(The following article by Andrew J. Manuse of MetroWest Daily News was posted on the Boston Herald website on June 20.)
BOSTON — The MBTA is trying to ease the commuter rail crunch along the Worcester line by nudging train giant CSX to make room.
CSX and the T are working on a deal to have freight trains adjust for commuter traffic.
“We’re discussing operation and rights over use of the track,” said Erik Abell, a spokesman for the Executive Office of Transportation.
If the state gets its way in the talks, a deal may lead to track improvements and more commuter trains between Framingham and Worcester, he confirmed. About 9,400 passengers ride on the Worcester line each day.
Jacksonville, Fla.-based CSX operates and maintains about 400 miles of tracks in Massachusetts, including tracks between Framingham and Worcester.
Company spokesman Robert Sullivan said CSX and the state have discussed options to improve commuter and freight rail service “for years.”
“We have nothing to say at this time,” he said yesterday.
In an interview yesterday, James O’Leary, general manager of the Massachusetts Bay Commuter Railroad Company, said CSX gives precedence to freight trains over commuter trains on its Framingham-Worcester track, which creates many of the delays.
The Boston-based company is a contractor for the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority and operates the MBTA commuter rail service. The MBTA owns rights to its other commuter lines.
In 20006, while all MBTA commuter trains were on time 92 percent of the time on average, trains on the Worcester line were on time 86 percent of the time on average. Trains on the Worcester line have been on time 74 percent of the time on average since January 2007, but this is during a time when CSX has been working on the tracks.
Currently, there are only 10 round trips between Framingham and Worcester during the week, and five on the weekend.