The MBTA sucketh mightily
Nov. 11th, 2008 06:00 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
dsrtaoOn Monday: I went out and waited for the bus that should come by at 8:10 but has appeared anytime from 7:58 to 8:30. I was there at 7:52. It did not show up. The next bus comes by at 8:47. As I got on, I asked "Any idea what happened to the last bus?"
"Grunt."
On Tuesday: E took me in to Alewife. I bought caffeine, went downstairs, saw a train on the left track and many people not on it. I assumed it was out of service. After a few minutes, a train came in on the right track.
We all got on the train, found seats.
Pause.
"This train is being taken out of service. Please move to the other train."
We all got up and walked across to the left track, which train opened up for us. We all found seats.
Pause.
"This train is being taken out of service. Please move to the other train."
We all got up and walked across to the right track, which train opened up for us. We all found seats.
I announced, "Welcome to the MBTA, where nobody knows what's going on." Many people chuckled.
Pause.
"This train is being taken out of service. Please move to the other train."
We all got up and walked across to the left track, which train opened up for us. We all found seats.
The train left.
On Wednesday (today):
The bus had managed to get across the Waltham line when I started to smell something ugly. The bus stopped and opened doors. The smell was worse from outside. Then I saw that the back wall of the bus (where the engine is kept) was emitting foul white smoke. The driver announced: "Everybody please exit the bus in an orderly fashion." I helped a lady with a stroller down the steps.
E came to pick me up.
"Grunt."
On Tuesday: E took me in to Alewife. I bought caffeine, went downstairs, saw a train on the left track and many people not on it. I assumed it was out of service. After a few minutes, a train came in on the right track.
We all got on the train, found seats.
Pause.
"This train is being taken out of service. Please move to the other train."
We all got up and walked across to the left track, which train opened up for us. We all found seats.
Pause.
"This train is being taken out of service. Please move to the other train."
We all got up and walked across to the right track, which train opened up for us. We all found seats.
I announced, "Welcome to the MBTA, where nobody knows what's going on." Many people chuckled.
Pause.
"This train is being taken out of service. Please move to the other train."
We all got up and walked across to the left track, which train opened up for us. We all found seats.
The train left.
On Wednesday (today):
The bus had managed to get across the Waltham line when I started to smell something ugly. The bus stopped and opened doors. The smell was worse from outside. Then I saw that the back wall of the bus (where the engine is kept) was emitting foul white smoke. The driver announced: "Everybody please exit the bus in an orderly fashion." I helped a lady with a stroller down the steps.
E came to pick me up.
(no subject)
Date: 2008-11-11 11:57 pm (UTC)Otherwise the 2 engine, 13 car behemoth could only go "limited speeds" if they could get both to couple which apparently was not happening.
I'm brainstorming a social network for mobile and Desktop users that will allow commuters to send in live reports wherever their train is, what is actually happening and see if I can tap into various T stats to help calculate odds of whether alternative transport should be sought.
According to the MBTA, I believe a train is not late unless it is at least 30 min late stats wise so I hope they keep raw timings.
(no subject)
Date: 2008-11-12 01:27 am (UTC)I've been figgerin' and figgerin', and I really think today is still just Tuesday. At least, locally.
?
(no subject)
Date: 2008-11-12 01:53 am (UTC)Oulgh.
(no subject)
Date: 2008-11-12 02:04 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2008-11-12 02:10 am (UTC)YESYESYES! I was just saying to someone today that we need exactly that. Only buses too.
(no subject)
Date: 2008-11-12 03:06 am (UTC)