January Service Changes Will Allow Crews to Continue Improvement Work Across MBTA System

Updated December 23, 2023.

GLX work continues next month.

Following the successful completion of recent work along the Green Line D branch, the MBTA today announced service changes in January on the Green Line to give MBTA riders a smoother, faster, more reliable trip.

Green Line service on the B branch between North Station and Babcock Street, on the E branch between North Station and Heath Street, and on the C and D branches between North Station and Kenmore station will be suspended all day from start to end of service for 10 days from January 3-12 and for 13 days from January 16- 28.

Riders should note that, in observance of the Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday weekend, Green Line trolley service will operate during the weekend of January 13-14 and on Monday, January 15.
A page with dedicated information for riders will be available at mbta.com/GreenLine. Travel alternatives during this service change are below:
- B Branch: Accessible shuttle buses will operate between Babcock Street and Back Bay stations. From Back Bay, riders can travel on the Orange Line for continued service to the downtown area and North Station. Riders can also utilize free Route 57 bus service for alternate travel between Kenmore and Babcock Street.
- C and D Branches; Green Line between Kenmore and North Station: Accessible shuttle buses will operate between Kenmore and Back Bay stations. From Back Bay, riders can travel on the Orange Line for continued service to the downtown area and North Station. The fare gates at both Kenmore and Back Bay stations will be open during this service change.
- E Branch: Riders are asked to instead utilize the parallel Route 39 bus service, which will be free and operates from Heath Street station along Huntington Avenue to Back Bay Station. From Back Bay, riders can utilize the Orange Line for continued service to the downtown area and North Station.
Additionally, the Commuter Rail 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.
As previously announced, this service change is in place as part of the MBTA’s Track Improvement Plan. Crews will perform track and tie replacement work, infrastructure upgrades, station amenity upgrades, and more.

Green Line trains on both Green Line Extension (GLX) branches between North Station and Union Square Station as well as Medford/Tufts station will be suspended during the periods listed below. This service change is in place while crews from GLXC, the design-build contractor, continue critical track work that alleviates current tight gauge conditions.

From start to end of service during the weekend of January 6-7;
Beginning at approximately 8:45 PM through the end of service every day from January 8-11;
Beginning at approximately 8:45 PM through the end of service every day from January 16-18;
From start to end of service during the weekend of January 20-21;
Beginning at approximately 8:45 PM through the end of service every day from January 22-25.
Accessible shuttle bus service will replace trains between North Station and Medford/Tufts station.
Train service between Lechmere and Union Square Stations will be suspended. Green Line Union Square branch riders are instead encouraged to consider alternative routes, including the 86, 91, and CT2 bus routes between Union Square and East Somerville Station on the Medford Branch. These bus routes also travel to Sullivan Square Station on the Orange Line. In addition, Route 87 travels between Union Square and Lechmere Station.
During this service change and through close collaboration with the MBTA, MassDOT will also minimize impacts to the public by performing bridge inspection work during this outage in service.

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 (the site formerly known as Twitter) @MBTA for up-to-date service information.

The MBTA previously announced service changes in December. More information is available here.

The MBTA apologizes for the inconvenience of these scheduled service changes and appreciates the understanding and patience of riders as this critical and necessary work to maintain, upgrade, and modernize the system takes place.