Editing MBTA Commuter Rail (section)

=== Combined operations ===
[[File:1974 MBTA commuter rail diagram.png|thumb|left|1974 map showing a unified commuter rail system with new purple coloring]]
Rapid transit extension was slower than expected; by 1971, the only extension in service was the first portion of the [[Red Line (MBTA)|Red Line]] Braintree Branch on the Old Colony mainline.<ref name=netransit /> In 1972, as part of a funding shift from highways to transit, Governor [[Francis Sargent]] initiated a Commuter Rail Improvement Program.<ref name=150years />{{rp|16}} On October 8, 1974, the MBTA began using purple to represent the commuter rail system, as had been done in 1965 with the rapid transit lines. MBTA maps began showing the B&M and Penn Central lines as a single system.<ref name=netransit /> Penn Central became [[Conrail]] on April 1, 1976; the MBTA purchased most of their commuter rolling stock at that time.<ref name=netransit /> After delays due to the B&M bankruptcy, the MBTA purchased the B&M commuter equipment, [[MBTA Commuter Rail Maintenance Facility|maintenance facility]], and {{convert|250|miles}} of right of way on December 27, 1976. This included all lines with passenger service, as well as a number of freight-only or abandoned lines. This also marked the start of a five-year contract for the B&M to operate the service, replacing a series of one-year contracts.<ref name=netransit /><ref name=150years />{{rp|16}} After acquiring the B&M and Penn Central rolling stock, the MBTA painted it with purple, yellow, silver, and black to create a visual identity.<ref name=guilford>{{cite book |title=Guilford: Five Years of Change |first=Scott |last=Hartley |publisher=Railpace Company |isbn=0-9621541-1-3 |year=1989 |pages=6, 12, 13, 89–91}}</ref>

Federal subsidies allowed MBTA subsidies to Penn Central to remain the same until March 1977, when a large increase was expected. Since it owned the tracks and equipment, the MBTA bid out the operating contract, which was won by the B&M.  The B&M began operating the southside lines on March 15, 1977; for the first time, all Boston commuter service was operated by one entity.<ref name=150years />{{rp|16}} Although all operation was subsidized by this time, a small number of cuts took place. The lightly used [[Lexington Branch]] closed after a snowstorm on January 10, 1977. Declining subsidies from Rhode Island resulted in off-peak {{bts|Providence}} service being cut back to {{bts|Attleboro}} in April 1979, with peak service cut on February 20, 1981. [[Woburn Branch Railroad|Woburn Branch]] service ended on January 30, 1981, amid state budget cuts.<ref name=netransit />

However, the energy crises of the 1970s and the formation of regional transit authorities prompted some expansions and improvements. $70 million in reconstruction work (equivalent to {{inflation|US|70|1969}} million in {{Inflation/year|US}}) on the Franklin Line and several northside lines, partially funded by the [[Urban Mass Transportation Administration]], began in 1977 under the Commuter Rail Improvement Program.<ref name=150years /><ref>{{cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/annualreportmass1977mass |title=1977 Annual Report |page=[https://archive.org/details/annualreportmass1977mass/page/15 15] |publisher=Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority |via=Internet Archive |year=1977}}</ref> Service to Haverhill resumed on December 17, 1979, and to {{bts|Fitchburg}} and {{bts|Gardner}} on January 13, 1980. Federally-funded experimental service to [[Nashua, New Hampshire|Nashua]], [[Manchester, New Hampshire|Manchester]], and Concord, New Hampshire ran from January 28, 1980, to March 1, 1981.<ref name=netransit /> Little-used stations continued to be closed until the 1980s, but several [[infill station]]s were opened, including {{bts|Shirley}} in 1981, {{bts|West Natick}} in 1982, {{bts|Mishawum}} in 1984, and {{bts|Chelsea}} in 1985.<ref name=netransit /> The MBTA also began replacing the aging Rail Diesel Cars and other equipment; 18 [[EMD F40PH]] diesel locomotives and 60 passenger cars arrived between 1978 and 1980.<ref name=roster />
[[File:Franklin Line train at Norwood Central station 1980 postcard.jpg|thumb|right|A train of new equipment on the recently upgraded Franklin Line in 1980]]
Several major disruptions occurred in the mid-1980s. On January 20, 1984, a fire destroyed the wooden approach trestles to the [[Charles River Bridge (Commuter Rail)|North Station drawbridges]]. The four northside lines used temporary terminals with rapid transit connections while the trestles were rebuilt.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97438459/the-boston-globe/ |title=What's in store for B&M riders |first=Paul |last=Langner |newspaper=Boston Globe |date=January 23, 1984 |pages=17, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97438477/the-boston-globe/ 18] |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> Another bridge fire between Beverly and Salem on November 16, 1984, isolated part of the [[Newburyport/Rockport Line|Ipswich/Rockport Line]] from the rest of the system.<ref name=netransit /> Service to North Station resumed on April 20, 1985; service to Ipswich and Rockport resumed on December 1, 1985.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97438265/the-boston-globe/ |title=T rail service resumes at North Station |newspaper=Boston Globe |date=April 21, 1985 |first=Douglas S. |last=Crocket |pages=29, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97438275/the-boston-globe/ 30] |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref><ref name=netransit />

[[Guilford Transportation Industries]] purchased the B&M in 1983. This did not initially affect commuter rail operations.<ref name=guilford /> Guilford's attempts to regain profitability, which included reducing employee headcount and pay, soon soured labor relations. This resulted in two strikes by Guilford employees; the first shut down the commuter rail system from March 21 to May 12, 1986. Local media was critical of Guilford during the strike; the company did not bid for a renewal of the commuter rail operating contract, which expired at the end of 1986.<ref name=guilford /> Amtrak won the contract for commuter rail operations and took over the system on January 1, 1987. Gardner service was cut back to Fitchburg at that time due to a dispute between Amtrak, Guilford, and the MBTA.<ref name=netransit />