The MBTA announced the successful early completion of critical signal work on the Orange Line while service was suspended between Back Bay and Forest Hills. Originally planned to take place during nine consecutive days of shuttle bus service replacement, the project will complete work two days early, and Orange Line service will resume tomorrow, March 7. As a result of unencumbered access to track areas through this most recent service suspension, crews have successfully completed the commissioning of the new, modernized signaling system on the Orange Line, significantly increasing the operational efficiency of the Line and improving scheduling reliability for riders.
This service change allowed signal crews the opportunity to cutover and commission new signaling equipment at two final locations on the Line – at Jackson Square and Forest Hills – which fully completes the commissioning of the new digital signal system for the entire Orange Line. The digital signaling system includes Integrated Vital Processing Interlocking (iVPI) technology and the most updated generation of Audio Frequency Track Circuits (AFTC 5), which provide the MBTA with higher reliability through modern software, better train detection in real time, and more. Crews continue to install new signal cabling within the Southwest Corridor of the Line and will also relocate some additional signal infrastructure for additional resiliency and to decommission the old signal system, but this final commissioning work to fully engage the new signal system marks a critical and substantial milestone for this long-awaited project.
The project awarded in 2018 to modernize the MBTA’s Red and Orange Line signaling infrastructure was prioritized and accelerated under the leadership of Interim MassDOT Secretary and MBTA General Manager Phillip Eng in order to bring riders the reliable trip they can count on. When the new signaling system is fully online, the MBTA will have the ability to efficiently reroute trains and quickly recover after unplanned service changes, ultimately providing a better, more reliable trip for riders. The work also follows through on the MBTA’s commitment to complete major signal upgrades on the Orange and Red lines prior to the World Cup matches this summer.
-via Press Release
