In what I assure you is a rare occurrence, I was early this morning. With plenty of time I walked to the Endicott train station, arriving a few minutes after 8. 8:13 came and went without the #738 train arriving, and soon people were arriving for the #710 at 8:25. That time came and went as well, but shortly after that the lights could be seen down the track at Dedham Corporate.
The electronic billboard let us know that due to a fatality riders were being shuttled from Walpole to Norwood Central. We were left to infer that there would be a delay because the sign didn't say anything about one, or how long it would be. When the train finally pulled into Endicott, all but one of the doors was shut and all of the platforms were raised, preventing those of us now waiting for two trains from boarding.
Like water, the crowds began flowing towards the open door on the very front car. Two cars down a conductor stuck his head out to let us know that there was no room on this train and that we would have to wait for the next one, which was 20 minutes behind.
We all knew this was false as we could see through the windows that there was plenty of standing room available in the aisles. The conductor insisted that standing wasn't allowed, despite what many commuters have to do every day. So things stood for several minutes with those who were lucky enough to squeeze into the open door at the front getting on, and the rest of us staring up at the conductor while he stared down at us. The train stood stationary.
Finally a conductor from the front came out, walked down the platform, through the crowd, and talked to the conductor staring at us. I had already decided to head up to the front car so I didn't hear their conversation, but apparently they decided it would be OK to let the rest of us on and opened up a few more doors.
Good thing they did because not only was there enough room for all of us, there was still room for the people who got on at Readville. It was standing room only on the train, but even still it wasn't nearly as crowded as the red line was once I got off at South Station.
I also heard from a fellow passenger what had happened to cause the delay, though I'm not sure I believe all of what she told me. Around 6:30 this morning a man standing near the last bridge before the train pulled into Windsor Gardens shot himself in the head. Apparently didn't kill himself so he walked in front of the train to finish the job. I think the whole aspect of a gun was just speculation and rumor caused by too much time waiting for another train to pick them up (they were supposed to arrive at 7:09 and didn't until after 9). Either that or he pulled the trigger and then fell on the tracks, but I can't see how he would be able to walk onto them.
Whatever the cause of the delay, that still doesn't excuse the either ineptitude or lies we passengers were told, first about not having enough room and then about not being allowed to stand. For a nearly $5 one way fare I expect a lot better.
