MBTA Completes Red Line Track Work; Removes Five Speed Restrictions

Crews performed track replacement work along the Red Line. Complimentary photo and caption by the MBTA Customer and Employee Experience Department.

BOSTON - The MBTA has completed track work on its Red Line, and, as a result, it has removed five 'critical' speed restrictions. 

This week, RT&S reported the MBTA had finished track work on its Orange Line, marking the first time in almost 15 years that the line is speed restriction-free. Now, the passenger authority announced it has finished work on its Red Line. With the removal of five speed restrictions, the line now only has four speed restrictions along its entire system.

The work took place while service was suspended on November 5th-10th between Broadway and North Quincy and on November 9th-10th between Broadway and Ashmont. During this time, crews replaced almost 9,500 feet of rail, 26 ties, 143 switch timbers, and almost 260 plates. They also resurfaced and tamped roughly 7,920 feet of track. At the Braintree station, crews made repairs to the platform-area stairway and overhead walkway that included drainage, steel and concrete work, and painting.

Workers made station and stairway inspections and security enhancements. At Ashmont, workers replaced a broken glass section near the escalator. At stations along Ashmont Branch, crews finished surveys and inspections.

Along the Red Line, crews completed various track work (such as gauging, welding, insulator replacement, and removal of scrap rail) and power and signal work (such as cable replacement, replacing 15 WeeZee bonds, replacing third rail heaters, upgraded 15 welded bonds, and replaced 10 track circuits). Below are photos courtesy of the MBTA showing the work completed on the Red Line.