Ridership Spike on Marathon Monday: Worcester Commuter Rail Line and Green Line See Major Ridership Boost

Approximately 30,000 people rode on the Worcester Commuter Rail Line throughout the day.

Highest number of gated entries at Green Line stations since before the pandemic.

The MBTA today announced major bumps in ridership on Marathon Monday as the MBTA and Keolis Commuter Services (Keolis) supported the annual event with increased service to accommodate spectators and runners. Extremely high ridership was especially seen on the Worcester Commuter Rail Line and the Green Line. The Worcester Commuter Rail Line and parts of the Green Line run along much of the Marathon route, and riders took advantage of this proximity to cheer on the runners.

“This was a milestone day for the T, and we’re grateful for the thousands of participants, Marathon spectators, and riders who trusted the MBTA to get them to their destinations, including the Finish Line!” said MBTA General Manager and CEO Phillip Eng. “Throughout the weekend and on Marathon Monday, we carried robust ridership across the system. This further illustrates just how vital public transit is. I’m proud of the hardworking employees at the T, our Commuter Rail workforce, and our partners at Keolis for providing safe, reliable, consistent service, allowing thousands to enjoy the 128th Boston Marathon. I congratulate them on this exceptional achievement.”

“Thousands of people left their cars at home and chose the Commuter Rail to watch the Boston Marathon on Monday,” said Abdellah Chajai, CEO and General Manager of Keolis Commuter Services. “I’m proud of our staff and crews who worked tirelessly throughout the day to provide safe and reliable service for our riders, especially along the Worcester Line.”

According to data from Keolis, which operates the system on behalf of the MBTA, approximately 30,000 passengers rode on the Worcester Commuter Rail Line, which is more than double the normal rate for a Monday.

Extremely high ridership was also experienced on the Green Line. At 77,000 entries, which is an increase of about 70% over a typical Monday, gated Green Line stations experienced the highest number of entries on a single day since before the pandemic. Total ridership on the Green Line, including gated stations and surface level stops on the Green Line branches, was approximately 150,000 boardings.

Ridership was also about 6% higher than typical at Red, Orange, and Blue Line stations with approximately 225,000 entries.

The Framingham/Worcester Line operated a special Marathon Monday schedule of four additional inbound and five additional outbound trips to accommodate the surge in ridership throughout the day. The Green, Red, Orange, and Blue lines operated a regular weekday schedule with additional service before and after the race.