More Frequent Service on the Fairmount Commuter Rail Line

Beginning Monday, June 22, 8 additional trains will be running on weekdays.

Effective Monday, June 22, eight additional trains will be running on weekdays on the Fairmount Commuter Rail Line. The MBTA will begin the Fairmount Line Weekday Service Pilot on June 22, resulting in increased weekday train frequency and also allowing customers to pay fares with CharlieCards on Zone 1A stations along that line.

“We’re excited for these service improvements to begin for our Fairmount Line riders, especially now, when providing travel flexibility and more trip options as the Commonwealth reopens is of such importance,” said MBTA General Manager Steve Poftak. “This Pilot also includes the ability to use a CharlieCard at any Zone 1A Fairmount Line stop with riders able to transfer for free to area buses and the Red Line at South Station – a first ever for the Commuter Rail network. I want to again express my appreciation to the City of Boston and community advocates for their support and advocacy for these service enhancements.”

The previously announced year-long Pilot, which was developed by the MBTA in collaboration with the City of Boston, supports transit equity by providing additional transit options and access. The Pilot was originally anticipated to begin in May 2020, but was paused due to overall decreased ridership as a result of the COVID-19 situation. The MBTA also encourages area bus riders to consider the Fairmount Line as an alternate travel option in an effort to further support social distancing.

More Frequent Fairmount Line Trains

Beginning June 22, 8 additional weekday trips – 4 inbound leaving Readville Station at 5:10 AM, 9:25 AM, 3:05 PM, and 3:53 PM as well as 4 outbound leaving South Station at 7:35 AM, 9:15 AM, 6:50 PM, and 12:00 AM – will be added to the Fairmount Line as part of a 12-month service pilot aimed at providing more options for faster service. This additional Fairmount service was created through Fairmount train schedule efficiencies. Scheduled service on other commuter rail lines is not impacted. Full service schedules are available at mbta.com.

During the pilot, ridership data will be analyzed and collected via ridership counts and contactless passenger surveys posted as URL and QR codes within stations at scheduled intervals. Riders are also encouraged to take an initial survey available when the service launches on June 22 by visiting mbta.com/fairmountsurvey. The MBTA will also analyze travel-time savings for bus riders who transition to the Fairmount Line, and will monitor the Fairmount Line for on-time performance and safety. MBTA staff monitoring the Pilot may extend the evaluation period if needed, depending on developments that occur with the timing of the state’s reopening phases as communities and businesses recover from the pandemic.

Fairmount Line Zone 1A CharlieCard Compatibility

Under the pilot and as part of the first phase of the MBTA’s Fare Transformation project, the T has installed CharlieCard validators on all Fairmount Line Zone 1A station platforms with all CharlieCards able to be used at these stations, including those CharlieCards loaded with stored value, monthly and daily passes, and reduced fare passes, including Youth, Student, Senior, or TAP passes. After a CharlieCard is tapped at a platform validator, the validator will issue a paper proof-of-payment for customers to show the conductor when onboard the train.

Fairmount Line riders who pay with a CharlieCard can also transfer for free within 2 hours of their first tap to local buses, the Silver Line, and the Red Line at South Station. Riders transferring from buses to the Fairmount Line at any Zone 1A station will pay only the difference in fare when they tap a platform validator with their CharlieCard.