New Commuter Rail Cars Finally In Service
Passengers aboard three brand new commuter rail cars, which left from North Station Wednesday morning, took a ride that was five years in the making. The MBTA announced Wednesday that three of the 75 new double-decker commuter rail coaches built by Korean company Hyundai-Rotem were in service. The cars left from North Station toward Haverhill at 10:30 a.m. on April 24. “We are constantly working to bring our customers a better experience,” MBTA General Manager Beverly Scott said in a statement. “These new coaches will do just that, with a cleaner, more informed and more comfortable trip for all on board.” The coaches will service the north side of the commuter rail system before operating throughout the system in the coming weeks, according to the statement. The MBTA bought the coaches for $ 190 million in 2008, but a series of production delays held the cars up until now. Aspects of the new coaches, according to the MBTA: 55 percent more seating than single-level coaches Onboard LED displays for station announcements Larger bathrooms Improved air conditioning and air flow systems South End Patch
New Commuter Rail Cars Finally In Service
Passengers aboard three brand new commuter rail cars, which left from North Station Wednesday morning, took a ride that was five years in the making. The MBTA announced Wednesday that three of the 75 new double-decker commuter rail coaches built by Korean company Hyundai-Rotem were in service. The cars left from North Station toward Haverhill at 10:30 a.m. on April 24. “We are constantly working to bring our customers a better experience,” MBTA General Manager Beverly Scott said in a statement. “These new coaches will do just that, with a cleaner, more informed and more comfortable trip for all on board.” The coaches will service the north side of the commuter rail system before operating throughout the system in the coming weeks, according to the statement. The MBTA bought the coaches for $ 190 million in 2008, but a series of production delays held the cars up until now. Aspects of the new coaches, according to the MBTA: 55 percent more seating than single-level coaches Onboard LED displays for station announcements Larger bathrooms Improved air conditioning and air flow systems South End Patch
Faster Wi-Fi Could Come to Commuter Rail, Ferry Service
The MBTA wants to upgrade its wireless Internet service, but without spending precious tax dollars. The Boston area transit system is seeking sponsorship proposals to provide upgraded wi-fi service on commuter rail cars, ferries and select commuter rail stations, according to an MBTA press statement in early March. “The MBTA’s goal is to upgrade the current WIFI service to a system wide, state of the art standard, at no cost to the MBTA and its riders,” the statement says. The sponsorship opportunity would provide the sponsor with marketing rights such as “signage and advertising in commuter rail stations, cars and ferry facilities; corporate presence on MBTA commuter rail system maps and schedules; control of a WIFI landing page; links on the MBTA website; and intellectual property rights,” according to the statement. Proposal documents are available through Transit Realty Associates, a management consulting firm. The MBTA launched a wi-fi pilot program in 2008, which is used by thousands of riders a day, the statement says. Do you use the MBTA’s wi-fi on the commuter rail? Would you like to seen an upgrade? Tell us in the comments. SOUTH END PATCH: Facebook | Twitter | E-mail Updates South End Patch
Wait Continues for ‘Severely Late’ Commuter Rail Cars
In 2008, the MBTA bought 75 new commuter rail cars from Korean-based Hyundai Rotem, in 2013, the MBTA is still waiting for the cars to be delivered. Massachusetts Department of Transportation Secretary and CEO Richard Davey said at a statehouse oversight committee hearing Tuesday the state is still waiting on 75 double-decker coaches for the commuter rail. The MBTA bought the coaches in 2008 from Korean company Hyundai Rotem. “They are late, severely late,” Davey said. He added, however, that MBTA engineers are satisfied with the quality of the cars. Philadelphia and Los Angeles are in front of Boston in terms of waiting for the cars, but transit engineers in both cities are satisfied with the cars as well, Davey said. “At this point while we’re very concerned about the delay,” he said. “The good news is these are not going to be lemons. If we were unhappy with the quality, we would not have tolerated the type of delay we’ve been watching. These types of cars don’t grow on trees.” SOUTH END PATCH: Facebook | Twitter | E-mail Updates South End Patch