January 22, 2025 |MBTA, News, Transportation

MBTA Announces February Service Changes

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Weekend service changes will take place on the Orange Line as well as the Newburyport/Rockport and Haverhill Commuter Rail lines to accommodate MassDOT’s Maffa Way/Mystic Avenue Bridge Superstructure Replacements project.
Weekend service changes will also take place on the Green Line for regular maintenance and on the Red Line for signal upgrades.

The MBTA today announced service changes in February on the Orange, Green, Red, Newburyport/Rockport, and Haverhill lines.  

The MBTA recently announced extended service outages that include weekdays planned for the 2025 calendar year through June. As previously announced, the vast majority of work in 2025 will take place during weekends and evenings with some limited weekday outages anticipated this year.  

Riders can find more information on service changes through in-station signage, in-station public announcements, and at mbta.com/alerts. Transit Ambassadors and MBTA staff will be available on-site to offer information and assistance during these service changes. Riders are encouraged to subscribe to T-Alerts or to follow the MBTA on X @MBTA, @MBTA_CR, and @MBTA_CR_Alerts for up-to-date service information.  

On the Orange Line

• Orange Line service will be suspended between Oak Grove and North Station during the following weekends:  
• Beginning at approximately 8:30 PM on Friday, January 31, and continuing through the entire weekend of February 1 – 2. 
• Beginning at approximately 8:30 PM on Friday, February 14, and continuing through the entire holiday weekend of February 15 – 17 (including Monday, Presidents’ Day). 
• Free and accessible shuttle buses will make all stops between Oak Grove and North Station. 
• Express shuttle buses will stop at Oak Grove, Malden Center, and North Station. 
• The Haverhill Commuter Rail Line will be fare-free after 8:30 PM on January 31 and February 14 as well as all day on February 17. 
• Riders should note that the Haverhill Commuter Rail Line is suspended between Ballardvale and North Station during the weekend of February 1 – 2 and February 15 – 16.  
• This service change is in place to support critical work as part of MassDOT’s Maffa Way/Mystic Avenue Bridge Superstructure Replacements project, which will replace the two deteriorated bridge superstructures and improve bicycle, pedestrian, and transit facilities. 

On the Red Line

• Red Line service will be suspended between JFK/UMass and Braintree during the weekends of February 8 – 9 and February 22 – 23. 
• Free and accessible shuttle buses will make all stops between JFK/UMass and Braintree.  
• Riders are strongly encouraged to use the Middleborough, Kington, and Greenbush Commuter Rail lines for fare-free service between Braintree, Quincy Center, JFK/UMass, and South Station. Commuter Rail schedules are available on mbta.com.  
• Travelling between Braintree and South Station on the Commuter Rail is about 24 minutes.   
• Riders should note that regular Commuter Rail fares will be collected for travel beyond Braintree.   
• This service change is in place to accomplish signal upgrade work on the Red Line. The new upgraded signal system will allow for more frequent service, improved scheduling, and enhanced safety. By upgrading its signals, the MBTA expects to significantly increase operational efficiency, reducing wait times and improving scheduling reliability for all riders. 

On the Green Line

Green Line service will be suspended between North Station and Babcock Street on the B Branch, Kenmore on the C and D Branches, and Heath Street on the E Branch during the weekend of February 22 – 23. 

• B Branch: Free and accessible shuttle buses will operate between Babcock Street and Back Bay stations.  
  • Riders can connect to the Orange Line at Back Bay, which is less than a two-minute walk from Copley, for continued service through downtown toward North Station.  
  • Riders should note that shuttle bus service will not be available at Blandford Street in both directions and should instead utilize shuttle bus service at the next nearest stop.  
  • Outbound B branch riders will not be charged a fare at Babcock Street (outbound/westbound only).  
  • Riders can also utilize free Route 57 bus service for alternate travel between Kenmore and Packard’s Corner. Please note Route 57 bus service will not be available at Blandford Street.
  • Fares will also be free at all surface-level stops west of Babcock Street (including Babcock Street). 

• C Branch: Free and accessible shuttle buses will operate between Kenmore and Back Bay stations.  
  • Riders can connect to the Orange Line at Back Bay, which is less than a two-minute walk from Copley, for continued service through downtown toward North Station.  
  • Riders should note that shuttle bus service will not be available at Saint Mary’s Street, Kent Street, or Brandon Hall in both directions and should instead utilize shuttle bus service at the next nearest stop.  
  • There will be free fares at Kenmore with the fare gates open. Fares will also be free at all surface-level stops west of Kenmore. 

