Developers

Real-Time Commuter Rail Data

The MBTA provides 12 commuter rail lines serving 120 stations in the greater Boston area.  The MBTA has built out a GPS-based tracking system for commuter rail trains.  This system powers a number of systems including automated on-board announcements and station signage.  We have worked to release the data from this system to developers with the goal of unlocking innovations in how data is presented. We also make the contents of the North Station and South Station waiting area "departure signs" available.


What is the status of this data?

This data is officially out of beta but we are always working to improve it. Notice an issue with the data?  Please email developer@mbta.com.


What did you say about alerts?

Alerts matter, especially for commuter rail.  In major delays, such as a fallen tree or a dead train, alerts are critical.  While this feed accurately tracks trains, delays caused by events are hard to accurately predict without a person involved.  For that reason, it is very important to leverage T-Alerts in your apps.  T-Alerts are updated by our dispatchers based on what they see or hear in any situation, providing information that our feeds cannot.


Use of the Feed

Access to the MBTA Real-Time Commuter Rail Feed is governed by the language in the MassDOT Developers License Agreement in addition to the following conditions:

• The MBTA reserves the right to suspend the data feed, modify the feed, or modify elements of the feed at any time in the MBTA's sole and absolute discretion.

• The MBTA will not guarantee any technical support of any kind to users.

• No user may execute polling commands more often than every 10 seconds. A user that polls more often than that or otherwise overtaxes the MBTA's system may be suspended or terminated from the data feed.

Accessing the Feed

For full information on the data format and how the feed works, please read this Developers Guide.

This file provides the order of stations on each line, including trunks and branches:   StationOrder.csv 

Data is available as JSON, XML, and CSV.  Please find access to those files below.

Real-Time Data Files


1. Greenbush Line   CSV   |  JSON  |  XML 

2. Kingston/Plymouth Line   CSV   |  JSON  |  XML 

3. Middleborough/Lakeville Line   CSV   |  JSON  |  XML 

4. Fairmount Line   CSV   |  JSON  |  XML 

5. Providence/Stoughton Line   CSV   |  JSON  |  XML 

6. Franklin Line   CSV   |  JSON  |  XML 

7. Needham Line   CSV   |  JSON  |  XML 

8. Framingham/Worcester Line   CSV   |  JSON  |  XML 

9. Fitchburg Line   CSV   |  JSON  |  XML 

10.Lowell Line   CSV   |  JSON  |  XML 

11.Haverhill Line   CSV   |  JSON  |  XML 

12.Newburyport/Rockport Line   CSV   |  JSON  |  XML 

Departure Board Feeds

We also make the contents of the North Station and South Station waiting area "departure signs" available. See the Departure Board Feed Documentation for details.