The blog that started it all! Check out reviews of every bus route and train station in Boston, as well as ongoing reviews of the regional bus systems in Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
Recent Posts from Miles on the MBTA
An Ode to the E Line
A day trip to the MFA A nice, easy ride Or maybe not 'Cause it means taking the E Line At Park Street Throngs of people Going every which way A train approaches, an E? No, it's a B Like magnets, people cram into the tiny train Another train comes Is it an E? No,...
4 (North Station – World Trade Center via Federal Courthouse and South Station)
I always get a surge of excitement whenever I ride a weekdays-only bus that was on the chopping block - and, coincidentally, the 4 is one of them! Frankly, I'm surprised this was on the chopping block, since it seems to have decent ridership. However, true to its...
John Collyer Asks…
"Hi, Just visiting from England and have been using the MBTA System. Do you know where I can find out the distances between the Stations for my records. Can't find them on the web. Thanks in advance." In the MBTA Blue Book from 2010 (it's a massive PDF,...
Transit Tales: Pulling a 188
You may remember my hatred for the 188 bus in London because it drove right past my mother and I at the bus stop. Well, it happened again, this time right in Boston. I was taking my mother out to the MFA, and I managed to somehow convince her to take the bus home. I...
Michele Keenan Asks (Again)…
"Have you recently ridden the trolley from Mattapan to Ashmont? I have not ridden it for years and wonder what it is like now..." Yes, I've ridden the Mattapan High Speed Line (considered part of the Red Line) a few times. The first time I rode it, I was expecting...
Pictures of the Completed Wonderland Bridge
I took these pictures at the same time I took the 441/442, so I am extremely late. Nonetheless, the bridge from Wonderland Station to Revere Beach is complete, and here are some pictures of it. Parts of the bridge are NOT finished... Two views of the bridge. ...
71 (Watertown Square – Harvard Station via Mount Auburn Street)
I've taken the 71 twice so far, but haven't gotten around to reviewing it yet. Since it got requested to me by Eric Cornell, however, I feel compelled to review it. The best part about the 71, of course, is that it's a trackless trolley (and I love trackless...
57 (Watertown Yard – Kenmore Station via Newton Corner and Brighton Center)
After what seems like forever, here's a regular MBTA bus review! Unfortunately, my computer was acting up, so this is very late. Anyway, the 57 was requested to me by TheMBTADog, and since I had taken the bus already, I figured I'd review it. People often wonder why...
Service Change: Kendall/MIT – CambridgeSide Galleria Shuttle Service
Back in Boston! This is a free shuttle bus from Kendall/MIT Station to the CambridgeSide Galleria shopping mall. It makes no stops except for one on Binney Street, and it runs every 20 minutes, every day. The hours of service coincide with the opening and closing...
MBTA Control Center – Exclusive Report!
Wow, how late can I get? First of all, I really want to thank Dave and Bettina Gentile for letting me visit the MBTA Control Center in Boston. I heard the MBTA offers tours, but I know nothing about them. However, what goes on inside the building is top secret (no...
Service Change: London and Germany – Conclusion
This post is simply a round-up of the forgotten pictures - the ones that weren't included in posts. Enjoy! The surreal view from Uberseequartier Station. Uberseequartier from the ferris wheel seen above. Bunching on the 29 bus! Unfortunately, half the time this screen...
Service Change: Vermont – White River Junction and Burlington Bus 6
We're back in New England, but not Boston just yet; we're looking at White River Junction, a town with a railway history, and Burlington, the biggest city in Vermont. I absolutely love White River Junction. It's always my town of choice for stopping to grab a bite on...
Michele Keenan Asks…
"What is your favorite bus route in Boston and why?" I think I have to say the 1. It's one of the best shortcuts on the system, and although it suffers from overcrowding and it's hard to find at Harvard, I still love it. People may note that the 31 got a 10 while the...
Service Change: London, Part 4 – Network Rail to Stevenage, the Nene Valley Railway, Railworld, and the Ferry Meadows Miniature Railway
We've got some transit oddities (as well as the UK's Network Rail) in the final post in London. There may be a post after this one with all the pictures I meant to post but didn't, but it likely won't be very long. For now, however, let's go back to London (or at...
Service Change: London, Part 3 – London Buses 4, 24, 27, and 188
Surprisingly, I managed to persuade my mother to take a few buses in London. Of the four we took, none were from beginning to end, but I was happy that I was able to have the experience of riding a double-decker bus. London's buses are actually run by different...