• D Branch: Free and accessible shuttle buses will operate between Kenmore and Back Bay stations.  
  • Riders can connect to the Orange Line at Back Bay, which is less than a two-minute walk from Copley, for continued service through downtown toward North Station.  
  • There will be free fares at Kenmore and Riverside with the fare gates open. Fares will also be free at all surface-level stops west of Kenmore. 

• E Branch: The Route 39 will replace Green Line E Branch service between Heath Street and Back Bay stations. The route will be fare-free during this service change. 
  • Accessible van service will be available for Green Line stops between Copley/Back Bay and North Station.
• The Worcester Commuter Rail Line will be fare-free between South Station, Back Bay, and Lansdowne stations during this Green Line service change. Riders should note that regular fares should be purchased beyond Lansdowne and regular fares should be purchased if traveling on a Commuter Rail Line other than the Worcester Line. 
• As a result of this service change, riders travelling on Green Line trains between Government Center and Copley are encouraged to plan extra time and should anticipate longer waits.  
• These weekend service changes are in place to perform regular, planned maintenance work. This maintenance work will address routine needs, ensure that all infrastructure is in peak operating condition, and includes inspections, adjustments, and repairs to keep the system safe and running smoothly. 

On the Newburyport/Rockport Commuter Rail Line

• Newburyport/Rockport Commuter Rail Line service will be suspended between North Station and Swampscott during the weekends of February 1 – 2 and February 15 – 16.  
  • Express shuttle buses will operate directly between Swampscott and North Station. 
  • Shuttle buses will also make local stops between Swampscott, Lynn within the busway at the legacy station, Wonderland for connections to the Blue Line subway, Chelsea Station for connections to the Silver Line 3 (SL3), and North Station. A dedicated diversion schedule will be in effect and available on mbta.com soon.  
  • The last outbound shuttle bus will also make a special late-night stop at Salem and Beverly Depot. 
  • Commuter Rail fares will be free between Swampscott and Newburyport or Rockport. 
  • Passengers may utilize the SL3, which travels through Chelsea and East Boston to Logan Airport, the Seaport District, and South Station, making connections to many area bus routes (including the 111, 112, and 116) as well as the Blue and Red lines.  
  • This service change was in place to support critical work as part of MassDOT’s Maffa Way/Mystic Avenue Bridge Superstructure Replacements project, which will replace the two deteriorated bridge superstructures and improve bicycle, pedestrian, and transit facilities. 

On the Haverhill Commuter Rail Line

• Haverhill Commuter Rail Line service will be suspended between Ballardvale and North Station during the weekends of February 1 – 2 and February 15 – 16.  
  • A dedicated diversion schedule will be available soon on mbta.com. 
  • Free and accessible shuttle bus service will replace train service between Reading and North Station. A second free and accessible shuttle bus service will operate between Anderson/Woburn and Reading.  
  • Regular Commuter Rail fares will be collected between Haverhill and Ballardvale. 
  • North Wilmington Station will not have shuttle bus service with passengers encouraged to utilize Lowell Line service at Wilmington Station instead.  
  • Train service for passengers between Ballardvale and Haverhill will be re-routed along the Lowell Line after Ballardvale, making one additional stop at Anderson/Woburn and then running express to North Station. Riders desiring service to or from Reading and Oak Grove should disembark at Anderson/Woburn and board the shuttle bus service. 
  • Bus Route 137 will be fare-free. 
  • This service change was in place to support critical work as part of MassDOT’s Maffa Way/Mystic Avenue Bridge Superstructure Replacements project, which will replace the two deteriorated bridge superstructures and improve bicycle, pedestrian, and transit facilities. 

The MBTA previously announced service changes in January.

The MBTA understands how these service changes affect riders’ daily travels during this period, but we are committed to improving your travels long term with more reliable, timely, and safe service. We thank riders for their patience as we deliver this important work and for continuing to ride our system. 

For more information, visit mbta.com or connect with the T on X @MBTA and @MBTA_CR, Facebook /TheMBTA, Instagram @theMBTA, Threads @thembta, or TikTok @thembta.  

The above information was submitted to us by the MBTA.