A mechanical problem disrupted Providence Line service Tuesday night after a train lost power in a tunnel. Transit officials attributed the problem to fallen leaves, NBC Boston reported. The MBTA said riders were later moved safely to another train, according to the station’s report.
Rider account of the disruption
Passenger Dan Brogan told NBC Boston that he spent close to two hours aboard before passengers left the train in the tunnel and walked along the tracks to Ruggles. Brogan also told the outlet that riders waited at the station afterward, with little information about what would happen next; he said his wait there lasted about an hour and a half.
How fallen leaves affect rail service
The MBTA says leaves mixed with debris and moisture can form a slick coating on rails. Trains must brake earlier and take longer to accelerate in those conditions, which can cause delays; the agency says the conditions peak between Halloween and early November. Its weather guide says the MBTA uses rail-washing trains, a gel-and-sand treatment to improve traction, and more frequent wheel inspections during October and November.
