REMINDER: Red Line Braintree Branch Service Suspended for 24 Days Between JFK/UMass and Braintree September 6 – 29

Shuttle buses will make stops at Braintree, Quincy Adams, Quincy Center, Wollaston, North Quincy, and Ashmont.

This notice serves as a reminder of the upcoming Red Line closure previously announced on July 18 and August 22. 

Following up on the previous announcement on July 18 and August 22, the MBTA is today reminding riders that Red Line Braintree Branch service will be suspended between JFK/UMass and Braintree every day for 24 days from September 6 to September 29. Kingston, Middleborough, and Greenbush Commuter Rail line trains, which run adjacent to the Red Line, will also be replaced with shuttle bus service between South Station and Braintree during the weekends of September 7 – 8 and September 14 – 15. 

The important work will allow crews to repair 18 miles of track between JFK/UMass and Braintree, resulting in the removal of over 20 speed restrictions and improving round-trip Braintree Branch travel times by as much as 24 minutes. These track improvements will also lay the groundwork for the MBTA’s goal of raising current Red Line train speeds above current speeds where possible. 

More information on alternate travel options is below: 

• Riders are strongly encouraged to use the Middleborough, Kington, and Greenbush Commuter Rail lines for fare-free service between Braintree, Quincy Center, JFK/UMass, and South Station (with the exception of the weekends of September 7 – 8 and September 14 – 15. More information is below). Commuter Rail schedules are available on mbta.com.  
   
  • Commuter Rail trains operate about every 20-30 minutes. Travelling between Braintree and South Station on the Commuter Rail is about 24 minutes.  
     
  • Additional Keolis personnel will be available at Braintree, Quincy Center, and JFK/UMass during weekday morning and evening rush hour periods to answer questions and assist riders boarding Commuter Rail trains.  
     
  • Extra coaches will be added to the Middleborough, Kington, and Greenbush Commuter Rail lines to accommodate the anticipated increase in ridership.  
     
  • Riders should note that regular Commuter Rail fares will be collected for travel beyond Braintree.  
     
• Free and accessible shuttle bus service will make stops at Braintree, Quincy Adams, Quincy Center, Wollaston, North Quincy, and Ashmont for connections to further Red Line subway service.
   
  • There will be no direct shuttle bus service to or from JFK/UMass. Riders boarding or disembarking at JFK/UMass should utilize the fare-free Commuter Rail when possible.
     
  • Riders using shuttle buses during this service change should budget ample extra travelling time. For example, a rider travelling to Park Street from Braintree should anticipate an extra 40 minutes in addition to their regular commute. Again, riders are strongly encouraged to consider the fare-free Commuter Rail during this service change.
     
• There will be increased subway service on the Ashmont Branch in order to maintain train frequency through the Red Line core between JFK/UMass and Alewife. Trains will operate at about an eight-minute frequency between Ashmont and Alewife.  
   
• Riders should note that Middleborough, Kington, and Greenbush Commuter Rail line service will also be replaced by shuttle bus service during the weekends of September 7 – 8 and September 14 – 15.   
   
  • Free and accessible shuttle buses will operate directly between South Station and Braintree, stopping only at South Station and Braintree. The diversion schedule will be available online soon at mbta.com/CommuterRail.  
     
  • Passengers can also utilize free and accessible shuttle buses replacing Red Line Braintree Branch service between Braintree and Ashmont.
     
  • There will be no direct shuttle bus service to or from JFK/UMass.  
     
  • Passengers should note that bicycles are not allowed on shuttle buses, and regular Commuter Rail fares will be collected between Kingston, Middleborough, Greenbush, and Braintree stations.  
     
  • Keolis Customer Service Agents, MBTA staff, and Transit Ambassadors will be on site at impacted stations to support riders. 
     
• Riders can find complete information soon at mbta.com/RedLine. 

This service change is in place to support critical work as part of the MBTA’s 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. 

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. 

More information is also available through in-station signage and public announcements. 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. 

Riders are also encouraged to connect with MBTA staff at upcoming Track Improvement Program pop-up events and a virtual public meeting. Events through the end of the year are below: 

• Tuesday, October 1 
  • Virtual 
  • 6 PM – 8 PM 
  • More information is at mbta.com/events  
     
• Thursday, October 31 
  • Station Pop-Up 
  • Broadway Station 
  • 8 AM – 10 AM  
     
• Tuesday, December 3 
  • Station Pop-Up 
  • Medford/Tufts 
  • 4 PM – 6 PM 

More Information