MBTA commuter rail conductor
MBTA commuter rail conductor John smiles at the 3:25 p.m. trail pulls out of Union Station in Worcester on Jan. 10, 2014.
(Megan Bard I MassLive.com)
WORCESTER — For Worcester-Boston commuters, the past few weeks have been the best of times, and the worst of times.
Though not quite an epoch of incredulity, travelers between Worcester and Boston were excited at the prospect of more frequent service between the two cities.
Now, as the planned expanded service date approaches, the MBTA has announced a delay.
The MBTA posted on Twitter Tuesday afternoon that the new schedule, which would add 20 weekday and nine weekend trips between eastern and central Massachusetts, has been "delayed until further notice."
In an email Tuesday afternoon, MBTA spokesman Joe Pesaturo said that "due to ongoing work at the new Yawkey Station, the enhanced schedule will not be implemented this month."
"The new schedule cannot go into effect until the station platforms can fully accommodate both inbound and outbound trains simultaneously," Pesaturo wrote. "In addition, the MBTA is taking under consideration some schedule changes suggested by customers and local officials. We apologize for any inconvenience caused by the delayed implementation of the new schedule."
The new scheduled had originally been planned for implementation on Jan. 13, but was postponed until Jan. 27 due to delays with the construction at the Yawkey station, according to information posted at Union Station.