MBTA to slash rail service due to employee COVID-19 absences

Starting Dec. 14, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) and Keolis Commuter Services will temporarily reduce commuter-rail operations due to a low availability of employees caused by COVID-19-related absences. 

MBTA will reduce its operations from 541 daily trains to 246 daily trains. The service reduction will continue at least through Dec. 27. The MBTA and Keolis will monitor employee availability to determine if and when the schedule should change, Keolis officials said in a press release.

The MBTA and Keolis have experienced an increase in COVID-19 cases over the past 10 days, Keolis officials said.

Commuter-rail ridership has been about 13% of its pre-COVID levels, they said.