The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) announced the successful completion of critical track work on the Orange Line while service was suspended between Oak Grove and Ruggles October 26 – 27 and between Oak Grove and North Station October 28 – November 1.

As a result of unencumbered access to track areas, crews accomplished important work to lift nine speed restrictions.

Lifting Speed Restrictions

Following additional track improvement program work that took place earlier last month, the Orange Line is now completely free of all speed restrictions for the first time since 2010.

Currently slow zones are affecting less than 1% of the entire subway system. The last slow zones are expected to be removed by the end of next month.

During the seven days of unencumbered access to the area, work crews replaced nearly 17,500 feet of rail and 2,600 ties.

During the 30-day Orange Line shutdown in 2022 crews only replaced 6,000 feet of rail and 2,900 ties.

The tremendous amount of work accomplished on the Orange Line this past month is due to the close collaboration and coordination of multiple work crews on-site and during the pre-planning phases of these service suspensions.

“Less than 1% of our subway system is now affected by track-related slow zones, down from March 2023 when we had the entire system running at restricted speeds. I’m confident we’re on schedule to eliminate all remaining restrictions by the end of this year," said MBTA GM/CEO Phillip Eng. "This is truly an all-hands-on-deck, cross-functional effort that exemplifies teamwork and determination. Moving beyond this, we are committed to addressing future needs timely and not allowing such conditions to build up, impacting all that depended on us." 

Maximizing the Opportunity

This service change was in place to support critical track and tie replacement work as part of the Track Improvement Program. Workers also fully utilized the outage by performing signal upgrades, security enhancements, station amenity upgrades and more.

Crews were able to replace 17,500 feet of rail, resurface and tamp 20,600 feet of track, replace 2,600 ties, complete 180 feet of full depth track replacement, and complete an additional 10 rail welds between Back Bay and Massachusetts Avenue.

Other work that took place along the Orange Line includes:

• Stair repairs at Malden Center and Wellington, including repairs to concrete and handrails, waterproofing, painting, and tread replacement.

• Inspections of the Wellington Pedestrian Bridge.

• The completion of surveys of door areas in the Orange Line right of way and within the Wellington Yard with areas in need of further work documented.

• The completion of scanning surveys of northbound track areas between Tufts Medical Center and Back Bay with scanning targets identified in southbound track areas.

• Power inspections, switchbox repairs and installations, and third rail repairs and installations.

• The completion of replacement work of the roof at Sullivan Square.

• The completion of work and cleaning at the Medford underpass pump room.

• The installation of new lighting on both platforms at Tufts Medical Center.

• Cleaned and power washed stations, replaced door frames, performed painting work, replaced maps and signage, repaired fencing, and repaired and replaced benches throughout the shutdown area.

• Cleaned drainage areas throughout the shutdown area.

• The completion of work on the power substation roof at Wellington, inspection and minor repairs to the roof, and the removal of fallen branches from the roof.

• Camera and security enhancements.

• The coordination of bridge inspection work with MassDOT, including inspection of bridge deck over I-93 and joint repairs of the Gilmore Bridge.

• The coordination of inspections of the Cambridge Street Bridge with the City of Boston.