposal for passenger train service between Montreal and Boston, riding a renewed interest in train travel to bolster a concept that has been around for more than a decade.
“It’s not a hard sell at all. A lot of people want this,” said Francois Rebello, a former national assembly member in Quebec and a consultant on the project.
Hundreds of travelers would ride a privately operated, overnight train each day if obstacles can be overcome to make the service a reality in coming years, according to a ridership study.
It wouldn’t be a high-speed affair. Promoters envision a different experience — a relaxed ride with a meal and sleep before arriving bright-eyed at the destination. The 14-hour ride would travel through Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont and Quebec.
The proposal comes against a backdrop of a rail revival, and more than $100 billion in railway infrastructure funding approved by Congress.
Maine State Sen. Richard Bennett, a Republican who lives in a district where the train would pass, said there’s much work to be done.
“I’m both excited and skeptical,” he said. “I certainly support the concept and I think it has a lot of promise. I think this can be done.”
But the proposal is in the early stages and the obstacles are many.
The track on the Canadian side of the border requires more than $100 million in upgrades and repairs. The track is in good shape through northern New England but the speed is limited to about 35 mph (56 kph) for a long stretch, and there’s little hope of securing additional funding to boost the speed.
Operators would have to negotiate agreements with several private owners of the rail — the Saint Lawrence and Atlantic, CSX and others — and there could be multiple crews required for the train. Then there’s the question of clearing customs with people coming and going at multiple train stops, and finding scarce equipment.
The idea for restoring Montreal-to-Boston passenger rail service for the first time since the 1960s has been bounced around for more than a decade, and several different rail routes have been floated over the years.
This time, the proposed route would follow Canadian Pacific Railway track from Montreal to Sherbrooke, Quebec, and then the St. Lawrence and Atlantic across Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine, where a CSX-owned rail passes through Old Orchard Beach, a popular Maine tourist destination for Canadians. The final stretch is operated by the Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority.
Carl Fowler, a member of the Vermont Rail Advisory Council, is a rail advocate who likes the idea of expanded passenger rail service. But he said people have to be realistic about the proposal’s challenges.
“There are a lot of loose ends to be resolved,” he said.
Proponents have engaged with the Canadian Pacific Railway and the corporate parent of St. Lawrence and Atlantic, and the Canadian government already has considered investing in railway upgrades, Rebello said. Montreal real estate entrepreneur Nikolai Ray has signed on an investor.
About 60 rail advocates, legislators, tourism officials and others gathered recently in Coaticook, Quebec, to discuss the vision promoted by Montreal-based Fondation Trains De Nuit, or Night Train Foundation, and view a proposed map. Notably absent were state transportation officials from Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont.
But the project won’t start anytime soon. The most optimistic view is that the project would need at least two years to become a reality, he said. However, it could take longer to secure funding and rail agreements.
A motorist could get from Boston to Montreal twice as fast but rail advocates say riders would get there in style. People could have dinner, be entertained and sleep in a comfortable bed, proponents say. They’d also be spared the cost of a hotel fee, since they’d be sleeping and showering on the train, supporters said.
The project holds appeal both for older riders who are nostalgic about trains and a younger generation that’s less enthralled with cars, Rebello said.
Rail enthusiast Sarah LeBaron von Baeyer, who lives outside Boston and doesn’t drive, said she “wholeheartedly” embraces mass transit that would allow her to visit family and friends in Canada several times a year.
“I love train travel. I lived in Japan for many years. It was absolutely the best way to get around,” she said.
PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Rail advocates are dusting off a proposal for passenger train service between Montreal and Boston, riding a renewed interest in train travel to bolster a concept that has been around for more than a decade.
“It’s not a hard sell at all. A lot of people want this,” said Francois Rebello, a former national assembly member in Quebec and a consultant on the project.
Hundreds of travelers would ride a privately operated, overnight train each day if obstacles can be overcome to make the service a reality in coming years, according to a ridership study.
