Blue Line speed decline

Robert of East Boston is a regular on the Blue Line who noticed a change. For the past several weeks, inbound trains between Maverick and Aquarium are crawling at the pace of a sleepy crustacean.

Actually, the speed is down to an estimated 10 to 15 miles per hour from the normal 30 to 40 miles per hour.

"So it is taking the trains nearly twice as long to cover the one-mile distance between the two stations," Rober wrote. "What is curious is that the outbound trains going from Aquarium back
towards Maverick seem to go at the normal speed.

"The T hasn't given any official explanation, nor is there anything posted on the MBTA website."

Sure enough, a speed restriction of 10 miles per hour is necessary on the inbound line because workers from the T's maintenance of way department have been replacing ties in this area, said MBTA spokesman Joe Pesaturo.

It's believed the speed restriction will be lifted by the first week of May "when this important tie replacement project is expected to be completed. The T apologizes for any inconveniences caused by this project, which is absolutely critical to keeping the Blue Line in a state of good repair," he said.