The Straight Deal on Commuter Trains? (Worcester, Lowell: appointed, buy, living)

[Patapsco]

Hi, everyone -

I've encountered a few snippets here and there about how the commuter trains are unreliable.

To what degree?

In our town-hunting, one of our key criteria is the commute factor. We'd been assuming the train is the way to go.

Are the trains occasionally a few minutes late? 20 minutes? More?

Does this happen maybe once a month? Or once a week? Or once a day? Or once a commute?

Is this more of a problem on one line over another? I'm sure the Greenbush line is working out some kinks still, but how about the more established lines, say out to Franklin?

No system is perfect and we can live with that, but we don't want to end up freezing on some train platform for half an hour all the time, either...

Advice? Comments? Personal experience?

We've been thinking of living further out where we can get more bang for our buck, but if the trains are NOT the way to go, we'll bite the bullet and look closer in.

Thanks very much!

[surfingatwork]

For the most part the commuter trains are reliable but you will experience some delays/problems. Nothings perfect not even the T (subway). I used to take the Lakeville train and before that the Lowell train. Yes I do remember standing out in the cold for 20 minutes waiting for the train to show. I also remember getting on the train to find there was no heat or no ac or better yet the heat was on during a heat wave in the middle of summer. I even remember a woman going into labor on the train. What I don't remember is it being so frequent that it became a problem. You'll go 2 months with nothing happening then WHAM 3 straight days of problems.

What I loved about taking the train was that I could read, study, sleep or on the rare occassion work. The time on the train was used for unwinding after a crazy day or for catching a few more zzzzz's before going in to work.

Personally speaking I prefer to be further out because I get more for my money and i get the best of both worlds (living further out usually means quieter more country like setting).

good luck.

[scarletfire]

I agree. I took the Framingham/Worcester line into Back Bay for awhile and usually it was no problem. Once in awhile it was a few minutes late and I think 2-3 times it was very late (more than 20 minutes) but otherwise quite reliable.

I'd get advice from folks about the parking situation at the areas you're interested in. For ex, on the Worcester/Framingham line it's easy to park at the outer stations (Westboro, Southboro, Ashland) but tougher to find spaces at Framingham, Natick, and West Natick unless you get there pretty early. I'm sorry I don't have experience using the Franklin line but I'm sure someone else here can chime in about that.

[Parsec]

The commuter train's been getting worse over the past 2 years, but the managing company has "vowed to improve service" after getting bad press about it over the past year. They were just granted a 3 year extension by the MBTA. They publish the stats every 1 or 2 months on boston.com. If I remember correctly, they are late 5-15% of the time, depending on which line you take (Framingham/Worcester being the worst since much of the track on that line is shared w/CSX). The definition of "late" also varies, so I don't know if you'll even notice a 5-minute late train if it only comes twice an hour anyway.

[puffle]

Out here in West Concord and Concord Center I always see available parking spots. Wish they had a local bus that shuttles around town like Lexington has. Their bus even takes you to the Burlington Mall. It's easy enough to get around a small town like this, but it would be great for kids and older people to have that service.

[Patapsco]

Thanks for the reassurance!

Sounds no worse to me than the DC Metro. (Our "T") If anything, sounds more reliable!

'guess he'll just have to plan on an earlier train, to build in time for delays.

This is one reason Hingham looked appealing... that 30 minute boat ride. :-)

Keep dreaming, girl.

Thanks again!

[bingo08]

Originally Posted by surfingatwork

For the most part the commuter trains are reliable but you will experience some delays/problems. Nothings perfect not even the T (subway). I used to take the Lakeville train and before that the Lowell train. Yes I do remember standing out in the cold for 20 minutes waiting for the train to show. I also remember getting on the train to find there was no heat or no ac or better yet the heat was on during a heat wave in the middle of summer. I even remember a woman going into labor on the train. What I don't remember is it being so frequent that it became a problem. You'll go 2 months with nothing happening then WHAM 3 straight days of problems.

What I loved about taking the train was that I could read, study, sleep or on the rare occassion work. The time on the train was used for unwinding after a crazy day or for catching a few more zzzzz's before going in to work.

Personally speaking I prefer to be further out because I get more for my money and i get the best of both worlds (living further out usually means quieter more country like setting).

good luck.

You are so right! Could not agree more with what you posted.

[mrsmcneill]

We are down here in RI, and hubz takes the Attleboro line into south station every day. He's late quite a bit, but not enough that we'd spend dough to move closer. Stay FAR FAR away from the Worcester line.... that one has the worst record.

A side note: Before you buy a monthly pass, see how it goes with a 12-ride pass. My husband saved almost $150 this month because no one clicked his ticket on a bunch of rides. Plus, remember that every time your train is late (I think it has to be at least 20 mins, maybe?) you get reimbursed.


good luck!

[NY'er lost in MA]

The Framingham/Worcester line is notorious for being late every day. It shows up 10 minutes late, and gets in 15 minutes tardy. You just have to keep that in mind. But it does get in once/twice a week about 30 minutes late. It's primarily because that track line is owned by CSX and everything revolves around the freight schedule. If the freight line is running late- then the commuter train will be late.

I recommend that you file a claim online: http://www.mbta.com for reimbursement of your fare if it is more than 30 minutes late. Only problem is......we are all basically going to put them out of business!


We used to live on the Newburyport line- late frequently in the winter. Trains would be canceled several times a week.

It perplexes me- especially the cost for what I would call- minimal on time service. If they had this type of service in NY- on the Metro North line, you'd pretty much have a civil war. It's remarkable that everyone just accepts that the commuter rail up here is late- all the time.

[scarletfire]

Wow, I'm disappointed to hear the service has gotten worse. I wonder why that is?