Boston MBTA's GLX Branch to Medford begins revenue service

[Fenway]

At long last, the GLX to Medford begins operation.





The Medford branch will be on the E Line.





I can't foresee any further expansion of the rapid transit lines in my lifetime unless they extend the Blue Line from Wonderland to Lynn (Salem?).

 

[Fenway]

 

[Fenway]

It is a game changer

Just thrilled that it finally happened

 

[Metra Electric Rider]

Wow, nice to see an extension with enthusiastic support!

 

[AmtrakMaineiac]

I can't foresee any further expansion of the rapid transit lines in my lifetime unless they extend the Blue Line from Wonderland to Lynn (Salem?).

I was under the impression that the short extension of the Blue Line to Charles MGH was under serious consideration. This would allow a direct connection between red and blue lines and make trips such as Cambridge to the airport much easier.

 

[MARC Rider]

I can't foresee any further expansion of the rapid transit lines in my lifetime unless they extend the Blue Line from Wonderland to Lynn (Salem?).

Salem? Wouldn't it be a lot cheaper to just run more frequent commuter trains? No construction costs, just more equipment needed.

 

[jis]

Salem? Wouldn't it be a lot cheaper to just run more frequent commuter trains? No construction costs, just more equipment needed.

I tend to agree. I think the money would be better spent electrifying the North suburban lines and improving throughput of the signaling system.

 

[Fenway]

I was under the impression that the short extension of the Blue Line to Charles MGH was under serious consideration. This would allow a direct connection between red and blue lines and make trips such as Cambridge to the airport much easier.

Point taken. I didn't include it because they have been talking about it for 30 years.

 

[Fenway]

Later in the morning elected officials showed up for the official opening







I have many friends who live and work in that corridor and future generations will not have to endure the nightmare that was Lechmere Station for a bus connection.

 

[Fenway]

For years Somerville offered lower rents because transit was bus-driven but Davis Square changed overnight when the subway came in 1985 and then Assembly opened 8 years ago and that development exploded.

I think the T made a mistake not making the stations gated as paying on the honor system will backfire. I know they did it to reduce the cost of building each station but it will come back to bite them.

 

[Fenway]

I tend to agree. I think the money would be better spent electrifying the North suburban lines and improving throughput of the signaling system.

Salem? Wouldn't it be a lot cheaper to just run more frequent commuter trains? No construction costs, just more equipment needed.

I am certainly a fan of electrification and the N-S connector tunnel but they will be hard sells on Beacon Hill.

The T absolutely needs to build a commuter rail station at the Encore Casino and then footbridges/people mover to connect everything to Assembly.

The Orange Line SHOULD have been extended to 128 in Westwood back in 1987 but a young politician rallied Hyde Park against it and he later became mayor for life and the Red Line should have been extended to Lexington/Bedford...........but the NIBY crowd prevailed.

I would love the GLX Union Line extended to Porter Sq in Cambridge which would make Porter a superstation with Commuter Rail, Red and Green Line access.

The sobering thing is we need a time-out as we need time to see how post-COVID commuting patterns play out and this is an issue everywhere.

 

[AmtrakMaineiac]

Blue line to Lynn has been talked about since the original Revere extension went in in the 1950s. Perhaps one alternative is a short extension to meet the Commuter Rail and an interchange station there, The two lines are only about a 1/3 mile apart at Wonderland.

 

[Fenway]

Of course, Miles was on the first train - his report