It wouldn’t be a high-speed affair. Promoters envision a different experience — a relaxed ride with a meal and sleep before arriving bright-eyed at the destination. The 14-hour ride would travel through Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont and Quebec.
The proposal comes against a backdrop of a rail revival, and more than $100 billion in railway infrastructure funding approved by Congress.
Maine State Sen. Richard Bennett, a Republican who lives in a district where the train would pass, said there’s much work to be done.
“I’m both excited and skeptical,” he said. “I certainly support the concept and I think it has a lot of promise. I think this can be done.”
But the proposal is in the early stages and the obstacles are many.
The track on the Canadian side of the border requires more than $100 million in upgrades and repairs. The track is in good shape through northern New England but the speed is limited to about 35 mph (56 kph) for a long stretch, and there’s little hope of securing additional funding to boost the speed.
Operators would have to negotiate agreements with several private owners of the rail — the Saint Lawrence and Atlantic, CSX and others — and there could be multiple crews required for the train. Then there’s the question of clearing customs with people coming and going at multiple train stops, and finding scarce equipment.
The idea for restoring Montreal-to-Boston passenger rail service for the first time since the 1960s has been bounced around for more than a decade, and several different rail routes have been floated over the years.
This time, the proposed route would follow Canadian Pacific Railway track from Montreal to Sherbrooke, Quebec, and then the St. Lawrence and Atlantic across Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine, where a CSX-owned rail passes through Old Orchard Beach, a popular Maine tourist destination for Canadians. The final stretch is operated by the Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority.
Carl Fowler, a member of the Vermont Rail Advisory Council, is a rail advocate who likes the idea of expanded passenger rail service. But he said people have to be realistic about the proposal’s challenges.
“There are a lot of loose ends to be resolved,” he said.
Proponents have engaged with the Canadian Pacific Railway and the corporate parent of St. Lawrence and Atlantic, and the Canadian government already has considered investing in railway upgrades, Rebello said. Montreal real estate entrepreneur Nikolai Ray has signed on an investor.
About 60 rail advocates, legislators, tourism officials and others gathered recently in Coaticook, Quebec, to discuss the vision promoted by Montreal-based Fondation Trains De Nuit, or Night Train Foundation, and view a proposed map. Notably absent were state transportation officials from Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont.
But the project won’t start anytime soon. The most optimistic view is that the project would need at least two years to become a reality, he said. However, it could take longer to secure funding and rail agreements.
A motorist could get from Boston to Montreal twice as fast but rail advocates say riders would get there in style. People could have dinner, be entertained and sleep in a comfortable bed, proponents say. They’d also be spared the cost of a hotel fee, since they’d be sleeping and showering on the train, supporters said.
Rail enthusiast Sarah LeBaron von Baeyer, who lives outside Boston and doesn’t drive, said she “wholeheartedly” embraces mass transit that would allow her to visit family and friends in Canada several times a year.
“I love train travel. I lived in Japan for many years. It was absolutely the best way to get around,” she said.
Thursday, May 19, 2022
CSX Receives Approval from Surface Transportation Board to Acquire Pan Am Railways
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| Trains SEPO & BFPO, Westford MA 2016 |
“CSX is pleased that the STB approved the proposed acquisition of Pan Am and has recognized the significant benefits this transaction will bring to shippers and other New England stakeholders,” said president and chief executive officer, James M. Foote. “We look forward to integrating Pan Am, their employees and the rail-served industries of the Northeast into CSX and to working in partnership with connecting railroads to provide exceptional supply chain solutions to New England and beyond.”
David A. Fink, president of Pan Am Railways said: “This much anticipated decision paves the way for an exciting new chapter for Pan Am customers and our employees as we begin our transition to the CSX team.”
Adding Pan Am to our network will extend the reach of our service to a wider customer base over an expanded territory, creating new efficiencies and market prospects for customers to capitalize on a robust pipeline of growth opportunities to move freight to, from and within New England.
