Turn Table (current)
<updated 10/21/2019 for current schedule (schedule dated 10/21/2019)>
Outbound trains 'turn' at Framingham or Worcester (and one at Ashland) to become inbound trains. Knowing this, we can use the lateness of a outbound train to predict the lateness of an inbound train. Or worse yet, we can understand which inbound train will be cancelled if an outbound train is cancelled. The entire explanation with more detail is below this table.
The current "Turn Table:"
500, 502, 504 & 508 originate in Worcester from layover yard (see explanation below)
6581 becomes 582 (Framingham turn, 17 minutes) (see explanation below)
583 becomes 584 (Framingham turn, 24 minutes)
501 becomes 506 (Worcester turn, 20 minutes)
6585 becomes 586 (Framingham turn, 15 minutes) (see explanation below, as well as this blog post)
587 becomes 588 (Framingham turn, 16 minutes)
503 becomes 510 (Worcester turn, 16 minutes)
505 becomes 552 (Worcester turn, 27 minutes)
589 becomes 590 (Ashland turn, 13 minutes)
507 becomes 512 (Worcester turn, 19 minutes)
509 becomes 514 (Worcester turn, 37 minutes)
511 becomes 516 (Worcester turn, 20 minutes)
513 becomes 518 (Worcester turn, 30 minutes)
515 becomes 520 (Worcester turn, 25 minutes)
591 becomes 592 (Framingham turn, 17 minutes)
517 becomes 522 (Worcester turn, 16 minutes)
593 becomes 594 (Framingham turn, 14 minutes)
519 becomes 524 (Worcester turn, 20 minutes)
521 goes to the layover yard in Worcester (becomes 508 next morning)
595 becomes 596 (Framingham turn, 20 minutes)
523 becomes 526 (Worcester turn, 15 minutes)
525 goes to the layover yard in Worcester (becomes 504 next morning)
527 becomes 528 (Worcester turn, 15 minutes)
551 becomes 530 (Worcester turn, 15 minutes)
529 becomes 532 (Worcester turn, 20 minutes)
531 goes to the layover yard in Worcester (becomes 500 next morning)
533 becomes 534 (Worcester turn, 15 minutes)
535 becomes 536 (Worcester turn, 20 minutes)
537 goes to the layover yard in Worcester (becomes 502 next morning)
_________________________
Explanation:
First of all, we need to get some definitions out of the way:
"Set" (as used in this context) = one train set, consisting of a locomotive and coach cars. Also known as a "consist" or just a "train."
"Turn" = the process of changing one set from an outbound to an inbound (or vice versa) trip. Note that a "turn" doesn't actually involve turning a train around 180 degrees. All MBTA Commuter Rail trains operate in push-pull mode, meaning they go back and forth from Boston to the suburbs without changing which direction they point. So "turning" only involves the engineer walking from one end of the train to the other to operate the train from the opposite end (there are also safety & operational checks and procedures associated with the "turn," so it's not as simple as just walking to the other end).
"Non-revenue" (also known as "deadhead") = movement of a set from one place to another but without passengers. A non-revenue move is a regularly 'scheduled' move with specific times, but isn't on the public MBTA schedule (it IS on the employee timetable). Non-revenue moves also don't show up on the GPS tracking apps.
"Layover" = overnight 'parking' for a set on a dedicated siding where it can be plugged into ground power. At the current time, the Worcester MBTA yard has capacity to layover 4 sets. No sets currently layover in Framingham or anywhere else on the line (other than Boston).
Effective with the 5/22/2017 schedule and continuing through the current schedule, the Framingham-Worcester line has been assigned nine sets. Those nine sets stay on the line throughout the day (with some minor exceptions). However, due to the complexities of mid-day set storage (as well as inspection & maintenance needs), it isn't really possible to figure out which sets turn for which at South Station. There's a prescribed plan, but things are dynamic enough at South Station that the plan changes frequently. So it isn't necessarily helpful to know the plan - things are too unpredictable and changeable in Boston.
