Massachusetts

Stranded Passengers Furious After Green Line Suspension

Service on the MBTA's Green Line was suspended in both directions between Government Center and Kenmore in Boston for more than two hours Tuesday morning due to a wire problem.

According to Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority officials, the overhead wire damage happened around 8:30 a.m. between Arlington and Copley Stations on the westbound side.

MBTA officials said at 11 a.m. that service had been restored on the Green Line except between Kenmore and Blandford on the B branch. A short time later, service had been fully restored.

No injuries were reported.

While crews made repairs, commuters were transported by buses but the timing couldn't be worse for passengers trying to make their way to work.

"Hopefully I'll be less than an hour late and I won't get in trouble but it's super inconvenient and it's the train so you know it's going to happen whether the weather is good or bad regardless," said commuter Ariel Rosen.

One man tweeted video of commuters getting off a trolley that lost power in a tunnel and commuters walking along the tunnel. Many others also voiced their frustration on social media.

"Nothing like being stuck in an @MBTA Green Line tunnel with 300 of your closest friends," Tweeted Kara Sassone. "Happy Tuesday!"

"@MassGovernor @marty_walsh need to say something to us hundreds if not thousands of people stranded on their green line commute this morning," said Roger Perez on Twitter. "An apology is only a start, but it's something. 4 lines, 7 stops, thousands of people."

In addition to an apology, some commuters also said they wanted accountability.

"Sadly the green line has still got its problems. Somebody should be held responsible for this stuff," said commuter Nulsen Smith.

Tuesday's Green Line troubles come just days after Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker defended his vision for the MBTA.

"You know what my vision is?" he said during an interview on WBUR radio. "Making the thing work. Making it reliable and dependable enough so somebody would get out of their car and take it because they believe it's going to get them where they need to go."

The Massachusetts Democratic Party capitalized on those comments following Tuesday's T troubles.

"It’s time the Governor admits he has no plan to fix the T and that the daily struggles of our commuters and working families aren’t one of his priorities," Massachusetts Democratic Party Chair Gus Bickford said in a statement.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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