‘It’s frustrating’: After Red Sox parade, commuters faced long waits outside North Station
“It’s frustrating."
Hundreds of North Station commuters and Red Sox revelers faced long lines stretching down Causeway Street during Wednesday’s rush hour, as officials predicted record ridership on the commuter rail.
With the Sox championship parade wrapping up this afternoon and workers leaving the office for the day, commuter rail riders were asked to queue on the street heading toward the North Station entrances. Keolis Commuter Services, the private company that operates the commuter rail for the T, said extra trains are ready to provide additional service through the afternoon. Yet on social media, riders claimed to have been in line for 45 minutes or longer, and some worried they would not arrive home in time to trick or treat with their children on Halloween night.
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Edna Vicente, who works at Massachusetts General Hospital and lives in Reading, said the city should schedule the next championship parade for a Saturday.
World Series revelers have long wait times at North Station on their commute home after the parade.
“It would be better for working people,’’ she said as she shuffled in line.
Others were exasperated.
“The Newburyport train leaves in 30 seconds and how are we going to get on that train?’’ asked Jennifer Allport, a scientist who works in Cambridge and was headed to Ipswich. “It’s frustrating.’’
Keolis spokesman Tory Mazzola said the heavy ridership was expected.
“Extra trains for this afternoon were planned due to the parade and Halloween, specifically for this time of day,’’ Mazzola said. “We are likely seeing the highest level of ridership ever on [the] commuter rail, which why our teams deployed extra trains and more coaches than have ever been in service on the network.’’
He noted that the northern side of the commuter rail is probably seeing even greater ridership from passengers headed to Salem, for Halloween night. The T is offering a special discounted rate for trips to the historic North Shore city Wednesday.
The MBTA is sending service alerts to riders saying “trains may depart ahead of schedule as they reach capacity to alleviate congestion at North Station.’’
Mazzola said South Station commuters are not being put in lines, but some stations near the parade route — such as Back Bay — may be especially crowded.
The platform and lobby areas at North Station are relatively orderly; riders waiting in lines outside the station are being beckoned inside as trains are ready to board.
Earlier Wednesday, MBTA spokesman Joe Pesaturo said the agency worked “non-stop’’ to put a record number of commuter rail coaches in service Wednesday; according to the agency, 386 were operating during the morning commute.
