Commuter Rail Preparing for Winter Storm
More than 350 MBTA and Keolis personnel will be deployed to clear passenger areas and operate train service
BOSTON – December 1, 2019 – Keolis Commuter Services and the MBTA are preparing for a winter storm that is expected to arrive Sunday evening with ranges of snow totals impacting the greater Boston region beginning as early as midday Sunday and lasting through the Monday evening commute. While forecasts vary, certain areas on Commuter Rail could see as much as a foot of snow.
“We’re closely monitoring the forecast and activating our Emergency Operations Center to coordinate the deployment of resources across the network,” said David Scorey, Keolis CEO and General Manager. “Our goal is to minimize the storm’s impact on service to ensure passengers who need to travel can use Commuter Rail as an alternative to driving in these conditions. Passengers who will be traveling on Monday should leave extra time to get to stations, use caution on platforms and when boarding trains, and stay connected for service updates at www.MBTA.com/winter.”
More than 350 MBTA and Keolis personnel will be deployed across commuter rail to shovel, sand and salt passenger areas, as well as to respond to incidents that occur during the storm, such as downed trees. MBTA and Keolis crews will be pre-positioned at key facilities and infrastructure (switches, signals, etc.) to help ensure normal operations.
Together since 2014 Keolis and the MBTA have been building a better T, investing more than $100 million into winter resiliency and severe weather response. These investments include the purchase of new snow-fighting equipment, switch-heaters, traction motors and a custom-built event management application for Commuter Rail teams. Switch heaters will be activated in key areas to ensure a normal flow of train traffic. Follow this link for winter-prep video footage.
Recent forecasts from the National Weather Service anticipate a range of snow totals impacting the region where Commuter Rail operates.
Passengers can stay connected with Commuter Rail by calling customer service at 617-222-3200, following @MBTA_CR on Twitter or signing up for T-Alerts at www.MBTA.com/winter.
