Melançon Enterprises • a multidivision multinational since 1980

(Actually, this was one of my better experiences.)

It seems the MBTA is trying to save money on the Framingham-Worcester line by making people walk a part of the way... the train parks all the way under the bus terminal, a football field length at least from the train station.

On the plus side, they didn't collect a fare in either direction. Except that from the point of view of conventional economics, this pricing scheme is exactly backward. When there is the highest demand, the greatest strain on the system, the service should not be free. So it's sort of like a gift to the wealthy owners of the Boston Red Sox. Fans can be assured they'll get to the game and back, and bet that it'll be free. However, if you're trying to go to Boston for any other reason, good luck, baseball night or not. Two hour gaps in the schedule. Catching a 9 a.m. Amtrak on a Sunday? No way your taking the commuter rail in.

To be fair, this weekday the gaps weren't quite two hours: Your choice, 3:49 p.m. or 5:38 p.m. (of course, it actually came closer to 6 p.m.). Coming back, missed the 8:20 p.m., don't worry, you just have to wait until the 10:05 p.m. No wonder hardly anyone takes the commuter rail who doesn't absolutely have to.