The MBTA Commuter Rail lines in Boston defintitely count, IMO. You can commute from Providence to Boston (and from TF Green Airport to Logan Airport through only trains and BRT). If NH ever pulls it’s head out of its ass, the proposed Nashua and Manchester expansions will also happen.
Also, during the summer, they run trains from South Station to Hyannis down the Cape, and the stop is like two blocks from where the Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket ferries dock.
Biggest issue with them right now is the lack of a connection between North and South Stations. Before they fucked up the Green Line Expansion, I would have told you the North-South connection (which would also enable the Acela to go north of Boston) was probably going to get approved and started within the next 10 years, and it still might anyways. The MBTA leadership basically needs to be purged first, though.
Yeah I cam here to say that the MBTA isn’t too bad. I don’t like how if I want to go from like, Newburyport (not where I live I’m not self-doxxing lol) to Worcester I have to do the annoying transition from North Station to South Station but its not bad.
I can’t speak for all zones, but Zone 2 is about on par and maybe even a little cheaper than what an equivalent LIRR or Metro North fare/monthly pass would cost. Also, I haven’t ridden all MTA and MBTA commuter rail lines, but I have found that MBTA stations tend to at least have the platforms covered more often than the MTA does. There’s a lot LIRR and Metro North stations where they have no cover on the platform at all. No argument on the average MBTA train being of crappier quality, though.
The MBTA Commuter Rail lines in Boston defintitely count, IMO. You can commute from Providence to Boston (and from TF Green Airport to Logan Airport through only trains and BRT). If NH ever pulls it’s head out of its ass, the proposed Nashua and Manchester expansions will also happen.
Also, during the summer, they run trains from South Station to Hyannis down the Cape, and the stop is like two blocks from where the Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket ferries dock.
Biggest issue with them right now is the lack of a connection between North and South Stations. Before they fucked up the Green Line Expansion, I would have told you the North-South connection (which would also enable the Acela to go north of Boston) was probably going to get approved and started within the next 10 years, and it still might anyways. The MBTA leadership basically needs to be purged first, though.
Yeah I cam here to say that the MBTA isn’t too bad. I don’t like how if I want to go from like, Newburyport (not where I live I’m not self-doxxing lol) to Worcester I have to do the annoying transition from North Station to South Station but its not bad.
I was in awe of the system in boston compared to chicago.
Maybe it works fine as an intercity rail system but as a commuter or regional rail system it’s so bad.
The rolling stock is filthy and ancient
Some of the “stations” look more like bus stops
It’s expensive
It’s not electrified (even the routes on the northeast corridor)
It’s slow spending most of it’s time accelerating or decelerating
Maybe it’s just my line/route to work that’s so bad (reverse commuting) but I really hate it and it makes me miss Metro North
I can’t speak for all zones, but Zone 2 is about on par and maybe even a little cheaper than what an equivalent LIRR or Metro North fare/monthly pass would cost. Also, I haven’t ridden all MTA and MBTA commuter rail lines, but I have found that MBTA stations tend to at least have the platforms covered more often than the MTA does. There’s a lot LIRR and Metro North stations where they have no cover on the platform at all. No argument on the average MBTA train being of crappier quality, though.