Red Line Service Update and Important Schedule Information for Riders

Braintree branch customers will continue to change trains at JFK/UMass

Supplemental Commuter Rail trains will operate between South Station, JFK/UMass, Quincy Center, and Braintree tonight and Thursday morning

The MBTA is releasing a status update on the repair and recovery efforts for the Red Line derailment and updating riders on what to expect for the evening and tomorrow morning's commute on the Red Line following yesterday's derailment.

Repair and Recovery Update

The incident car was re-railed last night and has been removed from the JFK/UMass area. During the derailment, the train struck and damaged multiple signal "bungalows" outside of JFK/UMass that house Red Line signal system hardware and equipment. This equipment controls the intricate system of track, signals, and switches where the Ashmont and Braintree branches diverge on the Red Line. Without the signal system, each Red Line train must be given permission to proceed from one station to the next with personnel along the tracks physically directing trains’ routing. This manual process is necessary to allow trains to safely move along tracks, though it does take an additional amount of time and trains will continue to operate at reduced speeds and proceed slowly in affected areas.

Without working and accurate signals, communications data that provides information on train tracking, to GPS apps, and to the MBTA’s countdown clocks are also inaccurate. As a result, Red Line countdown clocks have been temporarily turned off to avoid displaying inaccurate predictions.

To facilitate the ongoing signal repair work, the MBTA suspended Red Line service from 11 AM to about 1:30 PM earlier today with shuttle buses provided between North Quincy and JFK/UMass. With power to the third rail shut off, workers from the Power, Signal, and Track Departments were able to safely isolate a section of the track right-of-way. This allowed for work to safely progress in order to begin repairs to the third rail, switches, signals, track, power feeds, and cables.

Important Schedule Update for Commuters

Today’s earlier shuttle buses have been phased out and train service has already resumed.

Red Line Schedule Update

Wednesday Night, Thursday, and Friday

• Braintree branch customers will continue to change trains at JFK/UMass for continuing Red Line service.
• Service has resumed for Ashmont-bound customers and customers will not need to switch trains at JFK/UMass. Customers should plan an additional 20 minutes of commuting time.
• Braintree branch customers can continue to take the Middleborough/Lakeville, Kingston/Plymouth, or Greenbush Commuter Rail Lines (note: Greenbush stops at JFK/UMass and Quincy Center, but not Braintree).
• Ashmont branch customers can take the Fairmount Line. Red Line customers can also take the Fitchburg Line from Porter Square to North Station. Customers can show their CharlieCards or CharlieTickets for Commuter Rail service.

Commuter Rail Schedule Update

Wednesday Night and Thursday Only

• Tomorrow, similar to yesterday evening and this morning, the Commuter Rail will operate supplemental outbound service this evening and inbound service Thursday morning between South Station, JFK/UMass, Quincy Center, and Braintree. A Commuter Rail schedule for Friday will be released tomorrow.
• If a customer’s origin or destination station is any of these 4 stations, it is strongly encouraged to use this supplemental Commuter Rail service, which provides a direct, one-seat ride for the same cost as subway fare.
• Passengers should show their CharlieCards or CharlieTickets in order to board.

Supplemental Evening Outbound Service on Wednesday, June 12

Supplemental Morning Inbound Service on Thursday, June 13

Capital Investments

Since 2015, the MBTA has made over $3 billion in capital investments with a plan to invest $8 billion over the next 5 years, including for vehicles, tracks, and infrastructure. In FY18, the MBTA invested $875 million in its capital program—the most ever for a fiscal year.

Nearly $2 billion is being invested in the Red Line Improvement Program and Orange Line Improvement Program between new cars and infrastructure improvements. That includes over $1 billion for new cars to completely replace the fleets of the Orange and Red Lines, $470.36 million for Orange and Red Line track improvements, and upgrades to the Wellington maintenance facility and the Red Line’s maintenance facilities. The Red and Orange Line signal systems will be completely updated and $151 million is being invested in state of good repair for the Red and Orange Lines. 

The first of 152 new Orange Line cars are being tested right now with the first car expected to be in service in summer 2019. Next year, the first of 252 Red Line cars will be tested. 

More Information