BOSTON — The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority has announced a significant number of service disruptions in April for track work to address speed restrictions on its rail rapid transit network, as well as some commuter rail work.
No work is planned the weekend of April 15-16 because of anticipated increased ridership for Boston Marathon events.
According to an MBTA press release, the Red Line is scheduled for the most work, with five scheduled service outages. As of Saturday, that line is subject to some 107 speed restrictions covering 12.2 miles of track, according to the MBTA’s online speed restriction information [see “MBTA debuts new speed restriction dashboard,” Trains News Wire, March 24, 2023].
Scheduled Red Line outages will see accessible shuttle buses replace rail service on the following dates and locations:
— Between the Braintree and JFK/UMass stations the weekend of April 1-2, for tie and rail replacement work.
— Between the North Quincy and JFK/UMass stations beginning at approximately 9 p.m. April 3-6, to continue tie replacement work.
— Between the Park Street and JFK/UMass stations beginning at approximately 9 p.m. April 18-20, to prepare for upcoming weekend work.
— Between the Kendall/MIT and JFK/UMass stations the weekends of April 22-23 and April 29-30, for rail and tie work to address speed restrictions near South Station.
Other scheduled rail outages include:
— Shuttle buses will replace trains on the Blue Line between the Government Center and Orient Heights stations beginning about 9 p.m. on April 10-13 and April 24-27.
— Orange and Green Line service in downtown Boston will be disrupted by demolition of a parking garage April 1-2 and April 8. Orange Line service will be suspended between Back Bay and North station, with riders asked to use the Green Line between Copley and Government Center; the Green Line will be replaced with shuttle buses wbetween North Station and Government Center.
Commuter rail changes will see the Fairmont and Franklin/Foxboro trains replaced by shuttle buses between South Station and Readville from 9 p.m. on March 31 and for the weekend of April 1-2, and again from 9 p.m. on April 7, continuing for the weekend of April 8-9, for bridge replacement work. The Haverhill commuter line will see trains replaced with shuttle buses for 16 days, April 22-May 7, for Automated Train Control Work.
More information on all changes is available at the MBTA website.
