MBTA getting 'real-time'

Yes, hard to believe but it just might work.

Apparently, the trains will be equipped with GPS devices and the status will be provided via a 'count-down' timer as the train approaches the station. Coming to the Franklin line sometime in February according to the write up here:

MBTA: Commuter Rail "Real-Time Arrival" Countdown

from Commonwealth Conversations: Transportation by Klark Jessen

Will this replace the Clever Commute service that can be the T's own alerts?

Stay tuned!

The 5th pole?

The 5th pole? No the stopping point for the engineer driving a train with 5 cars, originally uploaded by shersteve.

No the stopping point for the engineer driving a train with 5 cars

There is also a 3 on a bench, a 4 on a trash barrel, and a 6 on the trash barrel just beyond the bench in this picture.

If these markers weren't visible, the train engineers could stop anywhere. With the markers in place, the train engineers will stop in the same spot fairly consistently.

Now you know why some folks stand in the same spot on the platform!

commuter sherku

With the return to work this week, I am back to riding the commuter rail and I have been looking at some familiar sites anew. The time on the train provides time to ponder and condense the thoughts, images, perceptions to sherku.

Feel free to click on over to quiet poet to read the sherku!

How long does it take for the MBTA to respond?

How long does it take for the MBTA to respond?

4 months from the day (3/29) the "Put the MBTA on Google Transit!!!" story hit The Globe (and the home page of Boston.com!), the MBTA has added their maps to Google Transit!

Despite the fact that the MBTA is not shown as a supported transit authority here (http://tinyurl.com/boey4m) or here (http://tinyurl.com/mqnt4d), if you type in directions, you can clearly use the option. The option is also available on my iPhone and I would assume all Blackberries and Android phones would have access as well.

Here's an example of directions from the Cambridge Innovation Center (http://www.cic.com) to the Boylston Street Apple Store, showing both Green and Red line trains and times.

It took a while but the goal was reached. The message was delivered to the "Put the MBTA on Google Transit" group in Facebook.

Clever commute will put you "in the know"

Clever commute will put you "in the know" no matter what amount of "snow" there is!

While the weather folks can't come to a consensus on how much we will get and when, it appears certain that a winter storm is coming to our area late Tuesday night through Wednesday.

If you are commuting into Boston, you should consider joining Clever Commute. In my experience commuting via the Franklin Line, Clever Commute beat the MBTA alerts most of the time.

How do you sign up?

Go to www.clevercommute.com => "Find your line" => Sign up

Be sure to respond to the confirmation mail to activate your account.

MBTA Parking rates increase

Reminder, the MBTA parking rates increase on November 15th. Yes, who else would increase the rates on a weekend?

Double rainbow

Nice double rainbow just now as the train approached Readville. Too bad that tree hides the bottom part, that's where the best color spectrum was. The second band is disappearing to the right of this one already.

Such a fleeting piece of glory!

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Not good start for the new schedule

The new schedule is off to a bad start. The 799 was canceled and the new 717 only came in to the station to board at 4:23. We should have boarded about 4:10 to leave at 4:20.

So much for changing the schedule to "ease congestion".

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Penultimate stop for this train

The penultimate time this train (#799) sits on the bridge heading via the Dorchester Branch to Franklin.

Realizing as I sit here that I won't be able to keep track of the new bridge either. Oh well.

Hopefully the new schedule will actually run closer to time than this one has due to the construction.

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Franklin Line Schedule Changes 10/27/08

They are adjusting the schedule to "ease congestion" and to "accommodate the recent Amtrak schedule changes".

The MBTA apologizes for the "late notification".

The changes go into effect on Monday 10/27/08. The changes will be available on the MBTA schedule page on Monday. In the meantime, you should know that:

1 - what was known as the 4:10 PM train (#715) will leave South Station at 3:55 PM (15 minutes early)

2 - what was known as the 4:30 PM train (#799) will leave South Station at 4:30 but terminate at Readville running via the Dorchester Branch.

3 - a new train (#717) will leave South Station at 4:20 PM and make stops at Back Bay, Ruggles, Hyde Park, Readville, Dedham Corp, Norwood Depot, Norwood Central, Windsor Gardens, Walpole, Norfolk, Franklin/Dean and Forge Park/495.

Third span

You have heard about the third rail, this the third span. The third and final span for the new bridge on the Dorchester branch.

Now I need to figure out how to take a picture of the three spans by approaching the bridge on the road below. Hmmm

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Ominous clouds

ominous clouds on the skyline this evening. it is friday, the weekend lies directly in front.



how are you going to enjoy it?

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Dorchester branch - second span

the new bridge has a second section now. looks like just one more needed on this side. at the rate they are moving we might be going over the new bridge before the end of the year.

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Flat bottom clouds

it is a nice day. a little cool, but it is October. the clouds have flat bottoms.



when did you last see a cloud with a flat bottom?

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reflection

the sun? no, the street light reflected in a leafy puddle in the parking lot at the train station this morning

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Commuter train reminder

standard reminder om the MBTA.

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Dorchester Branch - new RR span

one section of the new railroad bridge being put in on the Dorchester Branch. This delays the 4:30 PM train to Franklin. Now at least there is a real visible sign of progress.

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Seat back tear blues

The blue duct tape doesn't completely cover the tear in the seat back. Should we leave the tear partially exposed as a reminder of how bad it could be? If the tear were completely covered, the blues are different and would still create a notice.

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Train derailed at South Station

I was too slow to take a picture as the Franklin train left South Station today. We were late leaving due to track problem that fully revealed itself as a derailment on a switch close to the platforms between Track 1 and 2. The coaches were upright and tilted slightly as they straddled the track, wheels off the track itself.

We go over those switches multiple times a day. Just in the past couple of months now this is our second derailment at South Station.

Is this a mechanical failure or human error?

Will the MBTA let us know?

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Morning outlook

Pink sky down the Franklin Line this morning.
What is your outlook for having a good day?
Find a reason to make it better than good!

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