Service Disruptions Planned On Commuter Rail Haverhill Line

READING, MA — Commuter Rail riders utilizing Haverhill Line service will see disruptions at times over the next two months as shuttle buses are scheduled to temporarily replace train service along a portion of the line, the MBTA recently announced.

Buses will replace regular weekday and weekend train service between Haverhill and Reading stations from Feb. 4 to Feb. 12 and from March 4 to March 12.

The shuttle bus change will impact stations in Reading, Wilmington, Andover, Lawrence, Bradford and Haverhill. Normal service will continue to operate between Reading and North Station during the disruptions.

The disruptions aim to make way for a set of signal system upgrades within the Haverhill Line right of way, according to the T. The T said its planned Automatic Train Control system will augment existing federally mandated Positive Train Control capabilities, which help monitor trains' location and speed.

The upgraded system will alert train engineers of any potentially dangerous conditions using signals inside train cabs in addition to trackside signal lights, the T said. The system will reduce train speed itself when needed to help prevent a collision if a train’s crew does not respond.

Legislation in 2008 established a timeline for all U.S. railroads to implement Positive Train Control. The T received an extension from the Federal Railroad Administration in 2019 to complete its implementation, as reported at the time by MassTransit. Officials said the T ultimately met its new deadline in December of 2020.

Automatic Train Control upgrades are already in place in addition to prior Positive Train Control capabilities for Commuter Rail trains traveling out of South Station. Work on Automatic Train Control for trains on lines out of North Station is ongoing, according to the T.