However, at Framingham and Worcester, the turns are very predictable and can help us understand delays. The list above notes the location of the turn and the duration of the turn (the difference between the scheduled arrival time of the outbound train and the scheduled departure time of the inbound train). The duration of the turn can help us understand the impact of a delay. For example, if train 501 is only delayed 5 minutes, it might not delay the schedule of 506. But if 501 is delayed 30 minutes, it will almost certainly delay the schedule of train 506 (unless they shuffles sets around and come up with alternate plans, which they sometimes do).
All of the Framingham turns (and the one Ashland turn) are numbered such that the inbound train number is one digit HIGHER than the outbound train number. So it is easy to figure out the corresponding set assignments for Framingham turns even without referring to this Turn Table. It isn't possible to do that numbering trick at Worcester since four trains start there in the morning.
It's also useful to note that for the Framingham-Worcester line, and actually all South Side lines (even Amtrak), odd numbered trains are outbound trains and even numbered trains are inbound.
There are now two non-revenue / deadhead moves of trains from Boston to Framingham. Both of these trains do not carry any passengers.
Train 6581 goes from Boston to Framingham to provide equipment for train 582.
Train 6585 (note: 6585 is described in more detail in this blog post) goes from Boston to Framingham to provide equipment for train 586. It is usually a turn of the P500 equipment at South Station. In other words, that set of equipment follows this service pattern:
Start AM in Worcester yard
Depart Worcester as P500 at 4:45 AM
Arrive South Station 6:18 AM
Depart South Station as 6585 at 6:30 AM
Arrive Framingham at 7:00 AM
Depart Framingham as P586 at 7:15 AM
As stated above, it is possible that a different set could be substituted at South Station in the 6:18 AM - 6:30 AM period, so that turn isn't guaranteed.
Also note that although 6585 "arrives" at Framingham at 7:00 AM, it actually doesn't stop there since it has no passengers. It goes through the station on track 1 and past the CP 22 interlocking where the engineer 'reverses' the direction of the train. Once inbound P506 comes past on track 2, 6585 (now P586) switches onto track 2 at CP 22 and goes into the Framingham station on track 2 to start its inbound trip.
___________________________
Old turn table for the 5/24/2016 schedule below. No idea why I'm saving it but I couldn't just delete it...
Outbound trains 'turn' at Framingham or Worcester to become inbound trains. Knowing this, we can use the lateness of a outbound train to predict the lateness of an inbound train. Or worse yet, we can understand which inbound train will be cancelled if an outbound train is cancelled. The entire explanation with more detail is below this table.
The current "Turn Table:"
500, 502, 504 & 508 originate in Worcester from layover yard (see explanation below)
501 becomes 506 (Worcester turn, 24 minutes)
581 becomes 580 (Framingham turn, 15 minutes)
583 becomes 582 (Framingham turn, 32 minutes)
503 becomes 510 (Worcester turn, 23 minutes)
552 uses the equipment from 500. After arriving in Boston, 500 'deadheads' back to Worcester to become 552
585 becomes 584 (Framingham turn, 18 minutes)
505 becomes 512 (Worcester turn, 16 minutes)
587 becomes 586 (Framingham turn, 30 minutes)
507 becomes 514 (Worcester turn, 23 minutes)
509 becomes 516 (Worcester turn, 20 minutes)
511 becomes 518 (Worcester turn, 51 minutes)
515 becomes 522 (Worcester turn, 15 minutes)
517 becomes 524 (Worcester turn, 36 minutes)
589 becomes 588 (Framingham turn, 15 minutes)
519 becomes 526 (Worcester turn, 13 minutes)
591 becomes 590 (Framingham turn, 13 minutes)
521 goes to the layover yard in Worcester (becomes 508 next morning)
593 becomes 592 (Framingham turn, 58 minutes)
523 becomes 528 (Worcester turn, 15 minutes)
525 goes to the layover yard in Worcester (not sure about this one. Either 525 or 551 deadheads back to Boston)
527 becomes 530 (Worcester turn, 15 minutes)
529 becomes 532 (Worcester turn, 16 minutes)
551 deadheads back to Boston (not sure about this one. Either 525 or 551 deadheads back to Boston)
531 becomes 534 (Worcester turn, 20 minutes)
533 goes to the layover yard in Worcester
535 becomes 536 (Worcester turn, 15 minutes)
537 becomes 538 (Worcester turn, 20 minutes)
539 goes to the layover yard in Worcester
_________________________
Explanation:
First of all, we need to get some definitions out of the way:
"Set" (as used in this post) = one train set, consisting of a locomotive and coach cars. Also known as a "consist."
