April is shaping up to be a very disruptive one along the Ashmont leg of the Red Line.

The MBTA, which had already announced a plan to suspend train service entirely between Ashmont and JFK-UMass from April 1-9, said today that so-called “shuttle trains” will be used along the Ashmont branch for the rest of the month of April, resulting in longer-than-usual commutes and wait times.

In a statement issued this morning, the transit agency said the new plan will allow for “critical special track work near Ashmont.”

“Riders will experience longer wait times during this service change and should allow extra travel time,” the T said in a press release issued this morning. “A shuttle train operates back and forth on a single track. Shuttle trains will operate on both tracks – riders are encouraged to follow directions via signage and station personnel.”

“For example, a rider traveling to Park Street from Mattapan should budget at least an additional 45 – 60 minutes of travel time in addition to their regular commute,” the advisory said.

The 21-day “shuttle” service will follow a nine-day complete pause on the Ashmont branch, part of a planned “surge” from Tuesday, April 1- Wed., April 9 when buses will replace trains.

“Free and accessible shuttle buses will make stops at all Ashmont Branch and Mattapan Line stations,” the agency said.
“The MBTA will maximize the service outage by performing additional work, including walkway safety replacements at Geneva Avenue, Dorchester Avenue, and Adams Street, track and power upgrades at Codman Yard, stairway improvements at JFK/UMass and Fields Corner, power switch box replacements, inspections at the Dorchester Greenway, duct bank replacements at Freeport Street, and a variety of station enhancement work,” the T said.

The additional three weeks of shuttle trains will allow for crews to focus on a section of "crossover track" area near Ashmont that needs to be replaced, according to a source familiar with the project. The so-called "Ashmont Diamond" allows trains to switch tracks and turn around from the southbound to the northbound track.

-Developing story-