MBTA commuter rail schedule changes take effect

BOSTON — The MBTA's new commuter rail schedule is going into effect.

The changes are meant to improve performance and make the schedule more reliable for commuters.

Some of the bigger changes will include earlier start times, as well as a new express train from Worcester to Boston.

Until now, the commuter rail schedule hasn't changed in decades. But the MBTA held a public comment period that influenced these new changes.

Officials say they will make arrival and departure times more consistent and provide additional express service.

"After hearing feedback at public meetings and receiving thousands of comments from our customers, we have adjusted some schedules in order to better serve the people who use our commuter rail system," said MassDOT Secretary and CEO Stephanie Pollack. "This comprehensive update  the most substantive changes in decades  will lead to improved service and customer dependability."

Here are some of the bigger changes:

North Side service

• New "reverse commute" train from North Station to Littleton/495 to serve new employment growth in the area, at 6:45 a.m., as well as an early reverse commute to Fitchburg at 6:30 p.m.
• Haverhill Line: shifted arrival times earlier to better line up with job start times.
• Newburyport/Rockport Line: added later a.m. departures for school drop-off.

South Side service

• New Express Train from Worcester to Boston at 8:05 a.m.
• Providence/Stoughton Line:  provided five peak-service stops at Ruggles Staion, the same as previous schedule.
• Framingham/Worcester Line:  all 'peak commuting period' express trains to serve West Natick station, and Train 510 will make all stops in Wellesley.
• Needham Line:  restored the Forest Hills and Ruggles stops to all a.m. peak trains, and shifted p.m. peak departures to better reflect the existing schedule.
• Franklin Line:  restored the Dedham Corp. Center stop on a.m. and p.m. Express Trains and the Readville stop on comparable local services.  P.M. peak service realigned to better match existing departure times (exact times could not be replicated due to equipment constraints and corridor capacity).

To view the new commuter rail schedules, click here.

The public information effort includes T-Alerts, on-board announcements by conductors, MBTA.com, social media (@mbta on Twitter) and the distribution of pocket schedules.

Cox Media Group