New Orange Line Trains Pulled From Service​​ Need More Work: MBTA

BOSTON — The new Orange Line trains that were temporarily taken out of service earlier this week, are going to take a bit longer to get on track, the MBTA said Friday. Inspectors originally found a problem with the bolsters, which allow the wheels and their frames to rotate and maneuver turns in the tracks, according to the agency on Tuesday.

Then, Friday, following a more thorough inspection inspectors decided they needed more time to fix the fault.

MBTA officials originally hoped to have the trains on the track again by the end of this week, but this time they didn't offer an ETA on return time.

"Safety is our top priority & has been the driving force throughout the process of releasing these vehicles," the MBTA said in a statement on Twitter Friday. "Thank you for your patience."

That seems to be the refrain for the beleaguered agency.

A month after the new orange lines hit the tracks last August they had to pull them to fix a problem with a door component and then in November trains were pulled again because of a faulty pad issue.

The MBTA is set to replace the Orange Line fleet with 152 new trains — complete with more space inside, wider doors, LCD screens and more handrails — by the end of 2022. It's part of the MBTA's $8 billion, 5-year capital investment plan.

Previously: New Orange Line Trains Temporarily Pulled From Service

• New MBTA Orange Line Trains Hit Tracks (Aug 2019)
• Now Arriving: Second Set Of New Orange Line Train (Sept. 2019)
• New Orange Line Train Derails In Wellington Rail Yard (Nov. 2019)
• Orange Line Track Work, Shuttles On Weekends: What To Know (Jan. 2020)