nodumbunny t1_irqwf4e wrote on October 10, 2022 at 10:57 AM

I live in Providence and commuted to Cambridge for five years. I did it all different ways (Commuter Rail from South Attleboro, Commuter Rail from Westwood, T from Quincy, Carpool, Drive) but never started by train in Providence due to cost and lack of parking. It wasn't great, but the worst part was getting to Cambridge from South Station. When I started looking for other jobs, I didn't consider anything in Boston unless it was walking distance from South Station, Back Bay or Ruggles.

Have you considered changing jobs to any of the hospitals in Providence? It's not like we're in the back woods here. Home to Brown Med School and major teaching hospitals.

[deleted] OP t1_irqyd91 wrote on October 10, 2022 at 11:21 AM

Thank you for this. At the moment we can’t easily change jobs and that is why we are considering this. On average how long were you traveling door to door?

nodumbunny t1_irqz5d8 wrote on October 10, 2022 at 11:30 AM

It was about 90 min door-to-door as long as I took one of the trains that made fewer stops. The South Attleboro station is closed now, so from Providence you'd have to factor that in. Someone here mentioned the Acela from Providence. I never tried that but I know some people use it to commute

Do you by any chance work the same shifts and could drive together? Or drive part way then take public transportation the rest of the way? I realize you'd have to factor in the cost of gas.

mjmannn t1_iru4akw wrote on October 11, 2022 at 1:29 AM

Just FYI, the Acela is not appreciably faster than the Northeast Regional train between PVD and BOS because it makes all the same stops and its top speed is mostly constrained by track limitations. It is, however, much more expensive.

radioflea t1_irs00jb wrote on October 10, 2022 at 4:23 PM

The other Attleboro stop is open and has ample parking.

I’ve also never had issues with getting a seat as it’s stop #2 from PVD and #1 from South Station.

nodumbunny t1_irs537e wrote on October 10, 2022 at 4:57 PM

It's not nearly as convenient from Providence as South Attleboro.

I am curious what train now makes no outbound stops from South Station until Attleboro?

radioflea t1_irs6ome wrote on October 10, 2022 at 5:07 PM

It make stops but people have commented they had no seats.

I’ve had no issue getting a seat from either of those directions/stops. they do offer certain runs with less stops now though.

nodumbunny t1_irub3io wrote on October 11, 2022 at 2:20 AM

>it’s stop #2 from PVD and #1 from South Station.

I read this as Attleboro is the #1 stop from South Station.