MBTA Apologizes After Shuttle Bus Arrives At Wrong Destination

BOSTON, MA — Orange Line shuttle bus passengers were mistakenly driven to Stoneham instead of North Station Thursday morning during the first day of an 11-day closure along the line.

The bus was transporting passengers from Wellington Station in Medford to North Station in Boston when the driver mistakenly headed north on Interstate 93 toward Stoneham.

"The MBTA apologizes to these shuttle bus passengers for this inconvenience," an MBTA spokesperson told Patch. "The matter has been addressed with the shuttle bus vendor, and the driver of this shuttle is no longer working on this service."

Orange Line service between Oak Grove and Back Bay is suspended through Sunday, Aug. 30, while the MBTA completes track and signal upgrades. Free and accessible shuttle buses are replacing train service between Oak Grove and North Station, while trains continue operating between Back Bay and Forest Hills.

According to the MBTA, express shuttles are also operating between Oak Grove and North Station, with stops at Malden Center and Wellington. Riders can use fare-free Commuter Rail service between Oak Grove and North Station and have been advised to allow significant additional travel time during the closure.

Crews are replacing rail, fasteners, plates, third rail, and other track infrastructure while also completing signal work at several stations. According to the MBTA, the continuous closure allows crews to work around the clock rather than spreading the projects across a series of overnight or weekend shutdowns.

The work is part of an effort that will eventually allow Orange Line trains to travel up to 55 mph between Community College and Assembly after additional enabling work is completed.

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