With this transaction, New England will benefit from CSX’s track record as a leader in environmental performance. CSX will operate Pan Am with a more reliable and more fuel-efficient fleet, significantly reducing fuel consumption and improving rail’s environmental footprint in the region.
Passenger and commuter carriers in New England will benefit as the company is committed to maintaining or improving existing passenger service that operates on Pan Am. CSX has a long-standing history of working cooperatively with Amtrak and other passenger rail partners as evidenced by the significant improvement in contractual on-time performance with Amtrak since CSX has implemented its new operating model.
Headquartered in North Billerica, Massachusetts, Pan Am owns and operates a highly integrated, nearly 1,200-mile rail network and has a partial interest in the more than 600-mile Pan Am Southern system. Pan Am’s network across New England has access to multiple ports and large-scale commodity producers. The transaction will expand CSX’s reach in Connecticut, New York and Massachusetts while adding Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine to its existing 23-state network.
Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC acted as financial advisor and Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP acted as legal advisor to CSX in connection with the transaction.
Saturday, December 11, 2021
New Owner Hopes to Bring Back the Glory of the Greenville NH Railroad Station
... Tom Hawkins of Temple recently purchased the building to be the new home of his sign fabrication business. But, he also has another goal – bringing back the building’s original shape, when it was first built and used as the Greenville rail station.
“I didn’t really want to do my business in a restaurant, but it dawned on me that I could peel it back and get back to its original shape,” Hawkins said. “And I realized it’s a real gem.” ... READ MORE
Sunday, December 5, 2021
The Union Freight Railroad Office - 87 Atlantic Ave Boston MA
The Union Freight Railroad's office at 87 Atlantic Avenue, Boston MA. Judging by the cars, I'd guess the photo was taken in the 1940s. The building at right still exists.
Sunday, August 8, 2021
Boston & Maine Railroad 99-Car Freight at Waltham MA 5/30/1928
I wondered why a photographer would make a special note of the "99 cars", and tried finding newspaper accounts via the Boston Public Library e-resources.
On May 19th a special train for then president Calvin Coolidge was run on the B&M to Andover MA. The president spoke at Phillips Academy for their 150th anniversary. But that event was 11 days before the "99 car train" ran.
On June 5th the B&M had a celebration to open the new hump yards at Somerville, complete with a "parade of boxcars" to demonstrate the system to over 1,000 guests. Were those 99 cars "props" en route for that event?
Was 99 even a lot of fright cars on one train for that era?
AND did railroads close down for Memorial Day Weekend in the 1920s? Was this train run to get freight moved before the holiday?
Well, in 1928, Memorial Day was also called Decoration Day, and it was celebrated on May 30th, not the last Monday in May like today. That means the train in the photo ran ON Memorial Day! Perhaps the photographer just plain had a day off from work and went trackside?
Unless the train was mentioned in an employee magazine, we may never know just what caused the photographer to document that particular train.
Now, what about the location of the photo? It seems to me if the train is on the Fitchburg mainline, then the old Central Massachusetts line is at right. That means the train is somewhere west of Waverley in the Clematis Brook area and traveling "eastbound" toward Boston.
There also appears to be an overhead road bridge in the background, with some semaphore signals just visible. That could be the Linden Street bridge BUT it should be off to the right of the Fitchburg main, so that may possibly just be a signal bridge.
A period track chart would come in useful...
The easiest info to find is the locomotive type: 2-10-2 "Santa Fe" Alco S1-a, built in 1920.
Am I delving too much into this photograph? YOU BET! But HEY, it keeps me off the mean streets!
Sunday, February 7, 2021
The Boston & Maine Railroad's Minuteman Logo - A Small History
The patriotic logo was apt for a railroad so connected to Boston, Lexington, and Concord Massachusetts. And here in Massachusetts, when someone says "The Minuteman Statue", you have to then ask "which one?". For there are TWO of them, one in Lexington and one in Concord.
