I recently got an Android phone and one of the applications I've been playing around with is call My Tracks. It uses the phone's GPS to record a trip for you, capturing speed, distance, and elevation gain. Here is the result from a typical morning commute taking train 453, the 7:27 outbound from North Station.
View Porter To South Acton in a larger map
If you click on the marker at the end of the route (left side of the map), it displays the distance and speed data from the trip and shows a graph of elevation (you may want to open the map first in a larger window). On my phone there is also a nice chart showing speed plotted against distance, which clearly shows each of the stops my train makes on its way out to South Acton. Hopefully I can figure out a way to get this displayed in the future.
Showing posts with label commuter rail. Show all posts
Showing posts with label commuter rail. Show all posts
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Double Decker Cars on the Fitchburg Line!
Yesterday I got to the train station after work and was greeted by something I had never seen before: a bi-level car at the front of my train! Up until now, the double decker cars had only been used on the South Station lines. I had read about new bi-level cars the T had ordered in the Globe the week before and that they would start using some of the double deckers on North lines soon. It was still neat to see it, though. The best feature is that in the middle of these cars, there is a table where the two sets of seats come together. It's perfect for a laptop or just hanging out with friends and since I get on the first station inbound in the evenings, I can always grab it. The downside so far has been the fact that the wifi doesn't appear to work on the car we have received from the T. In any event, it is good to see. It will allow for less crowding on the rush hour trains.
Here's the article where they talk about the new cars the T has ordered:
Monday, August 23, 2010
Tale of Two Bike Days
This past weekend I left the car in Acton and enjoyed a weekend of biking and train riding. Normally this would be all good news, but this weekend it was more of a mixed bag. More on that in a bit.
Day one of bike riding was awesome! I took the train up to Newburyport with my roommate and friend from work. [Aside: Newburyport has become my favorite North Shore train destination. See Best Commuter Rail Destinations for more details.] It is great being able to take the trains on the commuter rail for free. There, we met another work friend and were off to Plum Island. I have been there before, but this was the first time biking. It's only a few miles but I was in the lead and it was a little tiring getting over there. However, arriving at the entrance to the wildlife refuge, it was nice to just cruise by the line of cars parked on the side of the road waiting to be let in. $2 later and we were riding down a flat paved road with no cars and views of the Parker River tidal marshes off to our right. We biked a few miles down to the end of the pavement and then back up to the main parking lot, which leads out to a beautiful sandy beach. The water was cold but it was the perfect temperature to just relax and enjoy the sun and cool ocean breeze. Definitely a nice way to relax after putting in about 15 miles of work! We then rode into Newburyport itself and grabbed some amazing $10 lobster rolls before heading back to the train and making it home to Somerville in plenty of time for a shower, some relaxing, and dinner.
Day two was not so great. I woke up on Sunday to a light but steady rain. I was heading up to Wilmington on the Lowell line, so with the lack of good transit options, that means a 2.5 mile ride to West Medford station. This was my first experience biking in the rain and it was not too pleasant. Even with a rain jacket, I still got soaked. After a while that no longer bothered me but the worst thing was all of the road grime that gets kicked up by your tires while you're riding along. I dusted myself and bag off and was able to dry out on the train and thankfully it was not raining when I rode home that evening. It was still nice to be able to get around the Boston area without a car though.
OK, I know this post is dragging on, but I have three more quick annoyances I want to share.
1. Fare collection on the way home from Newburyport - I realize Newburyport is Zone 8 and I only have a Zone 6 pass. However, I do pay the MBTA $223 per month to have that pass and you think they would give me a break and let me ride for free when the difference is that small. Most conductors do this. At the very least, make me pay the difference between a Zone 6 and 8 one way pass, which is $1. However, this conductor decided to charge me the full $2.50 interzone fare to get me to Zone 6. Thanks.
2. Drivers in the city - I will be the first to admit that bikers in Boston do not exactly bike safely or always follow the rules. However, if you are driving in the city these days you need to keep your eyes out for them. On the way home we were going up Cambridge Street through Inman Sq and I was cruising along at a pretty good clip. All of a sudden this jerk in a white pickup pulls out all the way through the bike lane without even looking. I had to brake so hard that my back tire almost spun out. While I was riding past and yelling at him he made a gesture like "Quit your bitching." "F you and learn how to drive, dick!"
