Wenham Selectmen have come out in opposition to the proposed MBTA service cuts that could eliminate weeknight and weekend commuter rail service.

"It would make it very difficult for people," said Molly Martins, the chairman of the Wenham Board of Selectmen. The eliminate of service after 10 p.m. on weeknight and elimination of all weekend service would be a "tragedy," she said.

The board spoke out against the cuts after being urged to chime in by state Rep. Brad Hill, R-Ipswich. Town Administrator Jeff Chelgren encouraged the board to take a position "since we do have a train station in town."

The Wenham selectmen's opposition came on Tuesday night, at the same time the proposed service cuts and fare hikes were being criticized at a public hearing in Lynn. Riders who spoke out at that hearing said the cuts and fare hikes deliver a body blow to people across the board: the elderly, working poor, wheelchair bound, Boston bound and business people, alike.

Almost 300 people, many of them bundled in winter jackets and topped with winter hats, stood at the edges and sat hunkered in their seats in the auditorium at Lynn City Hall. They erupted each time the speakers struck a chord.

Citizens and elected officials alike took to the microphone and hammered away at familiar refrains.

The president of the North Shore chapter of the Massachusetts Senior Action Committee brought 50 members to the hearing.

Committee President Barbara Mann's biggest concern is that seniors — many of whom live on fixed incomes and have regular medical needs — and disabled people would be disproportionately impacted by fare increases and service cuts.

Cuts and reductions would isolate senior housing and medical facilities in many North Shore communities, the committee says.

The Hamilton Housing Authority property on Railroad Avenue and Wenham Housing Authority property on Larch Lane are both within walking distance of the Hamilton-Wenham station.

There are two plans for service cuts and rate increase on the table from the T - both plans call for eliminating train service to and from Hamilton-Wenham station after 10 pm on weekdays and all together on the weekend.

Tuesday's public hearing was the MBTA's 14th. They will continue to host hearings and collect public comments before arriving at a final recommendation in March.

The MBTA Board will vote on the plan in April. The changes would take effect July 1.

The proposed cuts and and fare hikes are a result of a financial reckoning the MBTA faces.

That reckoning includes a $163 million budget deficit and a $5.2 million debt.

Saddled by higher operating costs and with fewer revenue dollars to pay for them, the MBTA was forced to consider difficult choices that influenced as few people as possible, they say.