"Turn" = the process of changing one set from an outbound to an inbound (or vice versa) train.
"Non-revenue" (also known as "deadhead") = movement of a set from one place to another, BUT without passengers. A non-revenue move is a regularly 'scheduled' move with specific times, but isn't on the public MBTA schedule (it IS on the employee timetable). Non-revenue moves also don't show up on the GPS tracking apps.
"Layover" = overnight 'parking' for a set on a dedicated siding where it can be plugged into ground power. At the current time, the Worcester MBTA yard has capacity to layover 4 sets. No sets currently layover in Framingham or anywhere else on the line.
With the new 5/23/2016 schedule, the Framingham-Worcester line has been assigned eight sets. Those eight sets stay on the line throughout the day. However, due to the complexities of mid-day set storage (as well as inspection & maintenance), it isn't really possible to figure out which sets turn for which at South Station.
However, at Framingham and Worcester, the turns are very predictable and can help us understand delays. The list above notes the location of the turn and the duration of the turn (the difference between the scheduled arrival time of the outbound train and the scheduled departure time of the inbound train). The duration of the turn can help us understand the impact of a delay. For example, if train 515 is only delayed 5 minutes, it might not delay the schedule of 522. But if 515 is delayed 30 minutes, it will almost certainly delay the schedule of train 522.
___________________________
Old turn table for the 12/14/15 schedule below. No idea why I'm saving it but I couldn't just delete it...
500, 502, 506, and 508 originate in Worcester after 'laying over' through the night
501 becomes 504 (Worcester turn, 10 min)
581 (non-revenue) becomes 582 (Worcester turn, 12 min ***SEE NOTE BELOW)
503 becomes 512 (Worcester turn, 22 min)
505 becomes 516 (Worcester turn, 13 min)
507 becomes 510 (Framingham turn, 11 min)
509 becomes 514 (Framingham turn, 12 min)
511 becomes 518 (Worcester turn, 16 min)
513 becomes 520 (Worcester turn, 19 min)
515 becomes 522 (Worcester turn, 24 min)
517 becomes 524 (Worcester turn, 24 min)
519 becomes 526 (Worcester turn, 37 min)
521 becomes 528 (Worcester turn, 12 min)
523 becomes 532 (Worcester turn, 25 min)
525 becomes 530 (Framingham turn, 52 min)
527 terminates in Worcester (lays over, usually becomes 508 equipment next AM)
529 becomes 534 (Framingham turn, 32 min)
583 goes back into Boston as 584 (non-revenue)
531 terminates in Worcester (lays over, usually becomes 506 equipment next AM)
533 becomes 536 (Worcester turn, 10 min)
535 becomes 538 (Worcester turn, 13 min)
537 becomes 540 (Worcester turn, 35 min)
539 terminates in Worcester (lays over)
541 becomes 542 (Worcester turn, 10 min)
543 becomes 544 (Worcester turn, 10 min)
545 terminates in Worcester (lays over)
***581 is a non-revenue move that departs Boston at 4:45 AM and arrives in Worcester at 5:53 AM. These times can be helpful for us...theoretically, if it is after 4:45 AM and MBTA / Keolis has NOT cancelled 582, there is a good chance it will operate, since the equipment has probably left Boston en route to Worcester. That theory is only partially true since the following things could happen:
1) MBTA / Keolis decides to delay sending out the cancellation notice for 582.
2) 581 might break down somewhere between Boston and Worcester or in Worcester.
3) If some other layover equipment in Worcester is dead, MBTA / Keolis may decide to use the 581 / 582 equipment from Boston as a different train. I'm not sure that this has or would ever happen, but it is a possibility.
