Editing Red Line (MBTA) (section)

===2010s and 2020s===
{{anchor|Longfellow Bridge rehabilitation project}} A $255 million project, which started in Spring 2013, replaced structural elements of the [[Longfellow Bridge]], which carries the line across the Charles River between the [[Charles/MGH (MBTA station)|Charles/MGH]] and [[Kendall/MIT (MBTA station)|Kendall/MIT]] stations.  The project required at least 25 weekend shutdowns, including temporary relocation of the tracks and a substitute bus shuttle service.  All outbound roadway traffic was detoured from the bridge for the three years of construction.  The bridge finished construction in May 2018.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2015/07/28/longfellow-bridge-construction-delayed-two-years/9m7OpQrAIpV6B2IF9mlegL/story.html|title = Longfellow Bridge construction extended until late 2018 - the Boston Globe|website = [[The Boston Globe]]}}</ref><ref name=Powers>{{cite news|last=Powers|first=Martine|title=Longfellow Bridge repairs, disruption to start in summer|url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2013/02/28/longfellow-bridge-construction-begin-this-summer-with-major-traffic-diversions/gPqPYiWt2KmmWpxB5vmOaM/story.html|access-date=2 March 2013|newspaper=Boston Globe|date=February 28, 2013}}</ref><ref name=MassDOT>{{cite web|last=MassDOT|title=Longfellow Bridge|url=http://www.massdot.state.ma.us/charlesriverbridges/LongfellowBridge.aspx|work=Accelerated Bridge Program|publisher=Commonwealth of Massachusetts|access-date=2 March 2013|archive-date=28 March 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130328060558/http://www.massdot.state.ma.us/charlesriverbridges/LongfellowBridge.aspx|url-status=dead}}</ref>

[[File:Bus Bridge at JFK-UMass Station, August 2015.jpg|thumb|right|Buses forming a "bus bridge" linking JFK/UMass and North Quincy in August 2015, during winter resiliency work]]
During the [[2014–15 North American winter#Northeastern United States|unusually frigid and snowy winter of 2014–15]], almost the entire MBTA rail system was shut down on several occasions by heavy snowfalls. The aboveground sections of the Orange and Red lines were particularly vulnerable due to their exposed [[third rail]] power feed, which iced over during storms. If a single train were stopped due to power loss, other trains behind it soon had to stop as well; without continually running trains pushing snow off the rails, the lines would become quickly blocked by heavy snowfalls. (Because the Blue Line was built with [[Overhead line|overhead catenary]] on its surface section due to its exposure to corrosive [[salt air]], it was not as easily disabled by the icing conditions.)

During 2015, the MBTA implemented its $83.7 million Winter Resiliency Program, much of which focused on preventing similar vulnerabilities with the Orange and Red lines. The section of the Braintree branch between JFK/UMass and Wollaston had old infrastructure and was largely built on an embankment, rendering it more vulnerable. New third rail with heaters and a different metal composition to reduce wear was installed, along with [[snow fence]]s and [[Railroad switch#Cold conditions|switch heaters]].<ref name=winteriscoming>{{cite news |url=http://www.boston.com/business/news/2015/09/23/how-the-mbta-getting-winter-ready/SeTjLsOSUUZ1nGlIAc5p3N/story.html |title=Winter is coming, and the MBTA is getting ready |newspaper=Boston Globe |last=Vaccaro |first=Adam |date=23 September 2015 |access-date=4 October 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite press release |url=http://www.mbta.com/about_the_mbta/news_events/?id=6442454500&month=&year |title=Gov. Baker Announces $83.7 Million MBTA Winter Resiliency Plan |publisher=Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority |date=4 June 2015}}</ref> The work required [[bustitution]] of the line from JFK/UMass to [[North Quincy (MBTA station)|North Quincy]] on many weeknights.<ref>{{cite press release |url=http://www.mbta.com/about_the_mbta/news_events/?id=6442454945&month=&year= |title=Winter Resiliency Work Continues on the Red Line: WEEKEND TRAIN SERVICE BETWEEN JFK/UMASS AND QUINCY CENTER SUSPENDED |publisher=Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority |date=9 September 2015}}</ref> This program did not include work south of Wollaston.<ref name=winteriscoming />

In July 2016, the MBTA Fiscal and Management Control Board approved a $18.5 million contract to complete work along the remainder of the southern branches. The project included all remaining third rail replacement, track work between Fields Corner and Savin Hill, signal system work between North Quincy and Braintree, and track replacement at Quincy Center, Quincy Adams, and Braintree. The work was completed in the second half of 2016.<ref>{{cite press release |url=http://blog.mass.gov/transportation/mbta/mbta-next-phase-of-red-line-winter-resiliency-improvements-approved/ |title=MBTA: Next Phase of Red Line Winter Resiliency Improvements Approved |publisher=Massachusetts Department of Transportation |date=25 July 2016 |work=MassDOT Blog |access-date=26 July 2016 |archive-date=26 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210126200558/http://blog.mass.gov/transportation/mbta/mbta-next-phase-of-red-line-winter-resiliency-improvements-approved/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

