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

The MBTA today announced service changes in November on the Orange, Red, Green, Franklin, Fitchburg, and Lowell 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 Orange Line:

As previously announced, Orange Line service will be suspended between Oak Grove and North Station October 26 – November 1:
- Free and accessible shuttle buses will make stops between Oak Grove and North Station.
- Riders are also encouraged to consider the Haverhill Commuter Rail Line for fare-free service between Oak Grove, Malden Center, and North Station.
- This service change is in place to perform necessary work as part of the Track Improvement Program, which is taking place between Oak Grove and North Station. 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.

Orange Line service will also be suspended between Oak Grove and Ruggles October 26-27.
- Riders can use the Green Line between Copley to North Station.
- Free shuttles will run between Copley and Ruggles to help riders make the Green Line to Orange Line transfer.

On the Red Line:

Red Line service will be suspended in the following areas during the following dates. Riders can find complete information soon at mbta.com/RedLine. Alternate service options are below:

November 5 – 10:
Between Broadway and North Quincy
- Free and accessible shuttle buses will make all stops between Broadway and North Quincy.
- Ashmont Branch riders should note that there will be regular service between JFK/UMass and Ashmont except November 9-10.
- Riders are strongly encouraged to use the Middleborough, Kingston, and Greenbush (Old Colony) Commuter Rail lines for fare-free service between Braintree, Quincy Center, JFK/UMass, and South Station. Commuter Rail schedules are available here.
  - Commuter Rail trains operate about every 20-30 minutes. Travelling between Braintree and South Station on the Commuter Rail is about 24 minutes.
  - Riders should note that regular Commuter Rail fares will be collected for travel beyond Braintree.
November 9 – 10:
- Between Broadway and Ashmont
- Free and accessible shuttle buses will make all stops between Broadway and Ashmont.
November 18 – 24:
- Between Harvard and Broadway
- Free and accessible shuttle buses will make all stops between Harvard and Broadway with the exception of Park Street and Downtown Crossing.
  - Riders heading southbound should instead disembark at Otis Street @ Summer Street and use the Winter Street concourse to travel between Downtown Crossing and Park Street.
  - Riders heading northbound should instead disembark at Federal Street @ Franklin Street and use the Winter Street concourse to travel between Downtown Crossing and Park Street.
  - Shuttle buses will also serve State (on the Orange and Blue lines) and Haymarket (on the Orange and Green lines) for easier connections to other subway lines.
- The Commuter Rail will be fare-free between Porter Square and North Station. Riders should note that regular fares should be purchased beyond Porter Square.
- The Commuter Rail will also be fare-free between Braintree and South Station
These service changes are in place to perform critical 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 Green Line:

Green Line service will be suspended between Riverside and Kenmore during the weekend of November 9 – 10.
- Free and accessible shuttle buses will replace trains between Riverside and Kenmore.
- This weekend service change is in place to perform signal work along the D Branch. Accessibility upgrade work will also be advanced at Waban, Eliot, Beaconsfield, and Chestnut Hill.
Green Line service will be suspended between Union Square and Lechmere November 11-17.
- Riders should note there will be no shuttle bus service to Union Square. Green Line Union Square Branch riders can instead use area bus routes, including the 86 and 91 between Union Square and East Somerville Station on the Medford Branch. These bus routes also travel to Sullivan Square on the Orange Line. In addition, Route 87 travels between Union Square and Lechmere.
Green Line service will be suspended between Park Street and Union Square as well as East Somerville beginning at approximately 8:45 PM through the end of service on Friday, November 15, and continuing all day through the weekend of November 16 – 17:
- Free and accessible shuttle bus service will replace trains between North Station and East Somerville.
- Trains between Medford/Tufts and East Somerville will be fare-free.
- Riders should note that there will be no shuttle bus service between North Station and Park Street. Riders should instead utilize the Orange Line for parallel service through North Station and Park Street.
- Riders are also reminded that Orange Line / Green Line connections can also be made via the Winter Street Concourse, which connects Park Street and Downtown Crossing Stations.
- Riders should note there will be no shuttle bus service to Union Square. Green Line Union Square Branch riders can instead use area bus routes, including the 86 and 91 between Union Square and East Somerville Station on the Medford Branch. These bus routes also travel to Sullivan Square on the Orange Line. In addition, Route 87 travels between Union Square and Lechmere.
- This service change is in place to perform lighting work and prepare this Green Line area for upcoming Track Improvement Program work taking place in December. 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 Franklin Commuter Rail Line:

Franklin Commuter Rail Line service will be suspended between Forge Park/495 and Readville during the weekend of November 2 – 3.
- A dedicated diversion schedule will be available soon on mbta.com.
- Free and accessible shuttle buses will replace train service between Forge Park/495 and Readville.
- Regular Commuter Rail fares should be purchased for service beyond Readville.
- This service change allows the contractor of the East St. Bridge Replacement project (Dedham) to drill and install micropiles for the new bridge abutments.

On the Fitchburg Commuter Rail Line:

Fitchburg Commuter Rail Line service will be suspended between Littleton/Route 495 and Wachusett during the following dates:
- The weekend of November 2 – 3
- The weekend of November 9 – 10
- All day from start to end of service November 14 – 17
- A dedicated diversion schedule will be available soon on mbta.com.
- Free and accessible shuttle buses will replace train service between Littleton/Route 495 and Wachusett.
- Regular Commuter Rail fares should be purchased for service beyond Littleton/Route 495.
- These service changes allow crews to perform Automatic Train Control (ATC) work. ATC is a federally mandated safety system that sends signals to trains about potentially unsafe conditions, automatically slowing and stopping a train if needed.
Fitchburg Commuter Rail Line service will be suspended North Leominster and Wachusett during the weekend of November 23 – 24:
- A dedicated diversion schedule will be available soon on mbta.com.
- Free and accessible shuttle buses will replace train service between North Leominster and Wachusett.
- Regular Commuter Rail fares should be purchased for service beyond North Leominster.
- These service changes allow crews to perform Automatic Train Control (ATC) work. ATC is a federally mandated safety system that sends signals to trains about potentially unsafe conditions, automatically slowing and stopping a train if needed.
- These service changes allow crews to perform Automatic Train Control (ATC) work. 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 Lowell Commuter Rail Line:

Lowell Commuter Rail Line service will be suspended between North Station and Lowell, November 23 – 24.
- A dedicated diversion schedule will be available soon on mbta.com.
- Free and accessible shuttle buses will replace train service along the entire line between North Station and Lowell.
- This service change is in place to allow crews to perform fiber optic resiliency work.

The MBTA previously announced service changes in October. 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.