METRO Magazine Logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

MBTA rail carries record number of riders for Patriots parade

Keolis reports a 60% increase in ridership, deploying additional trains and coaches to accommodate more than 215,000 passengers.

February 8, 2017
MBTA rail carries record number of riders for Patriots parade

A record 215,000 passengers rode the system on the day of the Patriots’ Super Bowl Victory Parade on Feb. 7, 2017. Photo: Keolis Boston/Twitter

2 min to read


A record 215,000 passengers rode the system on the day of the Patriots’ Super Bowl Victory Parade on Feb. 7, 2017. Photo: Keolis Boston/Twitter

Keolis Commuter Services, operator of MBTA Commuter Rail, announced the busiest day in the history of the system, as 215,000 passengers rode the system on the day of the Patriots’ Super Bowl Victory Parade, a 60% increase in ridership compared with a typical weekday.

To accommodate the additional passengers, Keolis deployed 15 additional trainsets and seven extra coaches. With snow and sleet falling across the region, Keolis crews salted platforms and walkways to ensure the safety of commuters and Patriots fans attending the parade and rolling rally in Boston. At the conclusion of the parade, twelve extra trains were added on the Providence, Kingston, Worcester, Middleboro, Haverhill, Lowell, Beverly and Franklin Lines. More than 100 Keolis staff members volunteered to assist passengers at select stations throughout the network, particularly at Boston’s North, South and Back Bay Stations.

Ad Loading...

“Yesterday, we successfully ran more trains, operated more equipment and carried more passengers on the commuter rail network than has ever been done before in a single day,” Keolis Commuter Service GM David Scorey said. “This was the result of careful planning and preparation, and underscores our commitment to putting passengers first no matter what the occasion, including extraordinary weekday or weekend events.”


Photo: MBTA/Twitter

“The MBTA and its Commuter Rail partner worked very hard to meet yesterday’s ridership demands across all modes,” said Brian Shortsleeve, Acting General Manager of the MBTA.

Keolis Commuter Services (KCS) operates and maintains the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority’s commuter rail system, carrying more than 127,000 passengers daily on 14 train lines throughout Greater Boston.

More Rail

MTA Advances Accessibility Improvements in Brooklyn
Paratransitby StaffJune 17, 2026

New York MTA Leverages Zoning Program to Advance Station Accessibility

Accessibility enhancements at Nevins St Station will be financed through a development agreement tied to the MTA's Zoning for Accessibility initiative.

Read More →
Six-Year Plan Boosts Virginia Transit, Rail Investments
Managementby StaffJune 17, 2026

Virginia's $28.5B Transportation Plan Targets Transit and Rail

Approved by the Commonwealth Transportation Board, the program supports ongoing infrastructure projects while providing new investments in transit, state of good repair and transportation alternatives.

Read More →
Security and Safetyby StaffJune 16, 2026

DOT: Brightline Corridor Incidents Fall 30% Following Federal Safety Upgrades

Safety improvements funded through a $25 million federal investment are credited with reducing trespassing and train-vehicle collisions along the Brightline Florida corridor.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
An LA Metro D Line train in Union Station
Managementby StaffJune 16, 2026

D Line Expansion Fuels Growth Across LA Metro's Rail System

Weekend rail ridership was especially strong, soaring 18% as riders embraced expanded access to jobs, entertainment, dining, and cultural destinations, said the agency. Total system ridership for May, including bus and rail, was 26,966,657.

Read More →
A user demonstrating Metrolink's contactless fare payment pilot.
Technologyby StaffJune 12, 2026

Southern California's Metrolink Debuts Contactless Fare Payment Pilot

Customers traveling between Redlands and Los Angeles can now tap their preferred payment method, including a credit or debit card, mobile wallet, or wearable device, at station validators before boarding and again while exiting.

Read More →
A BART train on the tracks.
Managementby StaffJune 12, 2026

California's BART Approves FY27 Budget While Maintaining Service Levels

The budget covers July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027, a period when pandemic emergency funds run out, the District faces a structural deficit of $375 million, and a regional transit funding measure may appear on the November ballot.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
A rendering of the Amtrak New York Penn Station renovation
Railby StaffJune 9, 2026

Penn Station Transformation Advances with Design Unveiling

The historic redesign will transform the busiest transit hub in the Western Hemisphere from the tracks to the street level, creating a more efficient, cleaner, and functional experience for more than 600,000 daily commuters and millions of visitors.

Read More →
Groundbreaking event for Second Avenue Subway Phase 2 TBM construction.
Railby StaffJune 9, 2026

Second Avenue Subway Phase 2 Advances into Major Construction Stage

New York Governor Kathy Hochul joined leadership from the MTA, elected officials, and Harlem community leaders to break ground on the major construction stage of the transformative Second Avenue Subway Phase 2 project.

Read More →
A man sits in a passenger rail seat and looks at his phone.
Railby Elora HaynesJune 8, 2026

The Invisible Infrastructure of Passenger Flow

What a seat reservation system on Austria’s Railjet trains reveals about the future of rider experience, and why U.S. agencies should pay attention.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Aerial view of Caltrain's electric service.
Railby StaffJune 5, 2026

Caltrain Board Approves FY27 Budget, Endorses Efficiency Measures

The move ensures Caltrain service will continue operating as usual in the near term, but long-term financial challenges remain for the rail agency absent a new revenue source.

Read More →