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.
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.