Commuter Rail Provides Tips for Passengers Returning Home After Parade

Historic ridership levels expected – anticipate queuing at stations to board trains and plan extra time into travel

BOSTON – October 31, 2018 – Keolis Commuter Services, the MBTA’s operating partner for commuter rail, would like to remind passengers that heavy ridership is expected to continue throughout the day and to use these tips to assist with their return trip home after the Boston Red Sox parade.

 

  • Plan additional time into travel due to historic ridership levels

 

  • Expect queuing at North Station and Back Bay Station organized by train route

 

  • Trains may hold past scheduled departure times until coach cars are full

 

  • Similar to the morning, extra capacity will be available on key lines

 

  • Activate tickets prior to boarding to help ensure efficient departures

 

  • Follow @MBTA_CR on Twitter and sign up for T-Alerts at www.mbta.com to stay up-to-date with train information

 

  • Bikes, including folding bikes, are not allowed on trains today

 

In preparation for the Red Sox parade, Keolis and the MBTA put 386 coach cars into service on commuter rail today, the highest number ever on the network. In addition, commuter rail operated 12 extra trains this morning to accommodate parade goers and regular riders, and plans to operate extra trains this afternoon as well.

 

Early estimates from this morning suggest commuter rail ridership from the Red Sox parade is at similar levels to the 2017 New England Patriots parade. The total daily ridership for the Patriots parade was approximately 215,000, the highest ever on commuter rail. Expectations are that following the return trips after the Red Sox parade and Halloween service to and from Salem on the Newburyport/Rockport lines today’s ridership levels could set a new record.