MBTA: Fall 2020 Commuter Rail Schedule Changes Take Effect November 2

The MBTA is reminding customers of upcoming schedule changes coming to the Commuter Rail network this fall effective Monday, November 2. These updates are being made in response to changing ridership patterns on the Commuter Rail as a result of the pandemic. Upcoming Commuter Rail schedules are available at mbta.com.

The goal of these schedule changes is to accommodate traditional ridership while also adapting service where commutes have changed (to accommodate new staggered work start times, for example) and where the Commuter Rail may become a new option for some customers. These schedules aim to level out service consistently over the course of the day and eliminate gaps in mid-day service, providing more options to riders that promote social distancing.

More Information on Fall Changes Effective November 2:

Full schedules effective November 2 are available at mbta.com. Train counts will increase on weekdays from 505 in fall 2019 to 544 in fall 2020, utilizing the same number of train sets and crews as October 2019. Thirty-two of the thirty-nine new trains (82 percent) will serve either Fairmount, Brockton, or Lynn:

• Fairmont service: This fall, mid-day service will operate every forty-five minutes (fall 2019 mid-day service operated every sixty minutes).
• Brockton service: This fall, mid-day service will operate every sixty to seventy minutes (fall 2019 mid-day service ranged ninety to 120 minutes).
• Lynn service: This fall, mid-day service will operate every thirty minutes (fall 2019 service ranged thirty to ninety minutes).

Other key service changes include:

• Providence service: Service will be more evenly distributed throughout the day with consistent, all-day service and sixty-minute headways.
• Worcester service: Better commute options will be offered with the reintroduction of Express trains. The Heart to Hub service on the Worcester Line will also resume, operating at more convenient times and also serving Framingham.

Commuter Rail Service Pilot Updates:

In an effort to fairly assess current Commuter Rail service pilots that have been affected by the pandemic and current ridership counts, changes to some Commuter Rail service pilots will be in effect beginning November 2. The criteria for evaluating these service pilots will also be updated to account for lower ridership and new budget realities.

• The late-night South Shore schedule change pilot that began in fall 2019 will be paused. This pilot will be considered in the future when ridership and large events in Boston return.
• The Foxboro Weekday Service pilot that began in fall 2019 will be temporarily suspended. This pilot is scheduled to restart in spring 2021.
• The Fairmount Line Weekday Service pilot that added eight additional trips to the Line in June 2020 will continue and be expanded in the fall 2020 schedules. Two more trips will be added in order to provide trains at a regular forty-five-minute interval.

Commuter Rail Fare Pilot Updates:

The Lynn Zone 1A pilot remains in effect through December 31, 2020. This pilot provides additional travel options for North Shore customers, eases crowding on nearby bus routes, and allows the MBTA to collect ridership data related to the effects of temporary fare changes on relieving crowding.

The Five-Day Flex Pass pilot will be extended to December 31, 2020. The Five-Day Flex Pass on mTicket is a bundled fare good for any five days of travel within a thirty-day period.

The Youth Pass is currently valid on all Commuter Rail Zones with this pilot extended to December 31, 2020. The Youth Pass Program is a partnership between the MBTA and participating cities and towns that offers young adults with low incomes roughly 50 percent reduced one-way fares or $30 monthly LinkPasses and was previously only available on bus and subway.

The Foxboro Reverse Commute Fare pilot will end on October 30, 2020. This fare pilot offered a fare equal to that of an interzone 4 fare to commuters who traveled from Zone 1A stations on the Franklin and Fairmount Lines to Foxboro in the morning and returned to Boston in the evening.

For more information, visit mbta.com or connect with the T on Twitter @MBTA, Facebook/TheMBTA, or Instagram @theMBTA.

The above press release was provided to us by the MBTA.

From Mayor McGee’s office: The Lynn Public Health Department has confirmed that as of today, the number of active, confirmed positive COVID-19 cases is 375 with 44 new cases today. 4,814 Lynn residents have recovered and 121 have died. The total number of confirmed positive COVID-19 cases in Lynn since March 21, 2020, including those who have died and recovered, is 5,310. Please visit the City of Lynn COVID-19 Data Dashboard which is updated daily.

The City of Lynn is hosting a free flu clinic and COVID-19 care kit distribution day on Saturday, October 24th from 10:00AM-2:00PM, or until supplies last. Residents can receive both a flu shot and a care kit at Breed Middle School. Those who only want to receive a care kit should go directly to Classical High School. All Lynn residents over the age of 6 months old are welcome and encouraged, regardless of their insurance or immigration status. Residents who do have insurance must bring their insurance card and complete an insurance form which will be available on site or can be filled out ahead of time by printing the form from the City of Lynn website (www.lynnnma.gov). Please call the Department of Public Health at Lynn City Hall at 781-598-4000 with any questions.

Stop the Spread Initiative Testing have been extended until December 31st.
Please visit http://www.ci.lynn.ma.us/covid19/resources.shtml#p7GPc1_2 for more information on how you can get a free COVID-19 test in the City of Lynn until December 31st.

We will continue to provide regular updates on COVID-19 through the City website (www.lynnma.gov), social media, and the Smart 911 emergency notification system (sign up at www.smart911.com).