What's it like working on an MBTA Commuter Rail train?
March 8, 2019 9:26 AM Subscribe
What is it like working on the trains for the MBTA Commuter rail in Boston (e.g. Conductors, Engineers)?
What is a day in the life of a Conductor and Engineer like?
How do you get a job doing either of those roles?
Are they compensated well?
Does the same go for the Amtrak Downeaster?
They don't have steady times and routes that they work. There's a bidding process every three or six months where they put in for their desired routes and times. The more seniority, the better chances of getting your desired shifts.
Some of the shifts have four hour breaks. So someone could work from, say, 5 am to 9 am. Then they work from 1 pm - 5 pm on the same day. (It's not exactly that split, but many of them have these LONG off the clock hours). They also work weekends, holidays, etc. I've been told by conductors if you get a call to cover someone else's shift on a day off, it's not possible to say no. Like, lose-our-jobs-not-possible-to-say-no. I've had conductors say they've missed plans with friends, doctors appointments, etc. on scheduled days off because they can't say no.
As a passenger, I can't imagine everything they see and do. It seems really physically hard on the body. Drunk passengers, passengers without tickets and the means to buy tickets, etc. Ever see conductors have to kick someone off at a stop? It's not fun for anyone.
Conductors also get the most direct flak for delays (and there are ALWAYS delays on the commuter rail) because they're the employees there when passengers are most upset. It's not their fault the trains are delayed, and they want to get home too --- they can't get home until all their runs are done, regardless of times. Many of them seem pretty bitter toward life or curt or just done with people in general. But a few stand out. I used to commute with my kids when they were tiny, and most are just trying to do their jobs as well as they can. But the conditions of their job in a lot of ways probably works against that.
posted by zizzle at 9:53 AM on March 8, 2019 [4 favorites]
Some of the shifts have four hour breaks. So someone could work from, say, 5 am to 9 am. Then they work from 1 pm - 5 pm on the same day. (It's not exactly that split, but many of them have these LONG off the clock hours). They also work weekends, holidays, etc. I've been told by conductors if you get a call to cover someone else's shift on a day off, it's not possible to say no. Like, lose-our-jobs-not-possible-to-say-no. I've had conductors say they've missed plans with friends, doctors appointments, etc. on scheduled days off because they can't say no.
As a passenger, I can't imagine everything they see and do. It seems really physically hard on the body. Drunk passengers, passengers without tickets and the means to buy tickets, etc. Ever see conductors have to kick someone off at a stop? It's not fun for anyone.
Conductors also get the most direct flak for delays (and there are ALWAYS delays on the commuter rail) because they're the employees there when passengers are most upset. It's not their fault the trains are delayed, and they want to get home too --- they can't get home until all their runs are done, regardless of times. Many of them seem pretty bitter toward life or curt or just done with people in general. But a few stand out. I used to commute with my kids when they were tiny, and most are just trying to do their jobs as well as they can. But the conditions of their job in a lot of ways probably works against that.
posted by zizzle at 9:53 AM on March 8, 2019 [4 favorites]
To work at the T, it really really REALLY really helps to know someone.
posted by Melismata at 10:07 AM on March 8, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by Melismata at 10:07 AM on March 8, 2019 [1 favorite]
I'm currently on the train with a drunk passenger yelling at a conductor. Just sayin'.
The police are being called for the next stop. I want to never be a conductor or a passenger when this happens.
posted by zizzle at 1:39 PM on March 8, 2019 [2 favorites]
The police are being called for the next stop. I want to never be a conductor or a passenger when this happens.
posted by zizzle at 1:39 PM on March 8, 2019 [2 favorites]
i'm also going to throw in some anecdotal evidence as someone who has been riding the commuter rail for 5 years now. The MBTA is going through a re-invention process right now with its current manager Keolis (who you should read up on.)
Specifically as it relates to conductors, they are beginning to phase in a more rigorous ticket taking system, with automatic gates, ticket checks in the station and other technological solutions. They attribute this to the need for "better fare collection", i.e. conductors are not doing a good enough job. Some of the conductors I've gotten to know are resentful of this implication.
The real issue is the infrastructure of the MBTA is a bit of a train wreck (pun intended). I've seen conductors go to extraordinary lengths to get the trains up and running when they break down. Something which is not in their job description. My sense is that it could be a nice gig when everything's running smoothly, but the lows, I think, are very low.
posted by jeremias at 2:30 PM on March 8, 2019
Specifically as it relates to conductors, they are beginning to phase in a more rigorous ticket taking system, with automatic gates, ticket checks in the station and other technological solutions. They attribute this to the need for "better fare collection", i.e. conductors are not doing a good enough job. Some of the conductors I've gotten to know are resentful of this implication.
The real issue is the infrastructure of the MBTA is a bit of a train wreck (pun intended). I've seen conductors go to extraordinary lengths to get the trains up and running when they break down. Something which is not in their job description. My sense is that it could be a nice gig when everything's running smoothly, but the lows, I think, are very low.
posted by jeremias at 2:30 PM on March 8, 2019
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posted by turkeybrain at 9:32 AM on March 8, 2019