Universal Hub

Update, 4:35 p.m. All-out sent, firefighters to leave, T electricians to fix problem.

Count on not going anywhere fast on the Blue Line right now, because something on the tracks at Bowdoin is smoldering. Firefighters are a bit hampered because whatever it is is under a train, only the power is off due to the possible track fire, but they need the train moved so they can take a look. In the meantime, the T is terminating and starting Blue Line service at Government Center.

The MBTA says power problems downtown are causing delays of up to 25 minutes on the Green, Blue and Orange lines.

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.

OK, not, technically speaking, dead, since it can still use those lovely catenary wires to go somewhere, but it has an embarrassing door problem that is forcing it to stay at Beachmont and that's causing delays all up and down the line.

All those spiffy newish trains on the Blue Line don't do you much good when a piece of track cracks open like a tooth needing a crown. The T reports delays of up to 20 minutes due to cracked track near Maverick.

You may have read recently that the Blue Line is the exception to declining ridership on the MBTA's subway lines. Lisa Jacobson doesn't just read stuff like that, she lives it: Shortly before 9 a.m. today, she reported from a crowded Maverick Square station: Read more.

The T reports Blue Line delays of up to 15 minutes due to those signal issues.

The MBTA is running shuttle buses between Maverick and Suffolk Downs on the Blue Line due to "a power problem" (which in that stretch can mean a train pulled down a power wire).

Signal problems from Orient Heights to Suffolk Downs caused major delays on the Blue Line at rush hours, the MBTA reports, adding the problems have been fixed.