I have no choice but to channel my inner Dan Aykroyd...Lechmere, you ignorant slut!
While I frequent the Green Line, I avoid Lechmere Station like a short frat boy double fisting Natty Lights talking about his homemade recipe for Four Lokos and last week was a brilliant reminder as to why.
First, after a thrill ride on the 80 down to the station I stood outside the station electronic "turn-style" because the platform area was too packed with people within the gated area for anyone else to get in. Eventually the packed train that had been sitting there for a while left and people spilled onto the tracks so more could pass through...GREAT logic - just hang out on the tracks! As the minutes passed, and by minutes I mean groups of 10-15 minutes at a time, trains would start up, pull forward and then leave the station - empty. Wha WHA?!
FINALLY, our moment had come! A train starts up, pulls forward, STOPS and the doors open. We pile on...people are pushing, shoving, bitching and moaning - and this is one time I can say, rightfully so! So there we stand, trains packed to the brim, ready to trek inbound in style. Wait....wait - WHAT?! You detached the first car and JUST took that one? Are you kidding me?! Don't leave me on car 3813! Take me with you!
Mind you the entire time the station is bustling with MBTA employees and not ONE is even acknowledging anyone, making any announcements or attempting to offer an explanation to the rock bottom service that is about 20 levels below sub-par that we are receiving.
All of this and the MBTA is suggesting we pay MORE for LESS service, hot damn...color me excited.
Lechmere...GET IT TOGETHER!!
Now, as for the rest of the Green Line adventure that day:
- the driver's radio not working so he used his cell
- the kids with the BB guns (hopefully) that looked like pistols and were talking about the fight they were going to get into
- the rats running rampant in the tunnel that move faster than the train.
These topics, my friend, are for another review though...stay tuned! read more