On December 10, 2015, a Red Line train in revenue service traveled from {{bts|Braintree}} to {{bts|North Quincy}} without an operator in the cab before it was stopped by cutting power to the [[third rail]]. The MBTA initially said that the train appeared to have been tampered with and the incident was not an accident, but later determined operator error to have been the cause.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2015/12/10/red-line-train-leaves-station-without-operator/L5NzTcDEX8dMQCQLvC7UBN/story.html |title=Red Line train leaves station without operator |newspaper=Boston Globe |date=10 December 2015 |last1=Rosen |first1=Andy |last2=Dungca |first2=Nicole |access-date=11 December 2015}}</ref>

On February 21, 2018, a Red Line train motor failed on approach to [[Andrew station]] causing the train to derail.<ref>{{cite web|last1=McDonald|first1=Danny|last2=Levene|first2=Alana|title=Red Line service resumes between Broadway and JFK stations – The Boston Globe|url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2018/02/21/red-line-problems-redux-buses-now-shuttling-passengers-between-dorchester-and-south-boston/KTSx9UlAZelUHbYgl98rbM/story.html|website=BostonGlobe.com|publisher=[[Boston Globe]]|access-date=23 February 2018}}</ref> On June 11, 2019, a Red Line train derailed just north of JFK/UMass station, damaging three sheds of signal equipment that control the complex interlockings around the station. The Red Line was limited to 10 trains per hour (instead of the usual 13-14) for several months while repairs were made.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.mbta.com/news/2019-06-21/plans-accelerate-red-line-signal-repairs |title=Plans to Accelerate Red Line Signal Repairs |publisher=Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority |date=June 21, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2019/06/21/step-pace-red-line-signal-repairs/yGTeOs234uGab9gdcni6EJ/story.html |title=T says Red Line reduced schedule to last through summer |newspaper=Boston Globe |date=June 21, 2019 |first1=Matt |last1=Stout |first2=Diamond Naga |last2=Siu}}</ref> The derailment was caused by a broken axle, which had been made brittle by sparks from a faulty grounding component on a motor.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2019/09/16/attributes-red-line-derailment-broken-subway-axle/SlnOglTe0kZ6jSqWC8YnII/story.html |title=T attributes Red Line derailment to broken subway axle |date=September 16, 2019 |newspaper=Boston Globe |first=Michael |last=Levenson}}</ref><ref name=restored /> Full service resumed on September 25, 2019.<ref name=restored>{{cite press release |url=https://mbta.com/news/2019-09-25/completion-red-line-signal-repairs |publisher=Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority |date=September 25, 2019 |title=Completion of Red Line Signal Repairs}}</ref>

Speed restrictions were placed on much of the MBTA subway system in March 2023 due to deteriorated track conditions.<ref>{{cite press release |url=https://www.mbta.com/news/2023-03-12/mbta-reminds-riders-allow-extra-time |title=MBTA Reminds Riders to Allow for Extra Time |date=March 12, 2023 |publisher=Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority}}</ref> Portions of the line were shut down for several periods in 2023–2024 to allow for track work to remove the speed restrictions.<ref>{{cite press release |url=https://www.mbta.com/news/2023-11-09/mbta-announces-ambitious-track-improvement-program-eliminate-all-speed-restrictions |title=MBTA Announces Ambitious Track Improvement Program to Eliminate All Speed Restrictions by End of 2024 |date=November 9, 2023 |publisher=Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority}}</ref> A shutdown of the Braintree branch from September 6–29, 2024, was intended to "lay the groundwork" for a future speed increase as well as removing speed restrictions. The branch had been restricted to {{convert|40|mph}} for several decades, but the MBTA intended to eventually increase some portions to {{convert|50|mph}}.<ref>{{cite press release |url=https://www.mbta.com/news/2024-07-18/major-red-line-braintree-branch-improvement-work-take-place-september-6-29-mbta |title=Major Red Line Braintree Branch Improvement Work to Take Place September 6 – 29, MBTA to Remove 20+ Speed Restrictions |date=July 18, 2024 |publisher=Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.wbur.org/news/2024/07/19/mbta-red-line-closure-braintree-branch-50-mph-trains-newsletter |title=MBTA to close part of Red Line for 24 days this September — with plans for future 50 mph trains |date=July 19, 2024 |first=Nik |last=DeCosta-Klipa |newspaper=WBUR |access-date=July 23, 2024}}</ref> This would save up to 3 minutes per round trip.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://cdn.mbta.com/sites/default/files/2024-12/GM%20Report%20to%20the%20Board%2012.19.2024%20v12A.pdf |title=GM’s Report to the Board |page=12 |first=Phil |last=Eng |date=December 19, 2024 |publisher=Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority}}</ref> {{As of|2025|1|27|df=US}}, the increase was expected to occur within several days.<ref>{{cite press release |url=https://www.mbta.com/news/2025-01-27/icymi-red-line-hit-major-milestone-speeds-increase-50-mph |title=ICYMI: Red Line to Hit Major Milestone as Speeds Increase to 50 MPH |date=January 27, 2025 |publisher=Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority}}</ref>