@fallboy37 Type 9s (replacement green line cars) are on the drawing board. They are in the process of securing funding to get new red and orange line cars.
The next cars to be replaced will be the orange line due to their age. The red line 01700s will be refurbished for the time being.
Just because they look old doesn't mean that they don't work. Subway cars are expensive. Would you replace a car as soon as you get a scratch on it?
@diburning I'm just saying. the older they get. the more problems they have. and its something the public uses everyday and many people also want newer one. also why don't they operate so late? because I'm hoping to go up there for college and i heard the bars close at around 2 and the subway closes at around 12-1
@fallboy37 New stuff can have problems too. The MBTA Type 8 vehicles (Green line 3800 series) were a problem from day 1
Unlike New York which has more than two tracks per line, the MBTA is an older system which only has two tracks. They need to perform maintenance and inspections at night while the system is shut down.
@CircusFreakGRITZ Hey! Here in Cleveland we have Breda LRVs that never have breakdown problems! They do have other problems though. Like the automated voice sounds like: "The next stop is Green Road Raaaapid Station. Thank you for riding the R.........TA" Well, they ARE 1985 rail cars. I guess Breda was better back then. Besides, the automated voice is the RTA's problem. The trains didn't have automated announcements when they were delivered. RTA instaled them a few years ago.
They tried that on the buses and they found it to be unsatisfactory as she mispronounced many street names, so they used Frank Ogelsby's voice on the Blue Line cars.
On the other hand, the Commuter Rail uses a female voice for the automatic stop announcements.
@diburning It sounds like they just should've hired a different woman to do the announcements. Research shows greater retention of information when it is given by a female voice and greater compliance when orders are given by a male voice.
One of my personal favorite lines as a kid. I used to love the "beat up" look of the older aluminum cars and how they just seemed to match the environment it runs in. See 90s era State Street station for a visual representation.
i think the announcements should be like in the green line some words i would have left off and that other announcement as soon as the doors open saying da destination is not on these
The guy who's voice is recorded for the announcements is named Frank Ogelsby. His voice is the voice of the announcements on the red and green lines. (He may also be the voice of the bus announcements but I am not 100% sure)
He reads off of a script when recording so it's not his fault :P
I thought the max speed was 50 mph...according to the Siemens website (the manufacturer), 80 km/h (which is listed as the top spec speed for these units) translates to about 50 mph...
I guess theres a software restriction. I was watching the operator. He pushed the throttle to the max so that it clicked. The train did not accelerate past 40. It did 46 between Airport and Maverick, but only because of the incline. (it was going downhill)
The LED signs are actually more cost efficient if they decide to expand the blue line in the future (for example, the extension to Lynn). They could just program a new destination into the sign instead of buying or fabricating new destination on a rollsign
The Breda cars have proven to be quite a service headache - frequent breakdowns, frequent repairs, high cost to maintain! The older trains (kinki-karyo) were much more reliable, but at the time Boston was shopping around, did not have any models that could accommodate wheelchairs. Hopefully, they now offer that.
The Type 8s (Bredas) have many problems running on the green line. The center truck likes to pick the switches because the wheels are on stub axles held against the rail with springs. MBTA also sent them the wrong wheel tread profile for the wheels so the wheel treads aren't the right size adding to that.
Plus, they can't run at higher speeds on the Riverside line (they can for short periods of time, but you hear the traction motors screaming)
I meant the signs on the insides of the cars. BTW: The outside destination signs on the red line 1800's are yellow-backlit LCD's (not sure about the green line). But the inner signs are red on the RL 1800's & green on the Type 8 & converted Type 7 GL trolleys.
I've seen them testing these on the orange line... maybe they're going to remove the pentographs and add these on the orange line. Who knows? I'm assuming they will.
no. They would have to repaint them and do lots of costly modifications and run an 8 car train of them since they are shorter.
These cars were ordered exclusively for the blue line because the older trains corrode faster running next to the ocean.
Also, they wouldn't need to remove the pantograph to use the third rail. The blue line uses the pantograph above ground and uses the third rail underground.
The Orange line's cars were built 1979-1981. Their life expectancy is a few decades so we won't be seeing new orange line cars in the near future.
