T: Commuter rail service to improve

LYNN – Officials promised improved commuter rail service this winter, announcing a Winter Rail Mobilization program that includes new snow-removal equipment, infrastructure upgrades and a plan to run a reduced – but officials say more reliable – schedule during severe storms.”There were some unbelievable storms last January and a lot of meetings were held about how can we prevent this from happening,” said Sen. Tom McGee (D-Lynn), Chairman of the Joint Committee on Transportation. “This is not to eliminate service ? this is making sure the service on a really severe storm day is reliable and more dependable.”The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) and the Massachusetts Bay Commuter Railroad (MBCR), which operates the commuter rail, were roundly criticized by commuters and state transportation officials after the 2010-2011 winter. For instance, The Daily Item reported that the two commuter rail lines traveled by North Shore commuters – the Newburyport line and the Rockport line – logged a 59-percent on-time record and a 54-percent on-time record, respectively, in January.The commuter rail developed the winter program as a response – analyzing its ridership statistics along with studying train systems in other cities with wintry weather, according to MBCR General Manager Hugh J. Kiley. The resulting program addresses several of the complaints and problems experienced last year, Kiley and McGee said.The most notable change is that the commuter rail will run fewer trains during “severe winter storms.”Kiley identified these as storms when the governor declared a State of Emergency – but noted the declaration was not a prerequisite – and said that affected lines would experience at most a 24 percent reduction in service.But this did not mean that crews would not be working.The system would be fully manned, Kiley said, with crews manning new snow-removal equipment on tracks and performing maintenance on cars that are out of service. This enables the railroads to more easily and effectively clean less congested tracks, have backup equipment ready if something breaks down and keep the overall fleet in better condition, Kiley said.McGee said that the two railroads spent a total of approximately $1.5 million on new snow-removal equipment and upgrades to cars that will enable them to function better in wintry conditions. Electric cables connecting cars will be wrapped and raised so that they aren’t impacted by accumulated snow, new steam cleaners will remove ice built up on crossings and braking systems, and two jet-engine powered snow blowers will clear snow drifts, according to officials.”It’s absolutely money well spent,” McGee said.The T and commuter rail have also launched new communications programs to prevent the many complaints last year of passengers who waited in the cold for canceled trains.”It was a very strong message from our customers that the MBCR and the MBTA needed to improve communications to customers,” Kiley acknowledged.Commuters will receive “T Alerts” – or messages on commuter rail service changes – directly from the commuter rail, Kiley said, and they can also subscribe to receive email updates and Twitter feeds from both the MBCR and the MBTA. Snow Emergency Schedules will also be posted on a revamped website, Kiley said. Furthermore, Kiley said that communication with other train companies that operate signals, and with employees on the trains who can pass information on to riders.”We are pushing out information in advance,” said Kiley. “A year ago we were more after the fact ? and after each event, we will reassess.”But Swampscott Board of Selectmen Chair Matthew Strauss wondered whether reducing the number of trains during storms might force commuters to less safe modes of transportation.”It might force them to drive in during a storm and that’s not good,” Strauss noted.But Kiley said that ridership statistics show a nearly 40 percent drop in ridership during storms and significantly less traffic