Outbound trains 'turn' at Framingham or Worcester (and one at Ashland) to become inbound trains. Knowing this, we can use the lateness of a outbound train to predict the lateness of an inbound train. Or worse yet, we can understand which inbound train will be cancelled if an outbound train is cancelled. The entire explanation with more detail is below this table.
The current "Turn Table:"
500, 502, 504 & 508 originate in Worcester from layover yard (see explanation below)
6581 becomes 582 (Framingham turn, 17 minutes) (see explanation below)
583 becomes 584 (Framingham turn, 24 minutes)
501 becomes 506 (Worcester turn, 20 minutes)
6585 becomes 586 (Framingham turn, 15 minutes) (see explanation below, as well as this blog post)
587 becomes 588 (Framingham turn, 16 minutes)
503 becomes 510 (Worcester turn, 16 minutes)
505 becomes 552 (Worcester turn, 27 minutes)
589 becomes 590 (Ashland turn, 13 minutes)
507 becomes 512 (Worcester turn, 19 minutes)
509 becomes 514 (Worcester turn, 37 minutes)
511 becomes 516 (Worcester turn, 20 minutes)
513 becomes 518 (Worcester turn, 30 minutes)
515 becomes 520 (Worcester turn, 25 minutes)
591 becomes 592 (Framingham turn, 17 minutes)
517 becomes 522 (Worcester turn, 16 minutes)
593 becomes 594 (Framingham turn, 14 minutes)
519 becomes 524 (Worcester turn, 20 minutes)
521 goes to the layover yard in Worcester (becomes 508 next morning)
595 becomes 596 (Framingham turn, 20 minutes)
523 becomes 526 (Worcester turn, 15 minutes)
525 goes to the layover yard in Worcester (becomes 504 next morning)
527 becomes 528 (Worcester turn, 15 minutes)
551 becomes 530 (Worcester turn, 15 minutes)
529 becomes 532 (Worcester turn, 20 minutes)
531 goes to the layover yard in Worcester (becomes 500 next morning)
533 becomes 534 (Worcester turn, 15 minutes)
535 becomes 536 (Worcester turn, 20 minutes)
537 goes to the layover yard in Worcester (becomes 502 next morning)
_________________________
Explanation:
First of all, we need to get some definitions out of the way:
"Set" (as used in this context) = one train set, consisting of a locomotive and coach cars. Also known as a "consist" or just a "train."
"Turn" = the process of changing one set from an outbound to an inbound (or vice versa) trip. Note that a "turn" doesn't actually involve turning a train around 180 degrees. All MBTA Commuter Rail trains operate in push-pull mode, meaning they go back and forth from Boston to the suburbs without changing which direction they point. So "turning" only involves the engineer walking from one end of the train to the other to operate the train from the opposite end (there are also safety & operational checks and procedures associated with the "turn," so it's not as simple as just walking to the other end).
"Non-revenue" (also known as "deadhead") = movement of a set from one place to another but without passengers. A non-revenue move is a regularly 'scheduled' move with specific times, but isn't on the public MBTA schedule (it IS on the employee timetable). Non-revenue moves also don't show up on the GPS tracking apps.
"Layover" = overnight 'parking' for a set on a dedicated siding where it can be plugged into ground power. At the current time, the Worcester MBTA yard has capacity to layover 4 sets. No sets currently layover in Framingham or anywhere else on the line (other than Boston).
Effective with the 5/22/2017 schedule and continuing through the current schedule, the Framingham-Worcester line has been assigned nine sets. Those nine sets stay on the line throughout the day (with some minor exceptions). However, due to the complexities of mid-day set storage (as well as inspection & maintenance needs), it isn't really possible to figure out which sets turn for which at South Station. There's a prescribed plan, but things are dynamic enough at South Station that the plan changes frequently. So it isn't necessarily helpful to know the plan - things are too unpredictable and changeable in Boston.