The blue line got new cars because they run near the ocean and the parts corrode faster. Thats why the blue line cars look like they are in worse shape than the orange line cars even though they were both built at the same time.
But the early 500s lasted for almost 60 years because between 1924 and 1952 they ran completely underground, so they were exposed to almost no elements.
yup. Because they ran comepletely underground, they weren't exposed to the briny ocean air.Hopefully these Siemens cars last longer than the old Hawker-Siddeleys. The Hawker-Siddeleys on the orange line feel ancient on the inside.
These trains are good. Bombardier makes good trains too. I'm not sure if Bombardier made a bid, but Siemens had the second lowest bid and the MBTA accepted it.
The lowest bidder was Breda, but the MBTA doesn't want to do buisness with them anymore because the Type 8 LRVs on the green line were crap. The Washington Metro also uses Breda cars and they derail even more than the green line cars. Breda is terrible.
why don't they get new trains for all the lines? the green line and orange and all of the others look so OLD.
fallboy37 9 months ago
@fallboy37 Type 9s (replacement green line cars) are on the drawing board. They are in the process of securing funding to get new red and orange line cars.
The next cars to be replaced will be the orange line due to their age. The red line 01700s will be refurbished for the time being.
Just because they look old doesn't mean that they don't work. Subway cars are expensive. Would you replace a car as soon as you get a scratch on it?
diburning 9 months ago
@diburning I'm just saying. the older they get. the more problems they have. and its something the public uses everyday and many people also want newer one. also why don't they operate so late? because I'm hoping to go up there for college and i heard the bars close at around 2 and the subway closes at around 12-1
fallboy37 9 months ago
@fallboy37 New stuff can have problems too. The MBTA Type 8 vehicles (Green line 3800 series) were a problem from day 1
Unlike New York which has more than two tracks per line, the MBTA is an older system which only has two tracks. They need to perform maintenance and inspections at night while the system is shut down.
diburning 9 months ago
Look at the Destenation sign at 0:59. I says WONDERLAND!
2001rtm 10 months ago
@CircusFreakGRITZ Hey! Here in Cleveland we have Breda LRVs that never have breakdown problems! They do have other problems though. Like the automated voice sounds like: "The next stop is Green Road Raaaapid Station. Thank you for riding the R.........TA" Well, they ARE 1985 rail cars. I guess Breda was better back then. Besides, the automated voice is the RTA's problem. The trains didn't have automated announcements when they were delivered. RTA instaled them a few years ago.
2001rtm 10 months ago
I recognize the voice during the stop announcements. That's Frank Olgesby Jr. Voice of the MBTA for more than 20 years
tpirman1982 1 year ago
They are now. When the MBTA was still running with all RTS buses, they had a trial ASA system in the buses with a female voice.
diburning 2 years ago
i think the voices should be female :)
pete5668 2 years ago
They tried that on the buses and they found it to be unsatisfactory as she mispronounced many street names, so they used Frank Ogelsby's voice on the Blue Line cars.
On the other hand, the Commuter Rail uses a female voice for the automatic stop announcements.
diburning 2 years ago
@diburning It sounds like they just should've hired a different woman to do the announcements. Research shows greater retention of information when it is given by a female voice and greater compliance when orders are given by a male voice.
Roboboy 1 year ago
One of my personal favorite lines as a kid. I used to love the "beat up" look of the older aluminum cars and how they just seemed to match the environment it runs in. See 90s era State Street station for a visual representation.
vampyre11487 2 years ago
The red line sounds different because it was recorded in the late 80's/early 90s when he was younger.
diburning 2 years ago
i think the announcements should be like in the green line some words i would have left off and that other announcement as soon as the doors open saying da destination is not on these
parejopinto 2 years ago
The original announcement system from Siemens had the destinatino announcements.
