MBTA Commuter Rail Slowdowns To Continue This Week

FRAMINGHAM, MA — A commuter rail slowdown that began in mid-December will continue through the end of this week as the MBTA faces staffing shortages related to the coronavirus pandemic.

On Dec. 14, the MBTA's commuter rail service provider, Keolis, announced that weekday service would be slowed, although weekend service would not be affected. The reduced schedules will be in place until at least Jan. 8.

"Commuter Rail has operated consistently throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, helping to provide critical transit for essential workers, including nurses and medical professionals, and for transit-dependent communities," Keolis said in a December statement. "Ridership on Commuter Rail has been approximately 13 percent of its pre-COVID levels, and during the holiday weeks in December ridership is historically low."

According to Keolis, there aren't enough employees to staff the entire system due to rising coronavirus cases across Massachusetts. The slowdowns are not related to the MBTA's budget troubles.

You can see the Framingham-Worcester line reduced schedules on the MBTA website.