Beleagured Commuter Rail: Expect Delays Friday

CHART ABOVE IS TONIGHT’S COMMUTER RAIL SCHEDULE

BOSTON, MA - Amtrak officials have canceled most commuter rail trains departing from South Station because of a signal problem that has wreaked havoc on commutes all day and potentially into tomorrow.

Amtrak notified the Massachusetts Department of Transportation it will not be able to resolve the issue before the evening commute started - and possibly not even by tomorrow morning - the MBTA and MassDOT said.

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The only trains that will leave South Station will be the Providence/Attleboro and Stoughton lines.

Tonight’s alternative schedule is as follows:

• Fairmount, with a bus between Newmarket and South Station, departing from South Station at 5:19, 6:54, 8:53.

• Franklin trains departing Back Bay via Orange Line at 5:15, 5:45, 6:20, 7:40, 8:55, 10:40, 11:55.

• Greenbush trains departing Quincy Center via Red Line at 5:33, 5:58, 6:51, 8:38, 10:13.

• Kingston/Plymouth departing Braintree via Red Line at 4:40, 5:19, 5:57, 6:33, 7:47, 9:48, 10:59.

• Middleborough departing departing JKF/UMass at 4:46, 5:18, 6:03, 6:58, 8:13, 10:36.

• Needham departing Forest Hills at 4:56, 5:38, 6:11, 6:41, 7:26, 8:25, 9:29, 10:45.

• Worcester departing Back Bay at 4:31, 5:06, 5:41, 6:11, 7:26, 8:41, 9:31, 10:31, 11:31.

MassDOT is advising passengers on other lines to avoid going to South Station.

Commuter rail customers are being urged to switch to the subway - via free transfers - at connecting stations.

Updates will be provided through @MBTA_CR Twitter and 617-222-3200.

WHDH has a live video feed at Back Bay Station:

Photo courtesy of WHDH, 7-News