July Service Changes: MBTA Continues Repair Work to Improve Reliability Across the System

Updated June 21, 2024

Service changes are planned on the Red, Green, Needham, and Haverhill lines.

The MBTA today announced service changes in July on the Red, Green, Needham, and Haverhill lines. The MBTA will continue working to maintain its infrastructure and improve reliability across the system.

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, @MBTA_CR, and @MBTA_CR_Alerts for up-to-date service information. 

On the Red Line:

• The outbound/northbound platform at Kendall/MIT station will be closed beginning at approximately 8:45 PM on Friday, July 5, and continuing all day and every day for the weekend of July 6-7.
   
  • Outbound/Northbound Red Line trains will bypass Kendall/MIT during this time. 
     
  • For outbound/northbound riders disembarking at Kendall/MIT, riders should instead travel to Central station to board an inbound/southbound train back to Kendall/MIT. The fare gates will be open at Central inbound/southbound for a free transfer.
     
  • For outbound/northbound riders boarding at Kendall/MIT, riders should instead board an inbound/southbound train, disembark at Charles/MGH, and travel to the outbound/northbound platform for continued train service. Riders can move between the platforms for free at Charles/MGH without passing through fare gates.
     
  • This service change is in place to accommodate the adjacent transit-oriented development project, which has partnered with the MBTA to rebuild and update the outbound/northbound Kendall/MIT station entrance. 

• As previously announced, Red Line service will be suspended between Alewife and Kendall/MIT every day for 16 days from July 13-28. On weekends and on weekday evenings starting at approximately 8:30 PM through the end of service, the service suspension will be extended to Park Street (meaning Red Line service will be suspended between Alewife and Park Street).
   
  • Riders can find complete information at mbta.com/RedLine soon.
     
  • There will be three free and accessible shuttle bus options for Red Line riders during this time period:
     
    • Shuttle buses will make all stops to all stations. 
       
    • Express shuttle buses will make stops between Alewife, Porter, and Kendall/MIT. 
       
    • A shuttle bus loop will operate from Harvard to Central to Kendall/MIT and back to Harvard. 
       
  • Bus Route 77 will be fare-free within Cambridge.
     
  • Riders are encouraged to consider the Fitchburg Commuter Rail Line for fare-free service between Porter and North Station. Regular fares should be purchased beyond Porter. 
     
    • An additional “shuttle train” will operate hourly between North Station and Porter. This shuttle train along with the existing service on the Fitchburg Line means trains will operate every 30 minutes on weekdays and every hour on weekends between Porter and North Station, essentially doubling Commuter Rail service. 
       
• This service change is in place to perform necessary work as part of the Track Improvement Program. The Track Improvement Program will replace tracks and ties to alleviate speed restrictions along the line while crews maximize the outage by performing signal work and station amenity upgrades, including new lighting, painting, tiling, power washing, and more.

On the Needham Commuter Rail Line:

• As previously announced, the Needham Commuter Rail Line will be suspended between Needham Heights and South Station all day and every day from June 28-July 1.
   
  • Free and accessible shuttle bus service will operate between Needham Heights and Newton Highlands on the Green Line D Branch as well as Needham Heights and Forest Hills on the Orange Line. 
     
  • Passengers can present their June mTicket monthly pass to Green Line operators and/or Transit Ambassadors to board the Green Line D Branch at Newton Highlands and Orange Line at Forest Hills.
     
  • Bus Routes 35, 36, 37, and 59 will be fare-free.
     
  • A dedicated diversion schedule will be in effect and is available on mbta.com. 
     
  • This service change allows for crews to perform Positive Train Control (PTC) / Automatic Train Control (ATC) work. PTC/ATC is a federally mandated safety system that sends signals to trains about potentially unsafe conditions, automatically slowing and stopping a train if needed.  

On the Green Line: 

• 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 weekend of July 13-14.
   
  • 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 and 91 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.
     
  • This service change is in place for MBTA crews to perform welding work on the Lechmere Viaduct in order to proactively prevent temporary speed restrictions caused by hot weather conditions.

On the Haverhill Commuter Rail Line:

• A special Construction Schedule is in effect on the Haverhill Commuter Rail Line through the end of the summer. The Construction Schedule is available at mbta.com.
   
  • During this time, mid-day inbound trains will operate express between Ballardvale and North Station. 
     
  • For service to Boston, passengers are encouraged to consider a free connection with Bus Route 137, which operates parallel service.
     
  • Passengers may also consider connecting with Lowell and Haverhill Line train service at Anderson/Woburn station.
     
• As previously announced, Haverhill Station will temporarily close to passengers beginning July 15 through summer 2025.
   
  • Passengers are asked to instead board and disembark at Bradford. Bradford is about a half mile from Haverhill (about a two-minute drive or a 10-minute walk), features a parking lot with over 300 spaces, and includes outdoor bike storage racks. 
     
  • An accessible van will also operate on a continuous loop between Bradford and Haverhill.
     
  • This service change is in place to accommodate the replacement of the South Elm Bridge, which carries the Haverhill Commuter Rail Line over South Elm Street between Bradford and Haverhill. Using accelerated bridge construction techniques to reduce customer and traffic impacts, the MBTA will replace the nearly-120-year-old bridge with a modern single-span structure with a useful life of 75 years. When construction is complete, Haverhill Line passengers will be provided with a safer, more resilient, and more reliable ride with fewer service disruptions related to the old bridge.

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

The MBTA understands how these service changes affect riders’ daily travels during this period, but we are committed to improving your travels long term with more reliable, timely, and safe service. We thank riders for their patience as we deliver this important work and for continuing to ride our system.

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