However, at Framingham and Worcester, the turns are very predictable and can help us understand delays. The list above notes the location of the turn and the duration of the turn (the difference between the scheduled arrival time of the outbound train and the scheduled departure time of the inbound train). The duration of the turn can help us understand the impact of a delay. For example, if train 501 is only delayed 5 minutes, it might not delay the schedule of 506. But if 501 is delayed 30 minutes, it will almost certainly delay the schedule of train 506 (unless they shuffles sets around and come up with alternate plans, which they sometimes do).
All of the Framingham turns (and the one Ashland turn) are numbered such that the inbound train number is one digit HIGHER than the outbound train number. So it is easy to figure out the corresponding set assignments for Framingham turns even without referring to this Turn Table. It isn't possible to do that numbering trick at Worcester since four trains start there in the morning.
It's also useful to note that for the Framingham-Worcester line, and actually all South Side lines (even Amtrak), odd numbered trains are outbound trains and even numbered trains are inbound.
There are now two non-revenue / deadhead moves of trains from Boston to Framingham. Both of these trains do not carry any passengers.
Train 6581 goes from Boston to Framingham to provide equipment for train 582.
Train 6585 (note: 6585 is described in more detail in this blog post) goes from Boston to Framingham to provide equipment for train 586. It is usually a turn of the P500 equipment at South Station. In other words, that set of equipment follows this service pattern:
Start AM in Worcester yard
Depart Worcester as P500 at 4:45 AM
Arrive South Station 6:18 AM
Depart South Station as 6585 at 6:30 AM
Arrive Framingham at 7:00 AM
Depart Framingham as P586 at 7:15 AM
As stated above, it is possible that a different set could be substituted at South Station in the 6:18 AM - 6:30 AM period, so that turn isn't guaranteed.
Also note that although 6585 "arrives" at Framingham at 7:00 AM, it actually doesn't stop there since it has no passengers. It goes through the station on track 1 and past the CP 22 interlocking where the engineer 'reverses' the direction of the train. Once inbound P506 comes past on track 2, 6585 (now P586) switches onto track 2 at CP 22 and goes into the Framingham station on track 2 to start its inbound trip.
___________________________
Old turn table for the 5/24/2016 schedule below. No idea why I'm saving it but I couldn't just delete it...
Outbound trains 'turn' at Framingham or Worcester to become inbound trains. Knowing this, we can use the lateness of a outbound train to predict the lateness of an inbound train. Or worse yet, we can understand which inbound train will be cancelled if an outbound train is cancelled. The entire explanation with more detail is below this table.
The current "Turn Table:"
500, 502, 504 & 508 originate in Worcester from layover yard (see explanation below)
501 becomes 506 (Worcester turn, 24 minutes)
581 becomes 580 (Framingham turn, 15 minutes)
583 becomes 582 (Framingham turn, 32 minutes)
503 becomes 510 (Worcester turn, 23 minutes)
552 uses the equipment from 500. After arriving in Boston, 500 'deadheads' back to Worcester to become 552
585 becomes 584 (Framingham turn, 18 minutes)
505 becomes 512 (Worcester turn, 16 minutes)
587 becomes 586 (Framingham turn, 30 minutes)
507 becomes 514 (Worcester turn, 23 minutes)
509 becomes 516 (Worcester turn, 20 minutes)
511 becomes 518 (Worcester turn, 51 minutes)
515 becomes 522 (Worcester turn, 15 minutes)
517 becomes 524 (Worcester turn, 36 minutes)
589 becomes 588 (Framingham turn, 15 minutes)
519 becomes 526 (Worcester turn, 13 minutes)
591 becomes 590 (Framingham turn, 13 minutes)
521 goes to the layover yard in Worcester (becomes 508 next morning)
593 becomes 592 (Framingham turn, 58 minutes)
523 becomes 528 (Worcester turn, 15 minutes)
525 goes to the layover yard in Worcester (not sure about this one. Either 525 or 551 deadheads back to Boston)
527 becomes 530 (Worcester turn, 15 minutes)
529 becomes 532 (Worcester turn, 16 minutes)
551 deadheads back to Boston (not sure about this one. Either 525 or 551 deadheads back to Boston)
531 becomes 534 (Worcester turn, 20 minutes)
533 goes to the layover yard in Worcester
535 becomes 536 (Worcester turn, 15 minutes)
537 becomes 538 (Worcester turn, 20 minutes)
539 goes to the layover yard in Worcester
_________________________
Explanation:
First of all, we need to get some definitions out of the way:
"Set" (as used in this post) = one train set, consisting of a locomotive and coach cars. Also known as a "consist."
