Commuter Rail to Operate a Regular Schedule Friday
Passengers traveling Friday should use caution on platforms and dress for extreme cold temperatures
BOSTON – January 4, 2018 – Keolis Commuter Services (Keolis), the MBTA’s commuter rail operating partner, announced today that service will return to a Regular Schedule for Friday. Today’s storm is expected to drop 12 inches of snow when it subsides around midnight this evening.
“When the storm passes, extreme cold temperatures are expected to follow,” said David Scorey, CEO and General Manager, Keolis. “Passengers are encouraged to dress in layers to stay warm and use caution when boarding trains. Our Keolis and MBTA teams will continue to work through the night clearing platforms, applying a sand-salt mix and preparing the fleet for service to help make travel Friday as safe and easy as possible.”
Due to the heavy snowfall that ends late this evening and extreme temperatures expected Friday, minor delays are possible as clean-up and other snow operations finish. Passengers are encouraged to check schedules before traveling. Keolis will provide updates through Twitter at @MBTA_CR, MBTA.com, station signage and onboard announcements. Passengers can also sign up for T-Alerts at MBTA.com.
During severe weather events, Keolis uses these four symbols to communicate service level changes for commuter rail:
Ahead of Friday’s planned Regular Schedule, Keolis and MBTA teams will continue snow operations, which include clearing snow and ice from tracks, grade crossings, switches and platforms, as well as ensuring proper operation of locomotives and coach cars ahead of the extreme cold temperatures.
Today commuter rail operated a Reduced Schedule, a step in a tiered system first employed last winter as a way to help passengers plan for service and allow snow operation teams to safely clear snow from tracks, platforms and other areas.
“We experienced light ridership today with a Reduced Schedule as many people were able to stay home,” Scorey said. “For those who needed to travel, we had 450 team members helping with snow operations across 557 miles of tracks and at approximately 140 stations.”
