Commuter Rail Preparing for Winter Storm
Commuter rail will operate a normal level of service on Thursday, March 22, Resources and personnel mobilized in advance of winter storm
BOSTON – March 21, 2018 – Keolis Commuter Services (Keolis) and the MBTA are preparing for the fourth winter storm to impact the region in less than a month. In advance of snowfall expected to accumulate Wednesday night and Thursday Morning, Keolis crews are pre-positioning snow-fighting equipment and resources that will be used to keep platforms clear for passengers and tracks operable during and following this storm.
“Keolis and MBTA teams will implement our snow plan to provide transportation to those who need to travel during this storm and as a way to keep people off the roads,” said David Scorey, CEO and General Manager, Keolis. “We will have approximately 450 of crew members conducting preventive maintenance on equipment, clearing platforms, maintaining switches and responding to any issues as they may arise.”
Keolis has 70 back-up generators available in the event power is lost. Crews have re-filled and re-inspected resources, such as chainsaws, fuel and sand/salt mixes. Over 450 employees will be across the network to help clear snow and respond to any issues. Blowing snow may reduce visibility and require trains to operate at reduced speeds. Keolis and the MBTA will provide updates on service to passengers via Twitter at @MBTA_CR, MBTA.com, T-Alerts, station signage and onboard announcements. Passengers should consult schedules and alerts when planning trips, use caution when on platforms and provide additional time to travel to and from commuter rail stations.
The Baker-Polito administration and the MBTA have invested over $101 million in winter resiliency. During each of the last three winter storms Keolis and MBTA crews responded to unique challenges and quickly returned commuter rail on-time-performance to over 90 percent. Like the MBTA, Keolis activates an Emergency Operations Center (EOC) during severe weather events. Using a custom-built event management app, managers can coordinate resources and respond to issues in real time.
