Work On Needham Line Finishes Early

NEEDHAM, MA — Commuters on the Needham Line will have weekend access earlier than expected.

The MBTA recently announced that work on the federally mandated Positive Train Control (PTC) infrastructure along the Needham Commuter Rail Line finished Oct. 21, about one month earlier than scheduled. Regular Saturday Needham Line train schedules will resume on Oct 28.

PTC is a federally mandated safety control system that automatically reduces train speeds when needed, reducing train collisions and preventing human error. In order to meet the federal deadline set to accomplish PTC installation, the entire MBTA Commuter Rail Line needs to be closed on specific weekends for crews to work as efficiently as possible.

PTC work has already been completed on the Newburyport/Rockport and Lowell Lines. Work on the Haverhill Line is ongoing.

Image: File Photo