MBTA Commuter Rail Delays, Lines, Crowds Following Red Sox Parade

BOSTON, MA — The MBTA and Keolis had the most coach cars on the tracks they'd ever had in the network in response to the Red Sox Duck Boat parade Wednesday. They set up special cues at North Station and Back Bay. And in the afternoon warned that heavy parade ridership would continue for a while. Officials noted trains may hold past scheduled departure times until full.

But as Red Sox fans started to try to get on said trains late Wednesday evening they are being met with long lines where there are cues, and crowds and pushing. Folks are tweeting about massive backups and huge lines prompting delays everywhere.

The commuter rail Twitter account notes delays, but most are in the 10 to 15 minute range aside from the Franklin Line Train 718, which the noted had departed Forge Park, but was about 40 minutes behind schedule following some police activity.

At North Station photos show a line stretches around the block to Portland Street.

But a Keolis commuter rail service provider spokesperson told Patch things were moving along.

"Lines are moving at North Station. Passengers are in queues by commuter rail line and as those trains, including the extras, are in position the teams bring riders in to board trains. Extra trains for this afternoon were planned due to the parade and Halloween," the spokesperson said in an email to Patch.

Keolis and the MBTA were expecting a lot of riders today, according to a joint press release Wednesday afternoon:

In preparation for the Red Sox parade, Keolis and the MBTA put 386 coach cars into service on commuter rail today, the highest number ever on the network. In addition, commuter rail operated 12 extra trains this morning to accommodate parade goers and regular riders, and plans to operate extra trains this afternoon as well. Early estimates from this morning suggest commuter rail ridership from the Red Sox parade is at similar levels to the 2017 New England Patriots parade. The total daily ridership for the Patriots parade was approximately 215,000, the highest ever on commuter rail. Expectations are that following the return trips after the Red Sox parade and Halloween service to and from Salem on the Newburyport/Rockport lines today’s ridership levels could set a new record.

Still, riders were not happy about the crowds:

Photo courtesy MBTA