"Turn" = the process of changing one set from an outbound to an inbound (or vice versa) train.
"Non-revenue" (also known as "deadhead") = movement of a set from one place to another, BUT without passengers. A non-revenue move is a regularly 'scheduled' move with specific times, but isn't on the public MBTA schedule (it IS on the employee timetable). Non-revenue moves also don't show up on the GPS tracking apps.
"Layover" = overnight 'parking' for a set on a dedicated siding where it can be plugged into ground power. At the current time, the Worcester MBTA yard has capacity to layover 4 sets. No sets currently layover in Framingham or anywhere else on the line.
With the new 5/23/2016 schedule, the Framingham-Worcester line has been assigned eight sets. Those eight sets stay on the line throughout the day. However, due to the complexities of mid-day set storage (as well as inspection & maintenance), it isn't really possible to figure out which sets turn for which at South Station.
However, at Framingham and Worcester, the turns are very predictable and can help us understand delays. The list above notes the location of the turn and the duration of the turn (the difference between the scheduled arrival time of the outbound train and the scheduled departure time of the inbound train). The duration of the turn can help us understand the impact of a delay. For example, if train 515 is only delayed 5 minutes, it might not delay the schedule of 522. But if 515 is delayed 30 minutes, it will almost certainly delay the schedule of train 522.
___________________________
Old turn table for the 12/14/15 schedule below. No idea why I'm saving it but I couldn't just delete it...
500, 502, 506, and 508 originate in Worcester after 'laying over' through the night
501 becomes 504 (Worcester turn, 10 min)
581 (non-revenue) becomes 582 (Worcester turn, 12 min ***SEE NOTE BELOW)
503 becomes 512 (Worcester turn, 22 min)
505 becomes 516 (Worcester turn, 13 min)
507 becomes 510 (Framingham turn, 11 min)
509 becomes 514 (Framingham turn, 12 min)
511 becomes 518 (Worcester turn, 16 min)
513 becomes 520 (Worcester turn, 19 min)
515 becomes 522 (Worcester turn, 24 min)
517 becomes 524 (Worcester turn, 24 min)
519 becomes 526 (Worcester turn, 37 min)
521 becomes 528 (Worcester turn, 12 min)
523 becomes 532 (Worcester turn, 25 min)
525 becomes 530 (Framingham turn, 52 min)
527 terminates in Worcester (lays over, usually becomes 508 equipment next AM)
529 becomes 534 (Framingham turn, 32 min)
583 goes back into Boston as 584 (non-revenue)
531 terminates in Worcester (lays over, usually becomes 506 equipment next AM)
533 becomes 536 (Worcester turn, 10 min)
535 becomes 538 (Worcester turn, 13 min)
537 becomes 540 (Worcester turn, 35 min)
539 terminates in Worcester (lays over)
541 becomes 542 (Worcester turn, 10 min)
543 becomes 544 (Worcester turn, 10 min)
545 terminates in Worcester (lays over)
***581 is a non-revenue move that departs Boston at 4:45 AM and arrives in Worcester at 5:53 AM. These times can be helpful for us...theoretically, if it is after 4:45 AM and MBTA / Keolis has NOT cancelled 582, there is a good chance it will operate, since the equipment has probably left Boston en route to Worcester. That theory is only partially true since the following things could happen:
1) MBTA / Keolis decides to delay sending out the cancellation notice for 582.
2) 581 might break down somewhere between Boston and Worcester or in Worcester.
3) If some other layover equipment in Worcester is dead, MBTA / Keolis may decide to use the 581 / 582 equipment from Boston as a different train. I'm not sure that this has or would ever happen, but it is a possibility.