In the wake of a June 12 derailment that destroyed a key signal system at the Red Line’s JFK/UMass stop, the MBTA has been forced to revert to 19th century methods of controlling trains, causing a slowdown along the entire line.
Around 50 T employees, around 16 at a time, work to keep the trains running by manually tripping switches and other safety items ordinarily operated automatically by the Red Line’s signal system, Commonwealth Magazine reported in a detailed look at why the destruction of the signals system has created enduring delays on the line..
Trains cannot move forward from a station until T employees monitoring the station ahead confirm that the train ahead has left their platform, Commonwealth reports..