MBTA To Pay Keolis Millions More For Commuter Rail Improvements

BOSTON (CBS) -- State Transportation Secretary Stephanie Pollack says the MBTA will use a "carrot and stick" approach to get the operator of the Commuter Rail to improve service.

The MBTA will pay Keolis, the company that operates the Commuter Rail, at least $66 million more than planned over the next six years.

Most of that money will go toward building a bigger fleet of locomotives, and buying new coaches to provide 1,200 additional seats.

"Right now the contract pays them to maintain 81 locomotives," Pollack told WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Carl Stevens. "The proposal would be to increase that to 90."

Pollack that, right now, there are just too many mechanical breakdowns. Some of the extra money will go toward maintenance for the new and existing locomotives and coaches.

"Even if contractually and legally what Keolis is doing is fine, the outcome from our passengers' perspective is their trains are being cancelled too frequently because they're breaking," she said. "We need to make changes so the trains don't break as frequently."

In addition to the extra money for maintenance, the MBTA is increasing the maximum financial penalties against Keolis for those days when a train is cancelled.

The MBTA's contract with Keolis was already the most expensive in history.

WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Carl Stevens reports