TransitMatters releases new blueprint for fast, reliable Haverhill Line service

TransitMatters releases new blueprint for fast, reliable Haverhill Line service

BOSTON, November 16, 2021 — Upgrading the Haverhill Line could reduce travel times from Haverhill to Boston by 30 minutes, with speeds of up to 100 mph possible on some segments, according to a new TransitMatters report released today. The line would be upgraded to a “Regional Rail” standard, including high level platforms, electrification, electric trains and some double tracking, for a cost of $790 million. Regional Rail would also require the MBTA to make a decision about which route trains use to get to Haverhill. Currently, the Haverhill Line is run alternately along the Wildcat route, sharing tracks with the Lowell Line, or via Reading, but the higher frequencies and tight scheduling of Regional Rail mean that one route should be chosen. The Wildcat route would be faster to North Station, but would require closing North Wilmington and making the Haverhill Line a branch of the Lowell Line. The Reading route would only be two minutes slower, but would need more double-tracking.  

”Our vision for the Haverhill Line maximizes its ability to provide more service and attract higher ridership, which is essential for recovering from the pandemic,” said TransitMatters executive director Jarred Johnson. “It also keeps the MBTA’s options open for the future while adding high level platforms ensures that riders of all abilities will be able to get on and off.” 

Several outer stations, including Haverhill, Lawrence, Wakefield, Andover and Melrose Cedar Park, are within half a mile of more than 3,000 jobs, but no station gets over 850 riders a day (pre-pandemic), suggesting that there is untapped potential along the route. With Regional Rail, there would be a train to Haverhill from North Station every 30 minutes all day instead of just at peak times, which could make the service more attractive to riders. 

In addition to investments in electrification and electric multiple unit trains, all stations will need high level platforms for accessibility and reducing time spent stopped at stations, while the amount of double tracking will depend on what route the MBTA chooses. The Reading route will require either double tracking at Reading station and building two high level platforms, or moving the station to a nearby double tracked segment. 

TransitMatters is dedicated to improving transit in and around Boston by offering new perspectives, uniting transit advocates, and informing the public. We utilize a high level of critical analysis to advocate for plans and policies that promote convenient, effective, and equitable transportation for everyone.

For media inquiries, please e-mail media@transitmatters.org.

Photo Credit: Pi.1415926535, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

MBTA could electrify commuter rail network for between $800m and $1.5b

MBTA could electrify commuter rail network for between $800m and $1.5b

BOSTON, October 20, 2021 —

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority could electrify its commuter rail network for between $800 million and $1.5 billion, according to a new report from advocacy group TransitMatters out today. Electrification would not only help reduce the Commonwealth's greenhouse gas emissions and achieve net-zero, but also allow the MBTA to run faster, more reliable trains.

"Electrifying our rail network would be a win for everyone in the region," said Jarred Johnson, TransitMatters Executive Director. "People from Lowell or Dorchester will get faster rides into Boston and people in Dorchester and Roxbury will have fewer toxic fumes in their neighborhoods. Teamed with better service, electrification will get people out of cars and open up opportunities for housing." 

According to the report, electrifying the trains using an overhead catenary system is preferable to new technologies like battery power or hydrogen fuel cells for two main reasons: firstly, they are expensive, immature technologies with many hurdles to overcome before they can be deployed in Boston's wintry conditions; secondly, they are much heavier compared to the better solution of electric multiple units, or EMUs. These trains are more like subway or light rail vehicles than the Commuter Rail's traditional use of Diesel locomotives to haul unpowered carriages. As a result, they are lighter, accelerate and brake faster and have fewer moving parts, resulting in greater reliability and longer lifespans.

"EMUs outperform other trains in every respect: speed, acceleration, energy consumption, passenger comfort, operating costs, reliability, procurement costs and maintenance costs," the report states. "Combined, these allow electric trains to cover routes more quickly, and allow significantly more service to be provided with the same number of resources."

The cost estimate is based on international best-practices and does not include extending rail service to New Hampshire or making Cape Cod a year-round service. Nor does it include the Needham Line, which TransitMatters recommends becoming an extension of the Orange Line. Costs also do not include rolling stock, since the MBTA's Diesel locomotives and carriages must be replaced regardless of whether the system is electrified. The cost of high level platforms are also not included as these vary depending on the type of platform, some MBTA stations already have full high level platforms and the MBTA should be building them for greater accessibility regardless.

TransitMatters is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving transit in and around Boston by offering new perspectives, uniting transit advocates and informing the public.    

For media inquiries, please e-mail media@transitmatters.org. 

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October 28, 2021 —

We have issued a revision to our electrification report issued last week due to a misclassification of Caltrain's substations. We have also provided more info in the comparison matrix regarding the figures associated w/ Denmark & Britain's electrification. We thank everyone who promptly brought this to our attention to improve the accuracy of our report. We have replaced the report in kind on our website, so direct links still should work. The abstract contains a summary of revisions.

TransitMatters Praises Addition of More All-Day Commuter Rail Options for Riders

For Immediate Release -- BOSTON, March 18, 2021: TransitMatters today extends its congratulations to the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority and Keolis for adopting schedules with more frequent service throughout the day. The new schedules will make taking commuter rail easier and more convenient for customers, who will have more options throughout the day. 

The change is a step towards the vision that TransitMatters has called for since 2018 when they released Regional Rail for Metropolitan Boston, a report detailing how the MBTA could transform the commuter rail system into an electrified, fast, frequent and reliable 21st century transportation system that would serve all riders, not just nine-to-five commuters.

“This new schedule marks an important shift towards a new business model for our suburban rail network,” said Jarred Johnson, executive director of TransitMatters. “More frequent trains, mid-day service, and late night trains will give riders more options. This is moving our network away from being so focused on commutes and instead takes into account the other 83% of trips and the new nature of work. This new schedule is a move towards more frequent service- which is a key element of our Regional Rail agenda.”

Unfortunately, the schedules still involve service cuts that will prevent ridership from coming back post-pandemic, particularly on weekends. This will create a self-fulfilling prophecy of cuts leading to more cuts as riders switch to driving. Not only will it ultimately cost the MBTA customers and revenue, but our environment will suffer from increased carbon emissions. TransitMatters calls on the MBTA to heed the warning from our congressional delegation about future federal funding and restore weekend service. 

In the coming months, TransitMatters will detail a proposal for restoring service further as the Commonwealth emerges from the COVID-19 pandemic, bringing the region closer to Regional Rail.

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Contact:          Ethan Finlan, Regional Rail Campaign Lead: efinlan@transitmatters.info 

                        Jarred Johnson, Executive Director: jjohnson@transitmatters.info