MBTA to temporarily cut back commuter rail service
Photo | Courtesy of MassDOT
An MBTA commuter rail train
The MBTA announced Thursday it would cut back on commuter rail services beginning in January in response to a huge decline in ridership as the coronavirus pandemic continues.
Beginning in January, the commuter rail will introduce a reduced winter schedule and partial weekend service with reduced frequency on high ridership and transit critical lines including the Worcester, Providence, Newburyport/Rockport, Middleborough and Fairmount Lines.
Weekend service will be suspended on all other lines due to low ridership. These closures will include the Fitchburg and Franklin lines.
Beginning in March and April of next year, a revised spring schedule will be announced and five stations will close based on low ridership, operational impacts, and availability of alternatives. The MBTA did not announce the stations that would be closed.
These announcements come as the MBTA reports only 13% of its pre-COVID-19 commuter rail ridership with about 8.5% of its normal ridership during morning peak periods. Prior to the pandemic, average weekday ridership on the Worcester Line was 18,637 people. In recent months, average weekday ridership on the line is 1,705 people.
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