However, the MBTA found it to be unecessary as the blue line doesn't have any branches.
diburning 2 years ago
oh dats sad because sometimes destination changes from bowdoin to gov ctr and some ppl r stupid enough to not read
parejopinto 2 years ago
@diburning I'm curious though, if the MBTA did any research to determine
Roboboy 1 year ago
MBTA talked to the press on that a while ago and was reported on by the Boston Metro.
diburning 2 years ago
The guy who's voice is recorded for the announcements is named Frank Ogelsby. His voice is the voice of the announcements on the red and green lines. (He may also be the voice of the bus announcements but I am not 100% sure)
He reads off of a script when recording so it's not his fault :P
diburning 2 years ago
I kind of like the way the old Blue Line trains look,the corrugated sides,and the larger ammount of blue than the new trains.
The new ones have a Terminator Cyberdyne look to them.
Dudtz 3 years ago
My opinion is that they are blue tanks. The stainless steel makes them look armored.
They accelerate and brake really good. Their max speed is 40mph though
diburning 3 years ago
If the blue covered the bottom part more,from the bottom,to where the metal curves,I don''t think I would mind it as much.
Dudtz 3 years ago
I thought the max speed was 50 mph...according to the Siemens website (the manufacturer), 80 km/h (which is listed as the top spec speed for these units) translates to about 50 mph...
pjkeeve 2 years ago
I guess theres a software restriction. I was watching the operator. He pushed the throttle to the max so that it clicked. The train did not accelerate past 40. It did 46 between Airport and Maverick, but only because of the incline. (it was going downhill)
diburning 2 years ago
They'd be in bigger debt with the maintenance issues, wrecks, and passenger lawsuits.
diburning 3 years ago
even the new trains look ugly
Lilfrank2567 3 years ago 5
This comment has received too many negative votes show
Imagine how much money they could have saved if they had opted not to have the LEDs
adelgado75 3 years ago
The LED signs are actually more cost efficient if they decide to expand the blue line in the future (for example, the extension to Lynn). They could just program a new destination into the sign instead of buying or fabricating new destination on a rollsign
diburning 3 years ago
How many stops on this line? I am going to visit Boston for the day this Sunday.
adelgado75 3 years ago 2
Wonderland - Revere Beach - Beachmont - Suffolk Downs - Orient Heights - Wood Island - Airport - Maverick - Aquarium - State (orange line connection) - Government Center (Green line Connection) - Bowdoin (open only during rush hour)
diburning 3 years ago
I hope that the MBTA and Siemens could work out a deal to get some new Green Line cars to replace those damn Bredas.
NewEngland90 3 years ago
Yes, and maybe replace the hawkers on the orange line too
diburning 3 years ago
y do they need new green lines. i think the green lines are fine the way it is.
khmernigka781 3 years ago
The Breda cars have proven to be quite a service headache - frequent breakdowns, frequent repairs, high cost to maintain! The older trains (kinki-karyo) were much more reliable, but at the time Boston was shopping around, did not have any models that could accommodate wheelchairs. Hopefully, they now offer that.
cop1528 3 years ago 3
The Type 8s (Bredas) have many problems running on the green line. The center truck likes to pick the switches because the wheels are on stub axles held against the rail with springs. MBTA also sent them the wrong wheel tread profile for the wheels so the wheel treads aren't the right size adding to that.
Plus, they can't run at higher speeds on the Riverside line (they can for short periods of time, but you hear the traction motors screaming)
Type 9 cars are already on the drawing board.
diburning 3 years ago
The type 7s (kinki-sharyos) will be overhauled soon and the type 8s will be retired leaving the type 7s to run with the type 9s.
diburning 3 years ago
I meant the signs on the insides of the cars. BTW: The outside destination signs on the red line 1800's are yellow-backlit LCD's (not sure about the green line). But the inner signs are red on the RL 1800's & green on the Type 8 & converted Type 7 GL trolleys.
Madness832 3 years ago
oh I see what you mean
diburning 3 years ago
I haven't actually ridden on one yet, but it's too bad they didn't put in blue LED signs to match the line color like they did on the red & green.
Madness832 3 years ago
i got on this train at revere beach st and went to goverment very surprised when i got on it
sieman700 3 years ago
They resemble the Red Line bombardiers in Boston's MBTA.
