MBTA Makes Significant Progress on Expedited Critical Track Work on Red Line, Removes Nine Speed Restrictions

Crews performed improvement work along the Red Line. Complimentary photo by the MBTA Customer and Employee Experience Department.

The MBTA today announced the completion of critical track work on the Red Line while service was suspended between Alewife and Kendall/MIT the evening of July 12 and during the day July 15 – 26; from Alewife to JFK/UMass during the weekends of July 13 – 14 and July 27 – 28; and between Alewife and Park Street during weekend of July 20 – 21 and evenings of July 15 – 26.

As a result of unencumbered access to track areas, crews accomplished important work to lift nine safety-related speed restrictions—two more than originally planned. The work accomplished will result in a safer, more reliable trip for riders with fewer unplanned service disruptions.

Crews worked in critical track areas during this Red Line service suspension. Complimentary photo by the MBTA Customer and Employee Experience Department.

“I’m proud of the major infrastructure work our contractors and MBTA crews were able to accomplish, replacing over four miles of running rail on the Red Line and more,” said MBTA General Manager and CEO Phillip Eng. “Accomplishing this work, giving our riders a quicker and smoother trip, was the result of early planning and continuous coordination by the MBTA teams responsible for planning and performing this effort to reverse years of underinvestment. We have committed to our riders and the communities we serve that we would deliver safe, reliable, and more frequent service, and section by section, we are doing just that.”

Track work was accomplished along the Red Line. Complimentary photo by the MBTA Customer and Employee Experience Department.

This service change was in place to support critical track and tie replacement work as part of the Track Improvement Program. Crews also maximized the outage by performing signal work and station amenity upgrades, including new lighting, painting, tiling, power washing, and more.

Crews performed work along both the northbound and southbound tracks of the Red Line. Complimentary photo by the MBTA Customer and Employee Experience Department.

With unencumbered access to Red Line stations, crews accomplished the following work:

Replaced 21,725 feet of rail
Removed over 30,000 feet of scrap rail from within the tunnels
Replaced approximately 1,700 feet of restraining rail
Replaced 250 ties
Resurfaced and tamped nearly 11,500 feet of track
Replaced over 2,600 tie plates
Replaced 21 primary floating concrete slabs and 25 secondary floating concrete slabs
- Floating slabs are concrete slabs that “float” between the tracks and rubber disks that absorb sound and vibration from trains. To continue to provide comfort and reliability on the Red Line, the floating slabs need to be regularly maintained and replaced when needed.
Replaced 50 WeeZee bonds, which are part of the track circuit’s infrastructure
Repaired or replaced 16 track bonds due to damage
Removed and reinstalled approximately 4,500 feet of balancing cable by the Signal Department
Replaced and fully tested approximately 55 individual track circuits
Replaced and fully tested 10 track circuit loops
Installed cable hanger assemblies in the northbound tunnel from Alewife to Harvard for nearly 13,000 feet. Each hanger assembly is mounted about every 5 feet
Replaced approximately 5,000 square feet of the roof of Alewife’s east headhouse
Gauged about 2,000 of feet of Red Line track, including curves and at crossovers, by the Maintenance of Way team

Crews worked to perform critical track and tie replacement work during this Red Line service suspension. Complimentary photo by the MBTA Customer and Employee Experience Department.

As a result of this critical work, the following safety-related speed restrictions are no longer in place:


Speed Restriction Number	Restriction Information and Location	Status
Speed Restriction Number	1. 000019	Restriction Information and Location	Northbound between Central and Harvard	Status	Removed
Speed Restriction Number	2. 000043	Restriction Information and Location	Northbound between Central and Harvard	Status	Removed
Speed Restriction Number	3. 000044	Restriction Information and Location	Northbound between Central and Harvard	Status	Removed
Speed Restriction Number	4. 000056	Restriction Information and Location	Southbound between Porter and Harvard	Status	Removed
Speed Restriction Number	5. 000085	Restriction Information and Location	Southbound between Harvard and Central	Status	Removed
Speed Restriction Number	6. 000037	Restriction Information and Location	Southbound between Harvard and Central	Status	Removed
Speed Restriction Number	7. 000036	Restriction Information and Location	Southbound between Harvard and Central	Status	Removed
Speed Restriction Number	8. 000013	Restriction Information and Location	Northbound between Kendall/MIT and Central	Status	Removed
Speed Restriction Number	9. 000151	Restriction Information and Location	Northbound between Kendall/MIT and Central	Status	Removed

Crews performed track work within the Red Line tunnel. Complimentary photo by the MBTA Customer and Employee Experience Department.

A variety of other work also took place along the Red Line to further enhance the rider experience, including:

Signal personnel supported contractor crews in the removal of all signal assets in the shutdown area.
Brick layers repaired broken tiles at Alewife.
Carpenters/Laborers sanded and repaired in-station benches throughout the shutdown stations.
Stairway repairs were made throughout the shutdown area, including repairs to hand railing, concrete repairs, replacement of anti-slip treads, tile repairs, leveling and resetting, painting, and more.
Ironworkers made repairs to infrastructure within the right of way area and repaired the bike rack at Davis.
Bridge Inspectors performed annual tunnel inspections at Alewife.
Painters clear-coated benches, removed graffiti, painted station walls, painted doors, painted standpipe valves, applied nonslip tape on stairs, painted inspector booths, and painted trash receptacles.
Sheet Metal workers replaced areas that were damaged or covered with graffiti.
The Sign Shop produced new head house signs at Central, cleaned or replaced signage on fare vending machines, at escalators and elevators, at stairways, and at busways and platforms.
Plumbers/Laborers cleaned and pumped drains, including pumping water out of abandoned tunnels and from under the southbound platform at Harvard.
HVAC crews replaced the A/C units in various locations throughout the shutdown area.
Machinists and electricians made repairs to the Garfield Street pump room.
At Porter, water intrusion mitigation efforts were put in place, including diverting water by installing a trough.
The Security team accomplished security improvements within Red Line stations.
The existing dry standpipe at Park Street was painted for visual clarity.
The old previous Kendall/MIT outbound head house was demolished with the steel for the new head house erected.
Signal bungalow upgrades took place between Alewife and Central.