My father and I were surprised at the glacial speed of MBTA’s Commonwealth Avenue line when we rode from Park Street to Boston College and back last May.
Must Boston’s streetcars travel so slowly? By comparison take Prague’s nimble trams that whisk passengers through the city’s streets. There’s a lesson to be learned.
Tracking the Light posts daily.
Green Line operators have slow speed orders in all stations and other spots due to oversight by relevant state agency (so I’ve been told) because of highly publicized rear end collisions, derailments at switches, etc. There are other inefficiencies related to fare collection and traffic signals, etc., that are supposedly being addressed and overcome in the next few years.
Supposedly the Green Line is the most heavily patronized light rail line in the US.
I think Atlanta may be even slower – it is suggested that the cars speed more time stopped at traffic signals than in motion.
But Boston is very disappointing compared with European operations. On my visit, one trip had an extendend stop while the operator alighted to lift a wheelchair passenger up to floor level using a hand-winch driven elevating platform. Amazing!