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No kidding: A monthlong service disruption is coming to the Red Line in April
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The MBTA resumes seasonal ferry service to East Boston and Lynn today, but the coming month won’t be such smooth sailing on the rails.
Not an April Fool’s joke: A monthlong service disruption begins April 1 on the Red Line’s Ashmont Branch in Dorchester. Starting tomorrow through Wednesday, April 9, train service between JFK/UMass and Ashmont, as well as the entire Mattapan Line, will be replaced by shuttle buses. That will be followed by three weeks of “shuttle trains” on the Ashmont branch (more on that in a second).
The disruption will allow crew to perform track work and infrastructure upgrades, including replacing the aging “Ashmont Diamond” crossover track, which allows Red Line trains at the end of the branch to switch tracks and turn around. MBTA General Manager Phil Eng described it as “proactive” maintenance to avoid future delays. “We want to replace it before it continues to fail” he said last week.
So, what does that mean for your commute in the near-term? Here’s what to know:
April 1 to April 9: During weekdays, shuttle buses will run every three to five minutes on the Ashmont branch and every five to six minutes on the Mattapan trolley line. (They’ll be less frequent on the weekend.) While the buses are free, they’re not as fast as the trains. So you’ll want to budget, to use the T’s words, “ample” extra time. Officials say riders traveling from Mattapan to Park Street should expect their commutes to take at least an extra 45 to 60 minutes.
- What are my other options? For the next nine days, the T is making the Fairmount commuter rail line and the 18 bus free.
- Meanwhile: The rest of the Red Line should see normal service — and there’ll even be a little more frequency between JFK/UMass and Braintree, with trains running every seven to eight minutes.
April 10 to April 30: The trains return, but it will be a little wonky between JFK/UMass and Ashmont. Get ready for “shuttle trains.”
- What’s a shuttle train? Since the T won’t be able to turn trains around while the crossover is being replaced, they’ll just be running a single train back and forth on each of the two tracks. On the northbound track, the train will stop at all five stations from Ashmont to JFK/UMass, then throw it in reverse. Due to technical reasons, it will run “express” on the way back and skip Shawmut and Fields Corner. Meanwhile on the southbound track, another train will do the opposite. (See this graphic.)
- What does that mean for me? Wait times will be longer — 13 minutes at Ashmont, Savin Hill and JFK/UMass, and at least 25 minutes between trains at Shawmut and Fields Corner. (The trains also won’t be free.) But the T says the shuttle trains should be faster and more accessible than buses. MBTA officials also said it’s the first time in recent memory they’ve used shuttle trains for such a long period of time — and on double tracks.
Tesla turmoil: Two protesters were struck by the side mirror of a black Ford F-150 truck during an anti-Elon Musk demonstration on Saturday in front of a Tesla dealership in Watertown. Frank Gerry, one of the protesters who was hit, told CBS he believes it was intentional.
- Both protesters did not have serious injuries and refused medical treatment. CBS reports police have identified the driver, but the incident remains under investigation.
Sharing their story: Astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore are set to speak publicly today for the first time since their return to Earth two weeks ago. They’ll be discussing their extended stay on the International Space Station, which was only supposed to last a week in June 2024. The two astronauts have been under medical evaluation since getting back.
- Tune in: You can hear about the astronauts’ experience firsthand on C-SPAN today at 2:30 p.m.
Up for discussion: The Cambridge City Council will convene tonight to address charges facing Councilor Paul Toner, who allegedly bought sex from a high-end brothel in Watertown. Toner says he won’t comment on the matter, and has no current plans to resign from his position. WBUR’s Paul Connearney reports that Cambridge residents will be given time to speak at tonight’s meeting, but must apply online for a comment time slot.
P.S.— Today marks the start of WBUR’s spring fundraising drive. We’ve served Boston for 75 years and counting. Now, we’re counting on your support to ensure we’re here for another 75 years. Help sustain our organization and make a donation today.
