Lowell Line Weekend Bus Shuttles Between Lowell and Orange Line Wellington for 3 Weekends Beginning May 12

To accommodate the installation of federally mandated Positive Train Control (PTC) infrastructure, the MBTA will replace weekend Lowell Line train service with free shuttle bus service from Lowell Station to Wellington Station on the Orange Line for 3 weekends beginning May 12 through May 27.

The free weekend shuttle bus service along the Lowell Line between Lowell and Wellington on the Orange Line will make stops at all stations (except North Station). At Wellington, riders can make subway connections via the Orange Line using a one-way fare costing $2.25 on a CharlieCard or $2.75 with cash/CharlieTicket. All shuttle buses are accessible for persons with disabilities. Bicycles are prohibited on all shuttle buses during all service hours.

This shutdown of Lowell Line train service on weekends from May 12 through May 27 is necessary for crews to continue installation activities for the federally mandated PTC system. PTC is a safety control system designed to reduce train speeds when needed and prevent train-on-train collisions.

The first MBTA PTC installation began the weekend of July 8, 2017, on the Newburyport/Rockport Commuter Rail Line with various Commuter Rail lines across the system currently at various stages of PTC hardware installation. The MBTA’s PTC Implementation Plan submitted to the Federal Railroad Administration provides for the installation of hardware on all Commuter Rail lines and 2 pilot lines (Stoughton Line and Lowell Line) by the end of 2018, with full PTC implementation by December 31, 2020.