3. Waiting to go home from Wilmington, we see the train show up on time. However, it stops a good 300 yards from the station and turns off the lights. I see a figure in blue (conductor or engineer) run from the train and into the bushes behind a strip mall. 5 minutes later he returns and gets back in. The train immediately starts up again and we're off, 5 minutes late. It would be nice to have taken care of whatever personal business this was during the turnaround.
Day one of bike riding was awesome! I took the train up to Newburyport with my roommate and friend from work. [Aside: Newburyport has become my favorite North Shore train destination. See Best Commuter Rail Destinations for more details.] It is great being able to take the trains on the commuter rail for free. There, we met another work friend and were off to Plum Island. I have been there before, but this was the first time biking. It's only a few miles but I was in the lead and it was a little tiring getting over there. However, arriving at the entrance to the wildlife refuge, it was nice to just cruise by the line of cars parked on the side of the road waiting to be let in. $2 later and we were riding down a flat paved road with no cars and views of the Parker River tidal marshes off to our right. We biked a few miles down to the end of the pavement and then back up to the main parking lot, which leads out to a beautiful sandy beach. The water was cold but it was the perfect temperature to just relax and enjoy the sun and cool ocean breeze. Definitely a nice way to relax after putting in about 15 miles of work! We then rode into Newburyport itself and grabbed some amazing $10 lobster rolls before heading back to the train and making it home to Somerville in plenty of time for a shower, some relaxing, and dinner.
Day two was not so great. I woke up on Sunday to a light but steady rain. I was heading up to Wilmington on the Lowell line, so with the lack of good transit options, that means a 2.5 mile ride to West Medford station. This was my first experience biking in the rain and it was not too pleasant. Even with a rain jacket, I still got soaked. After a while that no longer bothered me but the worst thing was all of the road grime that gets kicked up by your tires while you're riding along. I dusted myself and bag off and was able to dry out on the train and thankfully it was not raining when I rode home that evening. It was still nice to be able to get around the Boston area without a car though.
OK, I know this post is dragging on, but I have three more quick annoyances I want to share.
1. Fare collection on the way home from Newburyport - I realize Newburyport is Zone 8 and I only have a Zone 6 pass. However, I do pay the MBTA $223 per month to have that pass and you think they would give me a break and let me ride for free when the difference is that small. Most conductors do this. At the very least, make me pay the difference between a Zone 6 and 8 one way pass, which is $1. However, this conductor decided to charge me the full $2.50 interzone fare to get me to Zone 6. Thanks.
2. Drivers in the city - I will be the first to admit that bikers in Boston do not exactly bike safely or always follow the rules. However, if you are driving in the city these days you need to keep your eyes out for them. On the way home we were going up Cambridge Street through Inman Sq and I was cruising along at a pretty good clip. All of a sudden this jerk in a white pickup pulls out all the way through the bike lane without even looking. I had to brake so hard that my back tire almost spun out. While I was riding past and yelling at him he made a gesture like "Quit your bitching." "F you and learn how to drive, dick!"
3. Waiting to go home from Wilmington, we see the train show up on time. However, it stops a good 300 yards from the station and turns off the lights. I see a figure in blue (conductor or engineer) run from the train and into the bushes behind a strip mall. 5 minutes later he returns and gets back in. The train immediately starts up again and we're off, 5 minutes late. It would be nice to have taken care of whatever personal business this was during the turnaround.
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Good Biking Day!
So I missed another full month of posts...
The good news is that today we got some amazing weather and I took the opportunity to get out and bike around. I went up to Tufts to play some soccer and then made a loop out to Union Sq and back. I must admit that city biking has really grown on me over the last year and a half or so and it's not so bad getting around, despite narrow streets and potholes and all.
In more transit related news, I decided to ride my bike to the commuter rail at West Medord for the first time. As I've complained about before, it is so frustrating that even though that station is only about 2 1/2 miles away it is almost impossible to get there conveniently. I must admit the ride was not too bad. It only took about 15-20 minutes to get there, which is better than waiting in the cold for the bus or riding all the way into North Station for the subway. Of course, this option is only really enjoyable when the weather is nice and today was certainly that day.
The good news is that today we got some amazing weather and I took the opportunity to get out and bike around. I went up to Tufts to play some soccer and then made a loop out to Union Sq and back. I must admit that city biking has really grown on me over the last year and a half or so and it's not so bad getting around, despite narrow streets and potholes and all.
