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View Poll Results: Commuter Rail, Train, Bus, Boat, Car
Commuter Rail 10 33.33%
Train 10 33.33%
Bus – Express or Part of Mbta System 3 10.00%
Car 10 33.33%
Boat 6 20.00%
Mix of the Above or Other 5 16.67%
Multiple Choice Poll. Voters: 30. You may not vote on this poll

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Old 12-16-2014, 10:31 AM
 
Location: 42°22'55.2"N 71°24'46.8"W
4,848 posts, read 11,811,272 times
Reputation: 2962

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Quote:
Originally Posted by 495neighbor View Post
Besides, it is not always reliable to use a laptop on the commuter rail. if people do not have their own data service the commuter rail wifi is often overloaded or goes out of service while passing through wooded areas.

Some of the cars have those tables to place the laptop on top of or single seats. Otherwise, on certain trains there is little room to work if the train is full.

i've also seen many people so engrossed in what they are doing they almost miss their stop. I have seen people running with open laptops off the train off balance almost falling on the ice.

The tablet light browsing seems to be the way to go.
I've noticed the WiFi on the Worcester line has not been showing up as an option lately, but many people don't even use it anymore with the popularity of data plans. Even if your laptop doesn't have a mobile internet device attached, almost all smart phones these days have a hot spot feature (iPhone 4s and up, Samsung Galaxy S3 and up) which can be used to connect the laptop to personal wifi.
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Old 12-16-2014, 10:50 AM
 
Location: Massachusetts
6,301 posts, read 9,643,596 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Parsec View Post
I've noticed the WiFi on the Worcester line has not been showing up as an option lately, but many people don't even use it anymore with the popularity of data plans. Even if your laptop doesn't have a mobile internet device attached, almost all smart phones these days have a hot spot feature (iPhone 4s and up, Samsung Galaxy S3 and up) which can be used to connect the laptop to personal wifi.
Thanks Parsec. I do often use my own data plan on the public transportation. Often I lose connection around the Lincoln stop regardless of what wifi I am using. It is very reliable all the time, otherwise.
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Old 12-16-2014, 01:38 PM
 
Location: Massachusetts
866 posts, read 2,628,314 times
Reputation: 551
Quote:
Originally Posted by osric View Post
I used to commute by boat to Boston in the summer; it took 90 minutes or so. In the winter the boat doesn't run, so my only option was a bus that takes just shy of 4 hours to get to Boston.

So I have a strong preference for boats!
Which boat was this? The MBTA boats from Hingham and Hull run reliably year-round. The ride from the tip of Hull to Long Wharf is just over 20 minutes, and the ride from Hingham to Rowes Wharf is about 30 minutes. If I worked anywhere downtown, I would definitely use the boat.
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Old 12-16-2014, 01:49 PM
 
Location: 42°22'55.2"N 71°24'46.8"W
4,848 posts, read 11,811,272 times
Reputation: 2962
Quote:
Originally Posted by sobo16 View Post
Which boat was this? The MBTA boats from Hingham and Hull run reliably year-round. The ride from the tip of Hull to Long Wharf is just over 20 minutes, and the ride from Hingham to Rowes Wharf is about 30 minutes. If I worked anywhere downtown, I would definitely use the boat.
The travel times sound like P-town to me. 4 hours sounds awful though. I'd rather commute into Boston from Maine than from the Outer Cape because at least you have the Amtrak as an option.
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Old 12-17-2014, 08:05 AM
 
Location: Massachusetts
866 posts, read 2,628,314 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Parsec View Post
The travel times sound like P-town to me. 4 hours sounds awful though. I'd rather commute into Boston from Maine than from the Outer Cape because at least you have the Amtrak as an option.
I didn't realize that the poster who had 90 minute boat rides was traveling via the Provincetown Ferry. Yikes, that must have been an expensive commute. I don't think many people commute daily from PTown to Boston, but I would think flying Cape Air to Logan Airport would be much faster and might not be that much more expensive.
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Old 12-17-2014, 08:11 AM
 
Location: Providence, RI
12,848 posts, read 22,021,203 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Parsec View Post
The travel times sound like P-town to me. 4 hours sounds awful though. I'd rather commute into Boston from Maine than from the Outer Cape because at least you have the Amtrak as an option.
If you're coming from Portland or Saco, the Downeaster trip will be closer to 5 hours r/t on a good day. 6 is not uncommon for a r/t on that route. Maybe if you live close to the Wells stop 4 is possible. In terms of time, you're much better off driving or on the bus (a difference of about an hour or more each day). Not that the P-Town ferry is any different, but the Amtrak from Maine is a tourist train or for a once in a while jaunt into town. It's not a reliable commuter option by any stretch of the imagination.
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