MBTA: Red Line service expected to go back to normal in October

It could be two more months before repairs on the MBTA's Red Line are completed following a derailment back in June.

The MBTA told Boston 25 News on Sunday that they are doing everything possible to try to get the work done sooner, but repairs would likely take through Labor Day.

MBTA riders told Boston 25 News that getting to South Station and other stops along the Red Line has always required a bit of patience. They say it’s been consistently bogged down since the derailment nearly two months ago, and they’re now bracing for two more months of slower trains and longer wait times.

"It's absurd, absolutely absurd," said Tim, an MBTA rider. "It's not acceptable at all. By no means is it acceptable."

Related: MBTA says to expect Red Line headaches for the foreseeable future

Riders have become increasingly aggravated with the service on the Red Line since the beginning of the summer, where a derailment in late May set the stage for slow train rides throughout the hottest months of the year.

"It's awful," said Tim. "You got to get [to] work at a certain time…you call your boss and he doesn't want to hear it."

People whose commute times have been complicated by the June 11th derailment at the JFK/UMass Station in Dorchester describe a daily nightmare of not knowing for sure how long it will take to get from point A to point B.

Those who spoke to Boston 25 say they haven't noticed much improvement despite some progress on repairs.

"This whole city is a city based on the train," said Joshua Orson, an MBTA rider. "When the train is slower, the whole day is slower."

Some say it's been consistently slow going since the derailment that damaged equipment sheds, which housed electronics for the signals and switches that keep things moving.

Since then, the T has been forced to run trains at reduced speeds while workers manually manage train traffic. The frequent delays trigger a ripple effect on southern branches of the Red Line stretching to Braintree.

PREVIOUS: Early morning train derailment impacts Red Line service all day

"What I don’t like is when you increase values when you still have an inefficient product," Orson said.

An MBTA spokesman gave a statement to Boston 25 News in a statement:

Critical signals between JFK/UMass and Broadway were successfully restored in the past couple of days…While October is the current estimate, the T will do everything possible to finish restoration work sooner.

With continued criticism from commuters, some people say they chose to focus on the positives of having a transit system that's still up and running despite the mess on its plate.

"I come from Texas and Wisconsin where public transportation isn't that big of a thing," said Deva Nelson. "I love having the option. I live outside the city and l love not having to drive in and deal with this craziness."

As slow as progress may be, the MBTA said the full amount of rush hour trains will be in operation starting Monday morning.

Cox Media Group