Jonelle DeFelice
BOSTON – The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority will restore weekend commuter rail service on three lines beginning this winter. The Kingston/Plymouth and Greenbush lines will see the return of Saturday and Sunday service and the Needham Line will resume Saturday service after a two-year absence on Dec. 27.
Facing a deficit for the fiscal 2013 budget, weekend service on the three lines was eliminated in 2012. The restoration of service on the lines was made possible by the inclusion of funding in the Massachusetts fiscal year 2015 budget.
You may attract more riders but if you are losing money on every train you operate regardless of ridership then your deficit will increase. As far as the cost goes, if you are traveling alone then the T will be cheaper but if I'"m bringing my wife and another couple along then the $25 split four ways comes to $6,25 a piece plus gas. This should be in line with a T round trip ticket depending on your gas mileage and how far you are coming from.
The best way to increase ridership is to offer more trains especially on weekends when tourists want to ride. I was in Boston the other day and noted a sign that said "early bird special , only $25 a day to park". Don't get there early and it's $40 a day just to park so the T is a lot cheaper.