In more transit related news, I decided to ride my bike to the commuter rail at West Medord for the first time. As I've complained about before, it is so frustrating that even though that station is only about 2 1/2 miles away it is almost impossible to get there conveniently. I must admit the ride was not too bad. It only took about 15-20 minutes to get there, which is better than waiting in the cold for the bus or riding all the way into North Station for the subway. Of course, this option is only really enjoyable when the weather is nice and today was certainly that day.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
South Station Expansion
Last week there were a couple of articles in the Globe about a proposed expansion of the commuter rail facilities at South Station. The first article described the collapse of the initial deal involving the Postal Service, MBTA, and a private developer that was going to develop the property and allow the MBTA to expand with 5 more tracks and platforms at South Station to relieve congestion. The next day, another article was published saying that the T was now thinking about purchasing the entire 15 acre site and adding as many as 11 additional tracks to South Station. The major concern is that with the private developer dropping out, the MBTA, already $4 billion in debt, may not be able to secure the financing to make the deal work.
The MBTA can't afford not to make the deal the work. As the articles point out, next year commuter rail service is scheduled to be expanded to Worcester now that the state has worked out a deal to purchase the tracks from CSX that run between the state's two largest cities. Additionally, the long-proposed South Coast commuter rail expansion to New Bedford and Fall River is slated to occur in 2015 or 2016. Add to that anticipated increases in ridership on other commuter rail lines and on Amtrak in the Northeast and there is certainly a need to expand Boston's busiest rail station. Located in downtown Boston, there is certainly limited room adjacent to South Station so an opportunity to pick up prime real estate such as this should be seen as a 'once in a lifetime' opportunity and the state and MBTA should make all efforts to complete the deal. David D'Alessandro, who recently completed a top to bottom financial review of the troubled agency stated in the Globe that the T still has certain assets that it could sell to possibly finance such a purchase. In addition, development of the rest of the property could easily pay for some of the up front costs. This is more than just a nice opportunity for the T, it is an essential expansion project if sustainable rail travel is going to be allowed to continue to grow in the Boston area and throughout the Northeast.
The MBTA can't afford not to make the deal the work. As the articles point out, next year commuter rail service is scheduled to be expanded to Worcester now that the state has worked out a deal to purchase the tracks from CSX that run between the state's two largest cities. Additionally, the long-proposed South Coast commuter rail expansion to New Bedford and Fall River is slated to occur in 2015 or 2016. Add to that anticipated increases in ridership on other commuter rail lines and on Amtrak in the Northeast and there is certainly a need to expand Boston's busiest rail station. Located in downtown Boston, there is certainly limited room adjacent to South Station so an opportunity to pick up prime real estate such as this should be seen as a 'once in a lifetime' opportunity and the state and MBTA should make all efforts to complete the deal. David D'Alessandro, who recently completed a top to bottom financial review of the troubled agency stated in the Globe that the T still has certain assets that it could sell to possibly finance such a purchase. In addition, development of the rest of the property could easily pay for some of the up front costs. This is more than just a nice opportunity for the T, it is an essential expansion project if sustainable rail travel is going to be allowed to continue to grow in the Boston area and throughout the Northeast.
Friday, November 13, 2009
Thoughts on the Worcester Line
Since Intel is located equidistant between the Fitchburg/South Acton and Worcester lines, I sometimes forgo my normal commute and take the opportunity to commute into the city with a co-worker on the Worcester line. I have done this twice in the last couple of weeks and have come to the conclusion that the Fitchburg line is superior. Sure, we have issues with trains being late and often get held up waiting for the single track to open up through Waltham. However, the majority of our trips are spent traveling near top speed for commuter rail, around 60 mph so it feels like you're actually going somewhere.
Compare this to the Worcester line where, since they added 12 minutes of buffer into the schedule, the trains seem to crawl along through Framingham and much of Natick at perhaps 25 mph. It doesn't make much sense to me since the line is almost fully double tracked. I feel that if they were able to optimize the line so you're traveling at or near top speed the whole way, it would make the train an even more attractive option for those commuting from the western suburbs. Perhaps this will happen now that the state has bought the rights to the tracks from CSX. Only time will tell. Until then, I'll stick to my Fitchburg trains.
