Boston, Massachusetts, USA

Located on the Charles River as it empties into Massachusetts Bay, Boston is the capital of and the largest city by population in Massachusetts. It has approximately 694,500 inhabitants in the city proper as of 2018. The Boston metropolitan area (Boston-Cambridge-Newton) comprised 4,875,390 residents as of the 2018 US Census Bureau Estimate.

Boston's rapid transit network consists of three metro services, a subway-surface light rail line with four western branches, and a standalone light rail service. It also has two BRT-Lite lines serving with three services, a BRT-Lite open busway and an arterial bus rapid transit line with two services, as well as 12 commuter rail services serving two railway stations.

MBTA Subway

Opened 1897, the MBTA Subway network consists of three metro services, a subway-surface light rail line with four western branches, and a standalone light rail service that serve the city of Boston, Massachusetts and the surrounding suburbs.

Red Line

The Red Line of the MBTA Subway is a metro service on a Northwest-Southeast alignment. It runs from Alewife in the northwest to Ashmont and Braintree in the southeast via downtown Boston, serving 22 stations.

The Red Line was opened in March 1912 and the last extension to the line was the extension to Alewife in December 1984. The Red Line is owned and operated by the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority.

Headways

Service	M-F Midday	M-F Rush	Sat.	Sun.	Notes
Red (Braintree Branch)	8-15'	8-15'	8-15'	8-15'
Red (Ashmont Branch)	8-15'	8-15'	8-15'	8-15'

Schedules -- Last Updated: Dec 12, 2022

Blue Line

The Blue Line of the MBTA Subway is a metro service on a Northeast-Southwest alignment. It runs from Wonderland in the northeast to Bowdoin in the southwest in downtown Boston, serving 12 stations.

The Blue Line was opened in 1904 and began running in its current form in 1924 after being converted to rapid transit. The last extension to the line was the extension to Wonderland in 1954. The Blue Line is owned and operated by the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority.

Headways

Service	M-F Midday	M-F Rush	Sat.	Sun.	Notes
Blue	7-9'	7-9'	9-14'	9-15'

Schedules -- Last Updated: Dec 12, 2022

Orange Line

The Orange Line of the MBTA Subway is a metro service on a North-South alignment. It runs from Oak Grove in the north to Forest Hills in the south via downtown Boston, serving 20 stations. It parallels commuter rail lines for most of its length.

The Orange Line was opened in 1901 and began running in its current form in 1987 after the southern half of the line was rerouted underground. The last extension to the line was the opening of Assembly station in September 2014. The Orange Line is owned and operated by the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority.

Headways

Service	M-F Midday	M-F Rush	Sat.	Sun.	Notes
Orange	6-11'	6-11'	9-10'	12-13'

Schedules -- Last Updated: Dec 12, 2022

Green Line

The Green Line of the MBTA Subway is a subway-surface light rail line on an East-West alignment. It runs from Medford/Tufts, Union Square and stations in Downtown Boston in the north and east to Boston College, Cleveland Circle, Riverside, and Heath Street in the southwest, serving 70 stations on its four western branches. It runs underground from Kenmore and Symphony to North Station.

The Green Line was opened in 1897 as the first underground rapid transit tunnel in the United States of America. The last major change to the line was the rerouting of the Causeway Street Elevated underground in 2004. Service was extended to Union Square in March 2022 and Medford/Tufts in December 2022. The Green Line is owned and operated by the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority.

Headways

Service	M-F Midday	M-F Rush	Sat.	Sun.
B	6-12'	6-12'	6-12'	6-12'
C	6-12'	6-12'	6-12'	6-12'
D	6-12'	6-12'	6-12'	6-12'
E	6-12'	6-12'	6-12'	6-12'

Schedules -- Last Updated: Dec 12, 2022

Ashmont-Mattapan High Speed Line

The Ashmont-Mattapan High Speed Line/Mattapan Trolley of the MBTA Subway is a light rail service on an East-West alignment. It runs from Mattapan in the west to Ashmont in the east, serving 8 stations.

The Ashmont-Mattapan High Speed Line was opened in 1929. The Ashmont-Mattapan High Speed Line is owned and operated by the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority.

Headways

Service	M-F Midday	M-F Rush	Sat.	Sun.	Notes
Mattapan	6-12'	6-12'	13'	13'

Schedules -- Last Updated: Dec 12, 2022

MBTA Bus Rapid Transit

Opened 2012, the MBTA Bus Rapid Transit network consists of two BRT-Lite lines with three services, a BRT-Lite open busway, and an arterial bus rapid transit line with two services that serve the city of Boston, Massachusetts and the surrounding suburbs.

Silver Line - Waterfront

The Waterfront Line (SL1, SL2, SL3) of the MBTA Bus Rapid Transit network consists of two BRT-Lite lines on an East-West alignment served by three services. It runs from South Station to Logan Airport (SL1), Design Center (SL2), and Chelsea (SL3), serving 21 stops. From South Station to Silver Line Way, the line runs underground in a busway. In Chelsea, the line runs in a busway as well.

The Waterfront Line was opened in December 2004 and the last extension to the line was the extension to Chelsea in April 2018. The Waterfront Line is operated by the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority.

Headways

Service	M-F Midday	M-F Rush	Sat.	Sun.
SL1	9-17'	9-17'	10-12'	10-12'
SL2	7-15'	7-15'	14-16'	15'
SL3	9-12'	9-12'	9-15'	12-15'

Schedules -- Last Updated: Dec 12, 2022

Silver Line - Washington St

The Washington St Line (SL4, SL5) of the MBTA Bus Rapid Transit network is an arterial bus rapid transit line on a North-South alignment along Washington St served by two services. It runs from Nubian Square in the south to South Station and Downtown Crossing in the north.