The Concord statue was made by Daniel Chester French and was "unveiled for the Centennial celebration of the battle on April 19, 1875... is set near the spot where the first colonial militia men were killed in Concord... 7 foot tall bronze statue was cast from old Civil War cannons by the Ames Foundry of Chicopee Massachusetts. The pedestal base measures 7 ½ feet tall and 4 ½ feet on each side. Inscribed on the front facing is the first stanza of the poem 'The Concord Hymn' by Ralph Waldo Emerson".
The B&M logo was based in the Concord statue.
The B&M logo was based in the Concord statue.
With the takeover of the B&M by Patrick McGinnis in the 1950s came a switch of maroon/gold paint to (in general) one of blue/black/white.
To mark the United State's bicentennial in 1976, the old Minuteman was applied to various equipment, such as boxcar 77039 and locomotives 200, 1750 & 1751.
In 2021, both statues are still with us, but the Boston & Maine in Lexington is now the Minuteman bike path, and in Concord is the MBTA Fitchburg commuter line. No name passenger trains, no freight trains. The B&M name itself is set to finally die with the purchase of Pan Am Railways by CSX.
https://www.tourlexington.us/attractions/pages/minuteman-statue
https://www.nps.gov/mima/learn/historyculture/the-minute-man-statue-by-daniel-chester-french.htm
http://www.faracresfarm.com/jbvb/rr/bmrr/diesel.html
Wednesday, December 2, 2020
CSX to Acquire Pan Am Railways in New England
SOURCE: 12:19 pm ET December 1, 2020 (Globe Newswire)
CSX Corp. (NASDAQ: CSX) today announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire New England's Pan Am Railways, Inc. ("Pan Am"), whose rail carrier subsidiaries comprise North America's largest regional railroad.
Headquartered in North Billerica, Massachusetts, Pan Am owns and operates a highly integrated, nearly 1,200-mile rail network and has a partial interest in the more than 600-mile Pan Am Southern system. Pan Am's network across New England has access to multiple ports and large-scale commodity producers. The transaction will expand CSX's reach in Connecticut, New York and Massachusetts while adding Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine to its existing 23-state network.
The transaction will provide significant benefits to shippers and local communities as CSX integrates Pan Am into its best-in-class network. CSX made nearly $1.5 billion in infrastructure capital expenditures in its network in 2019, supporting economic growth and ensuring the safety and efficiency of the supply chain.
James M. Foote, president and chief executive officer of CSX, said: "In Pan Am, CSX gains a strong regional rail network in one of the most densely populated markets in the U.S., creating new efficiencies and market opportunities for customers as we continue to grow. We intend to bring CSX's customer-centric focus and industry-leading operating model to shippers and industries served by Pan Am. We look forward to integrating Pan Am into CSX, with substantial benefits to the rail-served industries of the Northeast, and to working in partnership with connecting railroads to provide exceptional supply chain solutions to New England and beyond."
David A. Fink, president of Pan Am Railways, said: "Pan Am is pleased to reach this agreement with CSX, a North American leader in rail-based freight transportation. This is great news for New England shippers and the national freight network overall."
Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. The transaction is subject to regulatory review and approval by the Surface Transportation Board.
Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC is acting as financial advisor and Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP is acting as legal advisor to CSX in connection with the transaction.
CSX Corp. (NASDAQ: CSX) today announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire New England's Pan Am Railways, Inc. ("Pan Am"), whose rail carrier subsidiaries comprise North America's largest regional railroad.
Headquartered in North Billerica, Massachusetts, Pan Am owns and operates a highly integrated, nearly 1,200-mile rail network and has a partial interest in the more than 600-mile Pan Am Southern system. Pan Am's network across New England has access to multiple ports and large-scale commodity producers. The transaction will expand CSX's reach in Connecticut, New York and Massachusetts while adding Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine to its existing 23-state network.
The transaction will provide significant benefits to shippers and local communities as CSX integrates Pan Am into its best-in-class network. CSX made nearly $1.5 billion in infrastructure capital expenditures in its network in 2019, supporting economic growth and ensuring the safety and efficiency of the supply chain.
James M. Foote, president and chief executive officer of CSX, said: "In Pan Am, CSX gains a strong regional rail network in one of the most densely populated markets in the U.S., creating new efficiencies and market opportunities for customers as we continue to grow. We intend to bring CSX's customer-centric focus and industry-leading operating model to shippers and industries served by Pan Am. We look forward to integrating Pan Am into CSX, with substantial benefits to the rail-served industries of the Northeast, and to working in partnership with connecting railroads to provide exceptional supply chain solutions to New England and beyond."
David A. Fink, president of Pan Am Railways, said: "Pan Am is pleased to reach this agreement with CSX, a North American leader in rail-based freight transportation. This is great news for New England shippers and the national freight network overall."
Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. The transaction is subject to regulatory review and approval by the Surface Transportation Board.
Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC is acting as financial advisor and Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP is acting as legal advisor to CSX in connection with the transaction.
Tuesday, March 17, 2020
Empty Bow NH Coal Train at West Chelmsford MA 3/17/20
Empty Bow (NH) coal train passes through West Chelmsford MA on a dreary St. Patrick's Day (3/17/20). Power was MEC/Pan Am 7620/7535/7542. It was strange seeing CSX coal cars instead of NS ones!
Wednesday, February 19, 2020
Thursday, February 13, 2020
West End Hoosac Tunnel Liner Collapse
There has been a failure of the liner on the west end of Hoosac Tunnel, causing debris to partly cover the track.
Norfolk Southern has issued the following press release:
Feb 12, 2020
Norfolk Southern’s partner, Pan Am Railways, has reported a partial wall collapse in the Hoosac Tunnel which affects all trains operating between Mechanicsville, New York, and Ayer, Massachusetts. Pan Am Railway’s engineering department is evaluating the situation and Norfolk Southern will provide updates as they are available. Customers with traffic in the affected area should expect delays of at least 48 hours.
LINKS:
https://www.wwlp.com/news/hoosac-tunnel-out-of-service-for-structural-evaluation/
https://www.rtands.com/freight/norfolk-southern-short-line-partner-suffers-partial-tunnel-wall-collapse/
https://www.news10.com/news/local-news/partially-collapsed-hoosac-tunnel-was-an-1800s-engineering-feat/
https://www.wwlp.com/news/local-news/berkshire-county/hoosac-tunnel-out-of-service-for-structural-evaluation/
UPDATE:
Videos are starting to be posted of the collapse
Norfolk Southern has issued the following press release:
Feb 12, 2020
Norfolk Southern’s partner, Pan Am Railways, has reported a partial wall collapse in the Hoosac Tunnel which affects all trains operating between Mechanicsville, New York, and Ayer, Massachusetts. Pan Am Railway’s engineering department is evaluating the situation and Norfolk Southern will provide updates as they are available. Customers with traffic in the affected area should expect delays of at least 48 hours.
https://www.wwlp.com/news/hoosac-tunnel-out-of-service-for-structural-evaluation/
https://www.rtands.com/freight/norfolk-southern-short-line-partner-suffers-partial-tunnel-wall-collapse/
https://www.news10.com/news/local-news/partially-collapsed-hoosac-tunnel-was-an-1800s-engineering-feat/
https://www.wwlp.com/news/local-news/berkshire-county/hoosac-tunnel-out-of-service-for-structural-evaluation/
UPDATE:
Videos are starting to be posted of the collapse
Monday, December 9, 2019
More Than 20 Arrested in Blockades of Train Delivering Coal to N.H. Power Plant
(SOURCE: Boston Globe)
Protesters blocked railroad freight tracks in Worcester, Ayer, and Hooksett , N.H. ,
on Saturday and Sunday, trying to keep a train from delivering coal to a New Hampshire
“In 2019, there’s no reason for us to still be burning
coal,” said Marla Marcum, director of the Climate Disobedience
Center
The train was delivering coal to Merrimack Station, a power
plant in Bow, N.H. The protests were part of an ongoing effort to shut down the
coal power plant.
