Switch Problem Causes Severe Delays On Red Line

BOSTON (CBS) -- The MBTA encouraged riders to take the Commuter Rail instead of the T after a switch problem at Alewife station caused severe delays Thursday morning.

#MBTA #RedLine: Update: Customers are encouraged to use @MBTA_CR at Braintree, Quincy Ctr, & JFK/UMass if possible & will be accommodated.
— MBTA (@MBTA) March 24, 2016

The problem was causing delays in both directions.

Check: MBTA Service Alerts Page

There was heavy congestion on the platform at Davis Square station:

Hey @MBTA ... This is ridiculous pic.twitter.com/2vsxojXqZO
— Lisa (@lisa_dedo) March 24, 2016

At the Harvard Square stop:

.@mbta problems. Harvard station 8 people deep this morning and trains coming every 20 minutes. @OnlyInBOS pic.twitter.com/HuUsCmmizd
— Michael Wood (@michaelcwoodjr) March 24, 2016

And at Porter Square:

Did you want to take the #MBTA #redline this morning? Don't plan on it...@mbta_alerts @MBTA pic.twitter.com/CVBYWE8RTp
— Lauren Rachel (@LaurenRKaplan) March 24, 2016

The MBTA said around 9:50 a.m. that service had returned to normal.

#MBTA #RedLine: Regular service has resumed.
— MBTA (@MBTA) March 24, 2016