As part of our $8 billion, 5-year capital investment plan , we're renovating stations, modernizing fare collection systems, upgrading services for our buses, subways, and ferries, and improving the accessibility of the entire system.

Our work doesn’t stop here. While service has been restored to pre-derailment levels, we realize that it’s not enough. We’re Building a Better T , and through the Red Line Improvement Program , we’re working to make it so trains will arrive every 3 minutes. Our next big milestone is coming this fall, when we'll be delivering the first of 252 new pilot cars for testing .

As of this week, we're happy to say that the Red Line is now back to pre-derailment service levels across the entire line. After rebuilding 20 miles of cable and hundreds of control relays, signals are now fully restored, and we're once again running the standard 28 trains every 4 – 5 minutes during rush hour .

Monday, September 16, 2019

Over the last month, Red Line service between JFK/UMass and North Quincy has returned to normal levels, and we've restored the signals between JFK/UMass and Fields Corner.

Our investigation determined that an axle fracture related to a weakened ground ring caused the derailment on June 11. We are completing inspections of the Red, Orange, Green, and Blue Line fleets to identify and prevent similar ground ring failures.

If you want to learn more, download the full Red Line derailment report.

View the Deputy General Manager's remarks at the September 16 FMCB meeting

Monday, August 5, 2019

Work continues on Red Line signal repairs and we have now:

Restored damaged signals between Broadway and JFK/UMass stations

Added 4 extra trains during rush hour service, for a total of 28 trains—the same number of trains we ran before the derailment

While the number of trains per hour is back to normal, service will continue to run slowly in areas where we're still manually operating signals.

Our crews continue to make around-the-clock signal repairs, now expected to continue through October.

Friday, July 19, 2019

We expect to have the signals restored between Broadway and JFK/UMass on or around August 15, 2019.

When signals are fully restored, trains will be able to travel faster through the area, and spend less time stopped at stations. This should save riders an extra 5 minutes on their Red Line trips.

We’ve also begun adding 3 additional trains that each make a single one-way run during rush hour to ease crowding on trains and platforms.

Thursday, July 18, 2019

We’re now able to run 24 trains during rush hour between Alewife and JFK, and you can expect trains approximately every 6 minutes during the morning and afternoon rush hours. For comparison, before the derailment, we were able to run up to 28 trains, with trains arriving approximately every 4.5 minutes.

We’re also investigating the possibility of operating up to 3 additional one-way trips from Ashmont, Alewife, or Braintree during the morning and evening commutes.

An MBTA worker manually signals trains from the platform

As signal repairs continue, trains are being dispatched via radio to our Operations Control Center (OCC) from workers at stations between Broadway and Fields Corner, and Broadway and North Quincy.

While we’re still dispatching from the field, you might experience some delays when we need to hold trains at the station until the tracks ahead are clear.

An MBTA worker signals trains trackside

Crews continue to work 7 days a week to repair and test over 1,000 damaged electronic components. Restoration efforts will continue through Labor Day.

Monday, July 15, 2019

When the Red Line derailment occurred, 3 bungalows were severely damaged. Our bungalows house critical communications technology that allows signals and switches to be remotely controlled. To continue service without this technology, 50 workers a day manually operated signals and switches along the tracks.

Our crews have rebuilt 3 signal bungalows and built 1 additional bungalow for additional communications and power support.

As of Friday, 21 of 29 signals and 11 of 19 switches are once again being remotely controlled by dispatchers at our Operations Control Center (OCC). The number of trains we can move through the area is increasing.

Crews are working around-the-clock on the remaining signals and switches that were most critically damaged. Some manual operation of signals and switches will continue in the coming weeks.

Tuesday, June 25, 2019

Governor Charlie Baker has announced an accelerated plan for the MBTA's capital improvement projects.

The MBTA Capital Acceleration Plan includes:

Scheduling more aggressive evening and weekend closures to expedite infrastructure improvements

Increasing proactive inspections and preventative maintenance

Negotiating with industry partners to expedite manufacturing and project schedules

Hiring a new, flexible team of additional MBTA personnel

Seeking changes to law, to remove impediments to capital investments

Learn more about the MBTA Capital Acceleration Plan

MBTA General Manager Steve Poftak and Governor Charlie Baker at a press conference Tuesday, June 25, at the Wellington Station

Monday, June 24, 2019

Safety Review Panel

Our board announced the formation of an Independent Safety Review Panel, which will bring outside perspectives to our safety practices.

Read more about the Independent Safety Review Panel

Investigation

We’re continuing an investigation into the cause of the derailment, and vehicle parts have been sent to a lab for analysis.

We have also completed a thorough inspection of related components of vehicles of the same type involved in the Red Line derailment.

Signals

Major repair work to signals continues, in 4 main areas:

Broadway-JFK

JFK-Ashmont

JFK-North Quincy

JFK-Cabot

Signal restoration is expected to continue throughout the summer.

To learn more, download the presentation or watch the general manager and deputy general manager's remarks from the June 24 Fiscal and Management Control Board Meeting.

Friday, June 21, 2019

We are currently operating about 10 trains per hour, and expect this level of service will continue through the summer. Prior to the derailment, the Red Line ran 14 trains per hour.

We are continuing to investigate the cause of the derailment. We have ruled out operator error, speed, foul play, and track issues, and are currently investigating the vehicle that derailed. All vehicles of similar type have also been assessed. We are also doing a comprehensive assessment of the entire Red Line fleet.

If you want to learn more about this investigation, watch General Manager Steve Poftak’s update at the June 17 Fiscal and Management Control Board Meeting.

Signal Upgrades

In October 2018, a contract was awarded to replace the signals on the Red Line. That work includes upgrading the analog system to a new digital one. Those replacements will happen in sections, with work now starting at JFK/UMass.

Learn more about Red and Orange Line Signal Upgrades