Community Corner

MBTA Working to Improve Rail Systems Ahead of Winter Season

Heavy snow this past winter caused for a slew of delays and outages.

The MBTA started a series of upgrades to its rail systems Monday as they hope to be better prepared and suited to handle next winter’s storms, the association announced.

Heavy snow this past winter caused for a slew of delays and outages. It also severely damaged parts of the tracks and third rails, which provide the trains with the needed power to operate.

“Rail does wear out over time, and as it wears the contact surfaces become less reliable. And when you put in weather conditions of the winter ice, snow, it interrupts the flow of power to the train. So that’s why upgrading that third rail will do a lot to make sure that we can run more reliably,” said MBTA temporary GM Frank DePaola of the upgrades.

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The MBTA’s plan is to replace the heaters and switch heaters on the third rails that are located outdoors and will likely face brutal conditions come next winter. Replacing them will prove more reliable power, according to DePaola.

The upgrades are expected to take five years at a cost of $84 million. The Orange Line and Red Line will see the first of the upgrades.

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