16-day closure of MBTA's Red Line for 'critical' track work begins Saturday
The MBTA’s Red Line’s Ashmont Branch and the entire Mattapan Line will be shut down for 16 days, starting Saturday. The closure is needed so crews can perform major track improvements, MBTA General Manager and CEO Phillip Eng said at the time of the announcement.”The upcoming work on the Ashmont Branch and Mattapan Line is critical to addressing and improving safety and reliability along this stretch of the Red Line, and the complete closure of these lines allows us to accomplish vital work in 16 days,” Eng said.The track between JFK/UMass and Ashmont Stations and on the Mattapan Line is some of the oldest in the system, Eng said. The diversion will allow crews to replace rails, ties, and ballasts to improve reliability and reduce maintenance needs.Video below: Someone seen surfing on MBTA train Following the work, 28 speed restrictions will be alleviated in the area. Eng said the plan is modeled off a recent 12-day closure of the Green Line’s B Branch. Shuttle bus service will be offered for riders from JFK/UMass through Ashmont and Mattapan Stations. Eng said the buses would run continuously along both affected lines, so riders would not need to switch buses to get from end-to-end. The MBTA said travel on the Fairmount Commuter Rail Line will be free during the 16-day closure. Video below: Green Line closure work
The MBTA’s Red Line’s Ashmont Branch and the entire Mattapan Line will be shut down for 16 days, starting Saturday.
The closure is needed so crews can perform major track improvements, MBTA General Manager and CEO Phillip Eng said at the time of the announcement.
“The upcoming work on the Ashmont Branch and Mattapan Line is critical to addressing and improving safety and reliability along this stretch of the Red Line, and the complete closure of these lines allows us to accomplish vital work in 16 days,” Eng said.
The track between JFK/UMass and Ashmont Stations and on the Mattapan Line is some of the oldest in the system, Eng said. The diversion will allow crews to replace rails, ties, and ballasts to improve reliability and reduce maintenance needs.
Video below: Someone seen surfing on MBTA train
Following the work, 28 speed restrictions will be alleviated in the area. Eng said the plan is modeled off a recent 12-day closure of the Green Line’s B Branch.
Shuttle bus service will be offered for riders from JFK/UMass through Ashmont and Mattapan Stations. Eng said the buses would run continuously along both affected lines, so riders would not need to switch buses to get from end-to-end.
The MBTA said travel on the Fairmount Commuter Rail Line will be free during the 16-day closure.
Video below: Green Line closure work
