BOSTON – Keolis Commuter Services, the MBTA’s commuter rail operator, pledged to resume normal weekday service Monday on the Newburyport and Rockport lines.
These lines operated a modified schedule last week to allow crews to repair the signal system that was damaged by a snow storm earlier this month.
“We’re pleased to announce the work and testing is complete, and the signal system performed well over this weekend,” said Tory Mazzola, a Keolis spokesman, in a statement.
The tidal surge damaged signals in Saugus along the marsh. A safe, low-voltage electrical current runs through the tracks as part of the signal system. If the current is disrupted, which occurs when a train passes over the tracks, the signals are designed to turn red. Salt water and salt-contaminated snow and ice penetrated the track bed, causing this current to ground and turn signals red when no train was present.
All the snow, ice and salt was removed, Keolis said, and the track was rinsed to restore proper operation. A wash train sprayed 29,000 gallons of water to further rinse away the salt.
Keolis system carries 127,000 passengers daily in Greater Boston. They service 138 stations over 394 miles.