Universal Hub

Passengers on an outbound Fitchburg Line train had to endure two hours on a cold, unlit train stuck in Weston this evening - and then 15 minutes standing outside in single-digit temperatures waiting for a relief train. Read more.

The MBTA reports Orange Line delays of up to 15 minutes due to a recalcitrant Orange Line train.

The Boston Language Institute, which for decades guaranteed Boston subway riders they could learn Swahili, shut down today, not because every Bostonian who has ever wanted to learn Swahili has done so, but because its bank seized its account. Read more.

It was another weary morning for commuters on the Red and Green Lines due to a Red Line train that developed mechanical problems near Harvard and trolleys that started pondering the meaning of life inbound at Sutherland Road and outbound at Arlington. But the T says all is fine and dandy again.

WBUR reports the first brand-new Orange Line car since the 1980s won't start taking passengers until sometime in March. The T says the delay - it had originally hoped to have at least one new train running by last month - is to thoroughly test the French-made systems that will link the trains to the line's signalling system. The delay is just for the very first train - it should not affect delivery of future cars from the Springfield factory assembling the cars from mostly Chinese components, the T says.

Roving UHub photographer BradM spotted this six-car brand-spanking-new Orange Line train sitting above across the Mystic around 9:20 this morning. Almost looks like that thing will be ready to roll into actual service, weary Orange Line riders can only hope (you may recall the T had originally said it would get at least one all new Chinese-by-way-of-Springfield Orange Line train in service by the end of 2018).

Earlier:
They're so cute when they're little.

Nicholas Agri spotted this sockless, sandal wearing person on the Blue Line headed towards Wonderland this evening. No word if the person was also holding a Dunkin' Donuts iced coffee.

Red Line service came to a halt on the Ashmont branch around 8 a.m. after a person wound up under a train at the Fields Corner station. The T is using buses instead between Ashmont and JFK/UMass.

NBC Boston reports the person was extricated shortly before 9 a.m., conscious, with possible broken bones.

Lori Magno snapped a photo of a couple of baby-faced new Orange Line cars resting with some of their older, wearier counterparts at Wellington this morning.