Signal problem causing major MBTA commuter rail delays

February 18, 2016 8:42 am

Kirsten Glavin / News Staff

kglavin@abc6.com

@kirstenglavin

BOSTON, MA – An Amtrak signal problem that delayed some MBTA commuter rail trains Thursday morning has still not been resolved.

Amtrak says the signal failure will not be resolved by the evening commute, and the only commuter rail trains that will depart from South Station are those that serve the Providence/Attleboro and Stoughton lines.

The delays and cancellations left thousands of people traveling to and from Boston feeling helpless and frustrated.

"Everyone was just everywhere. It was a disaster. Everybody was very angry. People aren’t happy in Boston," one rider told ABC6 News at the Providence train station.

"I was just trying to get back to Providence and they said that South Station, none of the trains were leaving. So I went to back bay and we waited for another hour. And there were huge crowds of people," said another passenger. "It was so packed I thought people were going to fall into the tracks. It was insane."

MassDOT is now urging all other Commuter Rail passengers not to arrive at South Station and to instead refer to the new schedule that was posted at 3:30 p.m. New trains and alternate stations have been posted, including JFK/UMASS, Back Bay, Forest Hills, Quincy Center, and Braintree.

Amtrak officials are not sure if the issue will be resolved by Friday’s commute, and ask that passengers check the MBTA website for updates.