No injuries were reported. Protesters called the train’s
dispatchers before they blocked the tracks so as not to take engineers by
surprise, Marcum said.
In Worcester
In Ayer, police arrested 12 people on charges of trespassing
on railroad property Sunday. All were released on personal recognizance and
scheduled to appear in Ayer District Court, Ayer Police Deputy Chief Brian Gill
said.
 |
| Bow Coal Train 1/26/10 |
Another 12 people were arrested on a railroad bridge in
Hooksett, where they had hung an anti-coal banner, said Rebecca Beaulieu, a
climate organizer with 350 New
Hampshire
They were charged with trespassing and are due in court in
January.
Coal Protesters Arrested for Blocking Train in Ayer MA
(SOURCE: Lowell Sun)
AYER — Environmental activists brandishing signs protesting
the use of gas and coal were arrested after they blocked the path of an
oncoming freight train during the early morning hours Sunday, authorities say.
Between 15 and 20 protesters — bundled in winter gear — were
found by police standing on the train tracks at about 3:45 a.m., according to
the Ayer Police Department Facebook page. The group held signs that stated,
“Stop the coal trains,” and “Coal Kills.”
After the protesters refused to leave the tracks, Ayer
Police said they contacted state police and police departments in Groton , Harvard, Littleton
According to police, 12 protesters were taken into custody
and charged with trespassing on railroad property. They will be arraigned in
Ayer District Court on Monday.
The names of the protesters facing charges were not
immediately available.
An investigation into the protest forced Ayer Police Sgt.
John MacDonald to break away from a motor vehicle accident involving a car into
a tree, according to the police Facebook post.
MBTA Safety Review Panel Final Report
Want to read more about the December 9, 2019 MBTA Safety Review Panel Final Report? Try these links:
https://d279m997dpfwgl.cloudfront.net/wp/2019/12/12-09_MBTA_Safety_Executive_Summary.pdf
https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2019/12/09/read-panel-summary-mbta-operations-and-safety/7cJoGcT8qEibnkZyDSkQGP/story.html
https://blog.mass.gov/transportation/mbta/mbta-safety-review-panel-recommendations-to-fmcb-to-improve-safety-for-t-riders-employees/
https://d279m997dpfwgl.cloudfront.net/wp/2019/12/12-09_MBTA_Safety_Executive_Summary.pdf
https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2019/12/09/read-panel-summary-mbta-operations-and-safety/7cJoGcT8qEibnkZyDSkQGP/story.html
https://blog.mass.gov/transportation/mbta/mbta-safety-review-panel-recommendations-to-fmcb-to-improve-safety-for-t-riders-employees/
Damning MBTA Safety Report Released
(SOURCE: Boston Globe - J. Ellement)
The MBTA’s safety system was examined by three outside
experts and their findings were damning at best. What follows is five of the
major conclusions outlined in the executive summary based on interviews with T
employees at every level of the workforce.
- The T has failed to include safety concerns in its daily
operations, routine maintenance schedules or long-term investment and
construction plans, according to the report.
“In essence, safety is not the priority at the T, but it
must be. To meet the demands of the future, the agency must address its safety
culture – it is critical to every aspect of the agency.’’
- Turnover at the top job, the T’s general manager, has
eroded the importance of safety issues at the very highest levels of the
region’s primary public transit system, the panel found. There have been nine
general managers since 2010.
