RSS feed
While most means of transportation have greatly improved in speed, train trips between Boston and outlying locations actually take longer today in some cases than they did in the early 20th century, according to an article on Boston.com. Recently the Worcester line lengthened the times on its schedules to match reality.
The article cites a number of reasons for the decline, including heavier traffic and more local stops. But one factor which isn't mentioned is that buses, airlines, and cars are provided by competing private companies, while Boston's commuter rail is a government-chartered monopoly.
The MBTA claims that in those days, "the railroads operated just as they wanted to without any regulation. They could be in an accident a day and continue to run." The reality is that the railroads were very concerned with safety; an accident a day on any rail line would quickly result in no passengers. For example, take a look at these rather morbid railroad safety posters from the 1920's. Advances in technology made trains safer over the course of the century, but the idea that private companies lack the incentives for safety that government-granted monopolies have is absurd.
1 comments:
Unfortunately, I have to depend on the Worcester-Framingham commuter rail line to commute into Boston.
I wish we had other options beyond the MBTA/MBCR. Since the MBTA is quasi-public, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts should ensure that it operates a lot better than it currently does. Not to mention, regular T users spend for commuter rail passes and parking lot fees.
There is no reason for Massachusetts to have a sub-par mass transit system. Effective mass transit is a key to state's economic success.