To the MBTA:

We, the daily riders of the Lowell Line commuter rail, are urging you to increase the number of trains and/or add cars to existing trains during weekday rush hours to better accommodate the volume of commuters who rely on this service to get to and from work on time.

 

❌ The Problem: Overcrowding and Inconvenient Timing

Morning Commute:

• Train 316, which leaves at 7:30am and arrives at 8:17am, is dangerously overcrowded, with passengers standing in aisles — creating safety, accessibility, and comfort concerns.
• Train 320, departing at 8:05am and arriving at 8:52am, gives commuters just 8 minutes to get to work — and most do not work directly outside North Station.

Evening Commute:

• The first evening train leaves North Station at 5:05pm, which is unrealistic to make for most people who work until 5:00pm.
• The next train isn’t until 5:42pm, meaning a long wait at the station after a full workday, with no middle-ground option. This train is also overcrowded, with people forced to stand in the aisles on a daily basis.

 

✅ What We’re Asking For:

We are asking the MBTA to:

1. Add at least one additional morning train that arrives at North Station between 8:30–8:45am.
2. Increase the number of train cars on existing peak-hour trains to prevent unsafe crowding.
3. Add an additional evening train departing between 5:15–5:30pm to better serve standard working hours.
4. Restore express trains.

This change is critical for:

• Passenger safety and accessibility
• Workplace punctuality
• Encouraging use of public transit over cars
• Promoting healthy work life balance 

 

Sincerely,
Concerned Lowell Line Commuters