TLC2287 3 years ago
Yes, because the carbody is stainless steel instead of aluminum
diburning 3 years ago
I like the R68a's in New York better.
markjwil 3 years ago
the R68as are ok for something that's 20 years old.
diburning 3 years ago
these new cars talk too much.
nhlives 3 years ago
yup
diburning 3 years ago
I've seen them testing these on the orange line... maybe they're going to remove the pentographs and add these on the orange line. Who knows? I'm assuming they will.
askapalaphagy 3 years ago
no. They would have to repaint them and do lots of costly modifications and run an 8 car train of them since they are shorter.
These cars were ordered exclusively for the blue line because the older trains corrode faster running next to the ocean.
Also, they wouldn't need to remove the pantograph to use the third rail. The blue line uses the pantograph above ground and uses the third rail underground.
diburning 3 years ago
omg just like the Red line! lol
S***man
mbta111 4 years ago 2
orange line....YOUR NEXT!!!!
tmp197 4 years ago
The Orange line's cars were built 1979-1981. Their life expectancy is a few decades so we won't be seeing new orange line cars in the near future.
The blue line got new cars because they run near the ocean and the parts corrode faster. Thats why the blue line cars look like they are in worse shape than the orange line cars even though they were both built at the same time.
diburning 4 years ago
But the early 500s lasted for almost 60 years because between 1924 and 1952 they ran completely underground, so they were exposed to almost no elements.
s7o0a0p 4 years ago
yup. Because they ran comepletely underground, they weren't exposed to the briny ocean air.Hopefully these Siemens cars last longer than the old Hawker-Siddeleys. The Hawker-Siddeleys on the orange line feel ancient on the inside.
diburning 4 years ago
These trains are good. Bombardier makes good trains too. I'm not sure if Bombardier made a bid, but Siemens had the second lowest bid and the MBTA accepted it.
The lowest bidder was Breda, but the MBTA doesn't want to do buisness with them anymore because the Type 8 LRVs on the green line were crap. The Washington Metro also uses Breda cars and they derail even more than the green line cars. Breda is terrible.
diburning 4 years ago
Considering that these cars were supposed to be running in 2001, I think siemens put the MBTA in as much trouble as breda did.
s7o0a0p 4 years ago
umm actually, no. The delay was because the MBTA is taking precautions after the Breda fiasco.
the MBTA wants to make sure that the trains are perfect (or at least closer to perfect)
diburning 4 years ago
I didn't Know that! Thanks!
s7o0a0p 4 years ago
Even though in 1980 Hawker-Siddeley and Bombardier were the same company, I still feel that Bombardier is superior to Hawker-Siddeley.
s7o0a0p 4 years ago
Yes, I agree. The bombardier red line cars are really nice even though they are 15+ years old.
The Hawker-Siddley cars look like they've been running for 50 years because their appearance degrades so fast.
diburning 4 years ago
Wasn't the T planning to repaint the old Hawker-Siddley's orange, and then add them to the Orange Line fleet?
papadop 4 years ago
They were considering that, but in the end, they scrapped that idea because it would mean a lot of costly modifications.
They'd also would have to run 8 car trains with them since the cars are a lot shorter.
diburning 4 years ago
Also, the floor of the blue line cars is lower than the orange line,. They'd have to jack them up to make them level with the orange line's platforms.
They did intend on doing just that, but the cars were too rusted out to make the project worthwhile.
diburning 3 years ago
execpt for for one thing:
the Hawker-Siddley cars have been running for the Blue since '78-79 and their "cousins" for the Orange have been running since '80.
videonut33 3 years ago
the orange line's hawker siddleys are also due for replacement or overhaul. This won't happen for another 5 years at least.
The blue line was replaced first because it runs along the coast and the briny sea air corrodes the cars faster
diburning 3 years ago
Not until 2015, sadly.
s7o0a0p 4 years ago
that sucks cuz i was hoping a Bombardier or the types of new cars they have NYC like the 2,5, or 6 :(
tmp197 4 years ago
Awesome - guess they're in service?
winnabago 4 years ago
Just 1 set. That one set is made up of 0708, 0709, 0710 and 0711.
They should all be in service by this time next year
diburning 4 years ago
Today is the first day that they are put in service. They had an inaugural ceremony at the Aquarium station this morning at 10am (I missed it)
diburning 4 years ago