Standing Room Only on the Boston T's Red Line

[marmar]

from the Boston Herald:



T removing Red Line seats
Overcrowded riders will have a cow

By Hillary Chabot
Thursday, December 4, 2008 - Updated 1d 0h ago


Red Line riders will be packed like cattle starting Monday as part of an MBTA plan to herd more passengers into already crowded cars by ripping out seats in the region’s overloaded subway system, the Herald has learned.

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority will run Red Line trains with two retrofitted cars that will leave only four seats on each for elderly and disabled users, according to a state official briefed on the plan.

The move, which will be discussed at today’s MBTA board meeting, will cut seating by half on some trains, which usually have four to six cars.

“Obviously people who want to sit down will have to find another car,” said the state official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the plan had not been formally announced.

“These cars will be clearly marked and the T is prepared to undergo a publicity campaign,” the official added.

The middle two cars on the busy North-South line will be transformed into so-called “high capacity cars” meant to be used during rush hour to cram roughly 27 more people aboard. The official was unsure if seats would be restored during lighter commuter periods on the trains, which run from Cambridge to either Dorchester or Braintree. ......(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.bostonherald.com/news/regional/view.bg?articleid=1136685

[Breeze54]

1. I was on the Red Line a week ago and stood right in front of "Security" for the ride!

Held my pocketbook close to my body with one hand and held the bar with the other.

I was sooo glad to see security sitting there too! :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

BTW? I'm never doing that again! I'm driving into Boston from now on, when I have to go there.

[marmar]

3. "I'm driving into Boston from now on, when I have to go there."

Really? On my trips to Boston, public transit was a breeze and rather pleasant. It beats dealing with the Massholes on the road.

[Breeze54]

5. Then you should try my route of despair!!

:P

Woodland is a frigging nightmare and getting there is almost worse and then the MTA guy was a total idiot and it took forever to get to Park St and they only lost power TWICE and everyone groaned loudly when that happened and then to top it off? I was an hour late for my appointment... all to save a $10.00 parking fee because everyone told me it was 'cheaper' to ride the T !! NOT!!! It cost me more $$ and time and a lot of aggravation. I'll drive and park at the hospital from now on! ;)

[City of Mills]

2. That's why i stick with the Green line

Roomy seats, armrests, a drink cart...red line riders don't know what they're missing!

[Davis_X_Machina]

4. Green Line, huh??

When I was a lad, my father told me "Son, girls are like trolleys. You can stand there for the rest of your life, and another one maybe -- maybe -- might go by. When it does, it'll be the wrong one anyways-- probably Riverside."

[Breeze54]

6. Green Line sucks too!

:P

And, um, no drink carts or intelligent life either! :P

[Submariner]

7. I overlook the Orange Line

When it sleets or snows, the fireballs shooting out of the 3rd rail light up the inside of my apartment like I lived on the Sun.