The Washington St Line was opened in July 2002 and the last extension to the line was the start of SL4 service in October 2009. The Washington St Line is operated by the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority.

Headways

Service	M-F Midday	M-F Rush	Sat.	Sun.	Notes
SL4	11-20'	11-20'	13-20'	15-20'
SL5	6-15'	6-15'	6-11'	9-12'

Schedules -- Last Updated: Dec 12, 2022

Columbus Avenue Bus Lanes

The Columbus Avenue Bus Lanes of the MBTA Bus Rapid Transit network are a BRT-Lite open busway on a North-South alignment along Columbus Avenue It runs from Jackson Square in the north to Walnut Av in the south, serving 5 stations.

The Columbus Avenue Bus Lanes were opened in November 2021.

MBTA Commuter Rail

Having started operation in 1964, the MBTA Commuter Rail network consists of 12 commuter rail services radiating out of Boston that serve the city of Boston, Massachusetts and the surrounding suburbs. All services funnel into Boston's North and South stations.

Newburyport/Rockport Line

The Newburyport/Rockport Line of the MBTA Commuter Rail network is a commuter rail service on a northeast-southwest alignment. It runs from North Station in the southwest to Newburyport and Rockport in the northeast, serving 19 stations.

The Newburyport/Rockport Line was acquired by the MBTA in the 1970s. The Newburyport/Rockport Line is owned by the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority.

Haverhill Line

The Haverhill Line of the MBTA Commuter Rail network is a commuter rail service on a north-south alignment. It runs from North Station in the south to Reading and Haverhill in the north, serving 15 stations. Some trains use the Wildcat Branch from Ballardvale to Wilmington on the Lowell Line.

The Haverhill Line was acquired by the MBTA in September 1973. Permanent service to Oak Grove began in September 2022. The Haverhill Line is owned by the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority.

Lowell Line

The Lowell Line of the MBTA Commuter Rail network is a commuter rail service on a north-south alignment. It runs from North Station in the south to Lowell in the north, serving 9 stations. Some trains use the Wildcat Branch from Wilmington to Ballardvale on the Haverhill Line.

The Lowell Line was acquired by the MBTA in September 1973. The Lowell Line is owned by the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority.

Fitchburg Line

The Fitchburg Line of the MBTA Commuter Rail network is a commuter rail service on an east-west alignment. It runs from North Station in the east to Fitchburg and Wachusett in the west, serving 19 stations.

The Fitchburg Line was acquired by the MBTA in December 1976. The latest expansion to the line was the extension to Wachusett in November 2016. The Fitchburg Line is owned by the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority.

Framingham/Worcester Line

The Framingham/Worcester Line of the MBTA Commuter Rail network is a commuter rail service on an east-west alignment. It runs from South Station in the east to Framingham and Worcester in the west, serving 17 stations.

The Framingham/Worcester Line was acquired by the MBTA in December 1973. The latest expansion to the line was the opening of Boston Landing in May 2017. The Framingham/Worcester Line is owned by the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority.

Needham Line

The Needham Line of the MBTA Commuter Rail network is a commuter rail service on a southwest-northeast alignment. It runs from South Station in the northeast to Needham in the southwest, serving 12 stations.

The Needham Line was acquired by the MBTA in January 1973. The Needham Line is owned by the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority.

Fairmount Line

The Fairmount Line of the MBTA Commuter Rail network is a commuter rail service on a north-south alignment. It runs from South Station in the north to Readville in the south with limited through service to the Franklin Line, serving 9 stations.

The Fairmount Line began operation in its current form in November 1987. The latest expansion to the line was the opening of Blue Hill Avenue station in February 2019. The Fairmount Line is owned by the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority.

Franklin Line

The Franklin Line of the MBTA Commuter Rail network is a commuter rail service on a north-south alignment. It runs from South Station in the north to Forge Park/495 and Foxboro in the south, serving 16 stations in addition to Foxboro. Limited services travel via the Fairmount Line from Readville to South Station

The Franklin Line was acquired by the MBTA in January 1973. The Franklin Line is owned by the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority.

Providence/Stoughton Line

The Providence/Stoughton Line of the MBTA Commuter Rail network is a commuter rail service on a north-south alignment. It runs from South Station in the north to Stoughton, Providence, and Wickford Junction in the south, serving 16 stations. It runs along the Northeast Corridor.

The Providence/Stoughton Line was acquired by the MBTA in January 1973. The latest expansion to the line was the opening of Pawtucket/Central Falls in January 2023. The Providence/Stoughton Line is owned by the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority and Amtrak.

Middleborough/Lakeville Line

The Middleborough/Lakeville Line of the MBTA Commuter Rail network is a commuter rail service on a north-south alignment. It runs from South Station in the north to Middleborough/Lakeville in the south, serving 10 stations. It shares much of its track with the Kingston Line and the two are considered the Old Colony Lines.

The Middleborough/Lakeville Line was reopened in September 1997. The Middleborough/Lakeville Line is owned by the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority.

Kingston Line

The Kingston Line of the MBTA Commuter Rail network is a commuter rail service on a north-south alignment. It runs from South Station in the north to Kingston in the south, serving 10 stations. It shares much of its track with the Middleborough/Lakeville Line and the two are considered the Old Colony Lines.

The Kingston Line was reopened in September 1997. Service to Plymouth ended April 2021. The Kingston Line is owned by the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority.

Greenbush Line

The Greenbush Line of the MBTA Commuter Rail network is a commuter rail service on a north-south alignment. It runs from South Station in the north to Greenbush in the south, serving 10 stations. While formerly part of the Old Colony Lines, it was restored separately.

The Greenbush Line was reopened in October 2007. The Greenbush Line is owned by the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority.