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Another Commuter Rail Horror Story

The number of commuter rail horror stories grows with the ride home on the Boston to Fitchburg line Thursday night. Two trains took close to four hours to make the 40-mile trip.

The engine that broke down on the Fitchburg line was considered one of the most reliable engines running out of North Station.

Scott Farmelant, spokesman for Massachusetts Bay Commuter Rail, the agency that operates the line for the MBTA, said the train that left North Station at 5:20 p.m. Thursday broke down in Waltham and had to be pushed all the way to Fitchburg by the next train leaving Boston.

"At each stop they're required to let passengers board and get off one set of coaches, then move the second set of coaches up to the platforms, and that unfortunately adds significant delays to the travel time," Farmelant said.

It was 9 p.m. before riders going to Fitchburg got to the station.

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This program aired on March 4, 2011. The audio for this program is not available.

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