Harvard/Alewife red line problems

[nvidia99999.livejournal.com]

After reading the MBTA report, I got a bit worried, since I take the red line between Davis Sq and Harvard Sq a lot...  Page 26 of this report (www.boston.com/multimedia/2009/11/04mbta/mbta_review.pdf) talks about it.

The Boston Globe has an article on the report (www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2009/11/04/report_finds_ts_riders_at_risk/ ) saying: "One delayed project highlighted in the report, which has been deemed critical to public safety, involves repair of a water leak on the Red Line between Alewife and Harvard stations. The $80 million project would replace a system of slabs and disks, designed to absorb train vibrations, that has been damaged by water leaks. In some areas, fasteners are corroding and the tracks are moving out of alignment, the report states, presenting “the possibility of train derailment.’’

If it's critical for public safety, does it mean it's not safe, currently?

Comments

[fefie.livejournal.com]

From a subsequent AP article on boston.com on the matter:
"D'Alessandro [the guy who wrote this independent review of the MBTA releases today] told The Associated Press on Wednesday he would not ride the portion of the Red Line highlighted in the report, though [Gov.] Patrick told listeners to his monthly radio call-in show that he would. The governor said the problems are well known, but he ordered additional inspections Wednesday morning. "
http://www.boston.com/business/articles/2009/11/04/study_mass_transit_passenger_safety_put_in_peril/

The red line train is kinda wobbly

[nvidia99999.livejournal.com]

in the second half of the Harvard/Porter segment. Usually, it's extremely noisy too. I wonder if that's because of track misalignment.

Re: The red line train is kinda wobbly

[http://users.livejournal.com/_mattt/]

The tracks slip slightly out of alignment over a period of time and become worn out. It's natural, and that just requires regular replacement of those segments. I don't believe there is a critical situation there.

In the situation with the Alewife box tunnel (the Alewife to Davis segment of the T), a water leak has been allowed to persist for years, causing critical elements that hold those tracks in place and adsorb vibration to rust out. These then run the risk of failing catastrophically.

Excessive noise on the red line is often caused by a lack of maintenance on the carriage wheels or suspensions.

For example, hearing a banging or thumping as the wheel turns is common, but nothing more than a sign of neglect. The steel wheels develop flat spots from braking, and these need to be turned out periodically. If the T doesn't do this, the flat spots grow, causing louder and louder banging. Likewise, suspensions need to be maintained.

Patrick would ride the Red Line. Puzzling...

[nvidia99999.livejournal.com]

I was reading the other Boston Globe report, where Patrick says he would ride the Red Line:
"Despite the startling findings, Governor Deval Patrick emphasized the system’s safety yesterday, even riding the Red Line himself on his way to the airport for a trip to Washington".
Now, wouldn't that be the segment that goes from Park Street forward? That is not the incriminated Harvard/Alewife segment! What the hell?