MBTA completes PTC project ahead of schedule

Written by Maggie Lancaster, assistant editor
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MBTA

Service for the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) Newburyport/Rockport commuter rail line service is expected to resume on Sept. 2, five weeks ahead of schedule.

The MBTA made the announcement last week along with Keolis Commuter Services (KCS). The train route, which services the Northshore, was temporarily shut down on weekends to install positive train control (PTC). MBTA and KCS utilized the weekend shutdowns to perform maintenance, safety and infrastructure repair projects, including new track and grade crossings.

While the majority of the rail replacement was completed during this time, MBTA still has a four-mile stretch of track between Rockport and Gloucester that needs to be replaced. Commuter rail officials estimate that the combined ridership between Rockport and Gloucester on these eight off-peak trains is approximately 80 – 90 passengers each day. Off-peak passengers traveling between Rockport and Gloucester will be bussed to and from these two stations for a five-week period. The transit authority says that holding this rail replacement for a separate time period will allow service along these lines to resume ahead of schedule, which will return commuter rail service to thousands of daily passengers.

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