On March 25, the MBTA closed down weekend services in the Old Colony Line, which includes the Plymouth/Kingston line, but more importantly, the Middleboro/Lakeville line which will remain closed until summer 2012, the anticipated completion date according to the MBTA website. No alternative services will be offered in lieu of the closures.

According to the MBTA website, the concrete cross-ties that go along these rail lines are failing; the ties are starting to crack and break apart, causing safety speed restrictions and ultimately, delays. These failures outpace the maintenance that can be done for the ties, and because of this, complete failure of the ties is imminent. To rectify this, the ties are being replaced with timber cross-ties, which are known to work better than concrete.

Update: Commuter rail service will be restored on the Plymouth to Kingston and Middleboro to Lakeville Old Colony lines and the Greenbush line beginning Saturday, December, 24, 2011. Weekend service will remain in place until next spring, when track work will resume.

Sources: The Comment, September 22, 2011 and The Patriot Ledger, December 13, 2011