“Leadership sets the
tone for safety ... the recurrent turnover in general managers (GMs) over the
past 10 years has been incredibly disruptive and has placed the agency in a
vulnerable position. This may be the overarching reason that we see the level
of safety deficiency at the agency.”
- T employees don’t talk to one another, and this is
especially troubling because safety concerns raised inside the agency rarely
reach the right person or office that can then take the needed corrective
action, the report found.
“There is a total lack of routine upward or downward
communication within the agency. Employees at all levels told the Panel that
the T has many siloes and that communication is rarely, if ever, done across
departments. Leadership has not identified or attempted to open channels of
communication with the workforce.... The only avenue for communication we
identified during this review is a ‘safety hotline’ which does not appear to
have received the confidence of the workforce in the field.”
- The T does have a stand-alone safety department but it is
an organizational orphan with little ability to play a forceful role in
workplace safety and other safety concerns facing the agency.
“The safety department, which should be providing day-to-day
leadership for safety initiatives, is somewhat debilitated in what they can
accomplish, and lacks the ability to guide the agency at large,” the report
said. “For example, the staff is absent in the field to support the workforce
and champion a safe work environment. On the other hand, the safety department
is grossly understaffed, lacks subject matter experts (SMEs) and is currently
not in any position to manage the needs of the agency.”
- The experts concluded that the MBTA’s commuter rail
system, which is operated by Keolis Commuter Services, has a far better safety
environment than the T’s transit system. The experts noted that Keolis operates
under the Federal Railroad Administration rules and regulations.
“It is noteworthy to mention that the commuter rail service
is performing well and does not face many of the challenges that were
identified on the transit side of the house. The Panel attributes this higher
level of performance to the structure provided by FRA regulations, which are
clearly defined and have fiscal consequences if not complied with.”
John R. Ellement can be reached at ellement@globe.com. Follow
him on Twitter @JREbosglobe.
Sunday, September 29, 2019
NVRRA Rail Fair 2019 Boxboro MA - October 5 & 6
October 5th & 6th, 2019
10AM to 4PM
Boxboro Regency Hotel & Conference Center
Boxboro, MA
The Nashua Valley Railroad Association is a model railroad club building and operating a permanent layout in Shirley, MA. NVRRA models the Boston & Maine Railroad from Boston to Mechanicville, NY in the modern era (1980+). RailFair helps defray annual operating costs.
Monday, September 16, 2019
Recent New England Model Railroad Announcements SEPT 2019
Friday, September 13, 2019
Loaded Autorack Burns in Gardner MA
I love how the news says the "train" was on fire, instead of saying a "railcar" was on fire. Also, I have read that 10, around 15, and 20 vehicles were burned! Now THAT is getting all the details! Not to mention the fact Pan Am hauls Fords and one other, Japanese make (which escapes me at the moment) on those trains. I'd like to know what caused the fire... arson, "hot box", or possibly a hybrid car who's batteries caught fire. For now, here's all we know:
https://www.necn.com/news/new-england/Train-Car-Carrying-a-Dozen-Vehicles-Destroyed-in-Fire-Gardner-Massachusetts-559913731.html
https://www.telegram.com/news/20190910/train-fire-in-gardner-destroys-new-cars
www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2019/09/10/alarm-fire-gardner-damages-rail-car-carrying-new-vehicles/2xmevKLcCk4UUNa4h7NeNK/story.html
https://boston.cbslocal.com/2019/09/10/gardner-train-car-carrier-fire
https://www.necn.com/news/new-england/Train-Car-Carrying-a-Dozen-Vehicles-Destroyed-in-Fire-Gardner-Massachusetts-559913731.html
https://www.telegram.com/news/20190910/train-fire-in-gardner-destroys-new-cars
www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2019/09/10/alarm-fire-gardner-damages-rail-car-carrying-new-vehicles/2xmevKLcCk4UUNa4h7NeNK/story.html
https://boston.cbslocal.com/2019/09/10/gardner-train-car-carrier-fire
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