Maybe? Before they built the new station, there was only one platform, just like at the Newton stations, on the south side of the tracks. I'm pretty sure that (like with the Newton stations) the T only scheduled certain trains to stop at Yawkey on that track, and other trains skipped it.

Consulting archived schedules seems to confirm this - only trains that stop at the Newtons also stop at Yawkey.

I'm pretty sure they never had you board a train on the far track at Yawkey, though I may be wrong.

Tragedy on the tracks

By anon on Wed, 10/04/2017 - 5:28pm.

This has been a terrible year for train accidents. The management at the MBTA simply blames the problem on trespassers. My question is do the transit police actually arrest people for trespassing on the tracks and do they do anything about homeless people who live under the platforms or in the subways.

Forgive me if I sound callous.

By roadman on Wed, 10/04/2017 - 5:57pm.

But people illegally walking on or crossing the tracks at locations where they aren't supposed to are just that - TRESPASSERS! And when a person who is illegally on or crossing the tracks when a train approaches winds up getting hit by that train, that is NOT the MBTA's or the train crews' fault.

And please cite for us the number of instances where a trespasser that got hit by a train was homeless.

Is it unfortunate that people die this way? Absolutely. However, and with respect, perhaps you should save the bulk of your sympathy for the unacknowledged victims in these instances - the train crews who have to live with the fact that they, due to no fault of their own, have killed somebody who decided to be irresponsible.

The laws of physics...

By Bob Leponge on Wed, 10/04/2017 - 6:16pm.

My question is do the transit police actually arrest people for trespassing on the tracks

There is already a potential death penalty for trespassing on the tracks, imposed by the laws of physics. If that isn't enough to influence people's behavior, what reason is there to believe that the threat of arrest, fine, or imprisonment, imposed by the laws of Massachusetts, would make any difference?

The trains are surprisingly quiet close up.

By SalSal on Wed, 10/04/2017 - 7:13pm.

Someone might not even hear it or think that it's too close until it's too late. Also, the trains are a lot faster than you would think from looking straight at them down the track. Many people are not aware that the area within a few feet of the tracks is also dangerous. At least some of the victims were young enough to feel invincible. Enforcement and signage might result in a few less people on the tracks.

Another reason to watch the tracks a little more is that a suicidal person who gets told to get off the tracks might reconsider.

You're right about quiet

By Bob Leponge on Wed, 10/04/2017 - 8:59pm.

Having spent a little time near some high speed rail tracks, it's truly terrifying how quickly and quietly a 125 mph train can sneak up on you. Also nearly impossible to judge distance looking straight down the tracks at it.

boston police officer thomas gill

By bostnkid on Wed, 10/04/2017 - 9:55pm.

struck and killed by train in broad daylight between mass pike and stockyard restaurant in brighton february 10,1988 while searching tracks for guns stolen in house break in area earlier in the day. it was said that he never heard the train approaching because of traffic noise from the pike.

Did Officer Gill bother to inform the railroad

By anon on Thu, 10/05/2017 - 9:53am.

that he would be rooting through the weeds alongside the tracks so train crews could be made aware of his presence and keep an eye out for him?

officer gill

By bostnkid on Thu, 10/05/2017 - 4:01pm.

they were chasing some suspects that had just broken into a home adjacent to the tracks. suspects were apprehended, guns were found, officer gill lost his life.

So you want T cops on the

By anon on Thu, 10/05/2017 - 9:23am.

So you want T cops on the tracks all day long? That may require hiring more T cops. That would require paying their salaries. Would you be ok with paying for that?

They haven't thought it through. Just another hysterical over-

By section77 on Thu, 10/05/2017 - 1:44pm.

-reaction. Every time something bad happens some people will get all bent out off shape and wonder why society or the man didn't stop this random event: "Why didn't the T cops prevent this? I thought they redesigned it to be safer! The train has a lot to answer for! Where's our mighty governor in all of this?? (feel free to substitute any other politician, State, Federal or local). Let's set up a new program that costs $100B so that this never happens again!" -No need to take these people seriously, there will be another story tomorrow and they will wonder the same things.

Wasnt an accident

By DanN on Fri, 10/06/2017 - 7:58pm.

Was there. He tried jumping in front of it and killing himself. Not much MBTA can do to stop that.

Wasn't an accident

By Gerry on Sun, 11/05/2017 - 9:02pm.

Hello Dan; sorry you had to witness this tragedy. This was my wife's nephew and was very close to me and my family. If you feel comfortable talking about this, Please send me an email.

Thank you again

New Rail Safety Motto: "Stay off the tracks!"

By BostonBean on Wed, 10/04/2017 - 6:54pm.

Rail safety came up in the MBTA's September 25th FMCB meeting (GM Remarks - https://www.mbta.com/events/1153) where they had the phrase "see tracks? think train" and said they will enhance efforts to prevent and deter trespassing.

I would encourage them to add a more clear call to action, and increase signage, along the lines of "Stay off the tracks!"

While we all say it should be obvious that you shouldn't be on the tracks, the past few weeks we've seen a wide range of people in many different towns struck and killed. I'm not sure all of them had it in their mind "now i'm going to go trespassing" or fully recognized the risk.

As the MBTA keeps expanding commuter rail service and increases the frequency of trains, a good education and awareness campaign - which was also mentioned in the GM remarks - will hopefully go a long way towards reducing these rail accidents and saving lives.

"See tracks? Think train."

By roadman on Wed, 10/04/2017 - 8:21pm.

is part of the national Operation Lifesaver (OL) campaign to promote rail safety - go to https://oli.org/ for more information.

This slogan first appeared in the Boston area about two years ago. However, at that time, the MBTA decided that ad revenue was more important than encouraging a safety message, so the PSAs only appeared on a handful of Green Line cars as part of the "train domination" program.

IMO, one thing the T could do is to tie recent incidents, such as the recent fatality in Andover, into this campaign with a "See! This is what can happen to you." angle.

Nothing New About That

By SwirlyGrrl on Wed, 10/04/2017 - 10:16pm.

There used to be these posters in Davis Square with kids running for their lives and such.

I remember posters in my elementary school warning of death and mayhem, too.

Check out Operation Lifesaver: https://oli.org/

Then there is the wildly popular Dumb Ways To Die:

Trespassing enforcement

By anon on Wed, 10/04/2017 - 10:28pm.

The following are reasons to enforce trespassing
1) To prevent fatal accidents
2) To prevent vandalism of signals and tracks
3) To spare train crews of trauma
4) To prevent major backups and delays
5) To prevent those poor souls who have decided suicide is their only option.
6) To deter saboteurs or potential terrorists

I was on that train. It

By anon on Thu, 10/05/2017 - 11:42am.

I was on that train. It sounded like he jumped in front of it. It happened pretty much when we got to the platform.

Man hit by commuter-rail train at Yawkey Way station

Comments

Support Universal Hub

In other Fenway news