MBTA to Disrupt Service of the Providence/Stoughton Line

The replacement of concrete ties by Amtrak will disrupt service to four MBTA lines from June 11 to mid-September, including the Providence/Stoughton line, which runs through two Attleboro stops including the one located at 75 South Main St. and the station at 1315 Newport Ave. in South Attleboro. 

It has been determined that the concrete ties were causing systemic failure that would lead to speed restrictions that would severely delay much of the commuter rail traffic, according the MBTA. The ties were originally put in place in the 1990’s by Amtrak as part of their Northeast Rail Corridor Improvement Project.

The construction will take place from Back Bay Station and extend to Forest Hills stop and necessitate the closure of one of the three tracks running through there.

The closure of that track will cause several changes to the schedule of the Fairmont, Franklin, Needham and Providence/Stoughton lines starting June 11. This includes the retiming of stops as well as the possible combination of trains.

The alternate schedules will be posted on MBTA's site, the Massachusetts Bay Commuter Railroad Company (MBCR) site and made available at the South and Back Bay Stations by May 30.

One of the significant changes during the construction project will be the lack of inbound morning peak-hour trains stopping at Ruggles Stations. All outbound and evening trains, both inbound and outbound, will run.

 "I figure its going to leave a lot of people in a lurch" Walter Thibodeau, member of the city's Committee on Traffic and Transportation, said. Thibodeau encouraged commuters to express their dissatisfaction with any inconveniences with the MBTA. 

The MBTA is suggesting that passengers attempting to reach Ruggles by either the Providence/Stoughton line or the Needham line are suggested to take trains to Back Bay Station where there will a free transfer option to take the Orange line to Ruggles.

"Its a very noisy procedure, its heavily lighted and occurs at night" Thibodeau said of the work. The procdures would be a preview of what construction and disruption would be to the rail schedules if the proposed commuter rails to Boston from New Bedford and Fall River were to come through Attleboro. While Attleboro was eliminated as a option this past March, Thibodeau expressed concerns that if Attleboro doesn't keep up its resistance to that project, the MBTA might attempt to go through Attleboro again. 

The MBTA and MBCR say they will have extra personnel available to help with service issues that may occur throughout the project. Additionally, Amtrak will be providing a 1-800 Hotline number along with an “Ask Amtrak” email address for customers.