Compare this to the Worcester line where, since they added 12 minutes of buffer into the schedule, the trains seem to crawl along through Framingham and much of Natick at perhaps 25 mph. It doesn't make much sense to me since the line is almost fully double tracked. I feel that if they were able to optimize the line so you're traveling at or near top speed the whole way, it would make the train an even more attractive option for those commuting from the western suburbs. Perhaps this will happen now that the state has bought the rights to the tracks from CSX. Only time will tell. Until then, I'll stick to my Fitchburg trains.
Friday, October 23, 2009
Want to change the MBTA?
I think I've already told just about everyone who reads this blog about this, but figured I'd do what I can to publicize it anyway. TransitWorks, a non-profit that works to improve public transit, conducts a yearly survey of MBTA riders. Called the Transit Diary project, it gives riders a chance to give an assessment of each trip they take on the MBTA. This comprehensive data is then used to recommend changes. I signed up and I feel that it is one way to affect positive change at the MBTA. You can find out how to sign up on the TransitWorks website.
Saturday, September 12, 2009
MBTA Efficiency Opportunities
With the suspension of public hearings and withdrawal of the fare hike proposal for now, things have quieted down a bit on the MBTA front. The big news today is that Secretary of Transportation James Aloisi has been forced out and will not be taking over the reins of the new state transportation agency that will be formed this November.
That said, I think it's important to mention a couple of important service changes proposed during the fare hike saga. These changes would save money and improve service efficiency on the T, thus providing a better experience for a vast majority of T riders.
Service Change - Net Cost Savings
Close Low Ridership or Redundant Commuter Rail Stations - $650,000
Eliminate Redundant Green Line B Branch Surface Stations - $27,500
Eliminate Redundant Green Line C Branch Surface Stations - $27,500
Total Annual Cost Savings - $705,000
The reason I say this should be a no-brainer in terms of reform is because rail lines operate more efficiently when stations are better spaced. Everyone who rides the Green Line knows the B and C lines are bad because they have so many stops. Removing a couple of stops that are 1/4 of a mile or less away from other stops would decrease travel times while not really inconveniencing the vast majority of riders. The commuter rail is even more inefficient with too many stops. The trains are driven by large diesel engines and have so much weight that it takes a long time to slow them down. Ideally, the trains should reach their top speeds of 60-70 mph between stops. However, when stations are less than 2-3 miles apart, it becomes impossible to really get going. Taking the Fitchburg Line everyday, I see this when we have to stop at both Belmont and Waverly, which are only a mile apart. The train hardly pulls out of one station before it starts braking for the next. Waverly is recommended to close in this report, which I would fully support. It may inconvenience the few people who use the Waverly stop, but they could pretty easily switch to Belmont. These people would be better served by a convenient local bus system that could bring them to and from the commuter rail stations while keeping the train running quickly for the entire line.
Let's hope the MBTA can take small steps such as these to improve efficiency across all of its operations and provide better service at a lower cost for its riders.
That said, I think it's important to mention a couple of important service changes proposed during the fare hike saga. These changes would save money and improve service efficiency on the T, thus providing a better experience for a vast majority of T riders.
Service Change - Net Cost Savings
Close Low Ridership or Redundant Commuter Rail Stations - $650,000
Eliminate Redundant Green Line B Branch Surface Stations - $27,500
Eliminate Redundant Green Line C Branch Surface Stations - $27,500
Total Annual Cost Savings - $705,000
The reason I say this should be a no-brainer in terms of reform is because rail lines operate more efficiently when stations are better spaced. Everyone who rides the Green Line knows the B and C lines are bad because they have so many stops. Removing a couple of stops that are 1/4 of a mile or less away from other stops would decrease travel times while not really inconveniencing the vast majority of riders. The commuter rail is even more inefficient with too many stops. The trains are driven by large diesel engines and have so much weight that it takes a long time to slow them down. Ideally, the trains should reach their top speeds of 60-70 mph between stops. However, when stations are less than 2-3 miles apart, it becomes impossible to really get going. Taking the Fitchburg Line everyday, I see this when we have to stop at both Belmont and Waverly, which are only a mile apart. The train hardly pulls out of one station before it starts braking for the next. Waverly is recommended to close in this report, which I would fully support. It may inconvenience the few people who use the Waverly stop, but they could pretty easily switch to Belmont. These people would be better served by a convenient local bus system that could bring them to and from the commuter rail stations while keeping the train running quickly for the entire line.
Let's hope the MBTA can take small steps such as these to improve efficiency across all of its operations and provide better service at a lower cost for its riders.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)