Fact Sheets

• What is Fare is Fair? - What is “Fare is Fair”? Fare is Fair events are ticket verification checks held at commuter rail stations. The purpose is to educate riders on ticketing options and ensure that passengers have an appropriate and activated ticket prior to boarding. These activities are one component of several strategies to help… Continue Reading
• Positive Train Control (PTC) -  What is Positive Train Control? Positive Train Control (PTC) is a federally mandated system to monitor and control train movements that will help prevent train-to-train collisions, speed-related derailments and incursions into zones where work may be taking place. The current deadline for compliance is December 31, 2018. Installation work will… Continue Reading
• Keolis Commuter Services – A Massachusetts Business Leader - Keolis Commuter Services, a unit of Keolis North America, operates and maintains the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority’s commuter rail system, carrying nearly 130,000 passengers daily throughout Greater Boston. Based in downtown Boston, Keolis is one of the city’s largest private employers and among the top fifty largest employers in Massachusetts… Continue Reading
• MBTA and Keolis By the Numbers - The Commuter Rail (sometimes referred to as the “Purple Line” for the color scheme on locomotives and coaches) is the heavy rail passenger transportation system servicing metro-Boston and beyond. This system is owned by the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) and operated by Keolis Commuter Services- which is committed to… Continue Reading
• Keolis, MBTA Commuter Rail Operator, What we do and do not do -  Keolis began operating the MBTA Commuter Rail System on July 1, 2014. We have an 8-year contract with the two options to renew for two years each. Keolis and the MBTA Commuter system are: 5th largest commuter rail operation in North America 14 lines covering 394 route miles, serving 137… Continue Reading
• Operational History of the MBTA’s Commuter Lines - Keolis Commuter Services began acting as the operator of the Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority’s Commuter Rail System on July 1, 2014. Keolis approached its contract with a commitment to enhancing safety, “thinking like a passenger,” increasing ridership through improved service and establishing a strong partnership with the MBTA. This document… Continue Reading
• Heat Restrictions - What is a Heat Order? A heat order is an order given to railroad engineers requiring them to reduce the operating speed over a given section of track. Just as drivers are warned to slow down in inclement weather, trains are subject to the same speed restrictions, in the name… Continue Reading
• On-Time Performance - As operator of MBTA’s Commuter Rail system, Keolis is required to monitor and report the On-Time Performance (OTP) of every trip of every train on every line. This document defines OTP, explains how it is determined and provides information about how Keolis is held accountable for overall network performance. When… Continue Reading
• Broken Rails - FACT SHEET: Broken Rails Winter in New England brings a range of inclement weather, including snow, ice, freezing rain and extreme cold, all of which can impact train operations and the railway infrastructure that supports the system. These conditions can sometimes lead to cracks or vulnerability in the rails. Below… Continue Reading
• Trains to Trails - Continue Reading