Reminder: Fare gates at South Station have begun being activated incrementally

Fare gates at South Station have
 begun being activated incrementally

"Fare gates at South Station have begun being activated incrementally. Riders will need to tap or scan to exit and enter the track area. "

Visit MBTA.com/CRGATES for more information.

Thursday, January 1, 2026 -> Commuter Rail to operate on Weekend Schedule

The Commuter Rail will be operating on a weekend schedule on Thursday, January 1st, in observance of New Year's Day.

Affected lines:

Fall River/New Bedford Line

Newburyport/Rockport Line

Haverhill Line

Lowell Line

Fitchburg Line

Framingham/Worcester Line

Needham Line

Franklin/Foxboro Line

Fairmount Line

Providence/Stoughton Line

Kingston Line

Greenbush Line

Last Updated: Dec 31 2025 08:00 AM

https://www.mbta.com/schedules/CR-Franklin/timetable

Reminder: Fare gates at South Station will be activated incrementally this week, beginning on Tuesday, December 30. 

Riders may encounter active fare gates and will need to tap or scan to exit and enter the track area. Visit MBTA.com/CRGATES for more information.

All gates at South Station are expected to be in service during the first week in January.

Thursday, January 1, 2026 -> Commuter Rail to operate on Weekend Schedule

Starting Tuesday (Dec 30, 2025): Fare gate activation begins for Commuter Rail service at South Station

Fare gates at South Station will be activated incrementally this week, beginning on Tuesday, December 30. 

Riders may encounter active fare gates and will need to tap or scan to exit and enter the track area. Visit MBTA.com/CRGATES for more information.

All gates at South Station are expected to be in service during the first week in January.

Last Updated: Dec 29 2025 02:59 PM

Starting Tuesday (Dec 30, 2025): Fare gate activation begins for Commuter Rail service at South Station (MBTA photo)

Video link -> https://youtu.be/WKqPrZ23eQQ

South Station Air Rights Project: Construction Update - September 17, 2021

View this email in your browser The following is an update on construction activity for the South Station Air Rights Project. As construction progresses into Stage 2, work will transition from the station and concourse areas into established construction work zones adjacent to Atlantic Avenue, including Track 13 on east side of the railyard and the primary Tower Work Zone. We will continue to send construction advisories to outline the project progress and schedule, as well as any passenger impacts. We also encourage you to visit the project website and check out the updated Project Photos and Documents page to see the new gallery of construction photos.  During construction, crews will continue to work as efficiently as possible to minimize impacts to the traveling public. We appreciate your patience and engagement during this time.  Construction Update - September 17, 2021 Suffolk Construction, the contractor for the South Station Air Rights Project, will continue daytime and overnight construction at South Station. Please allow extra time (5–10 minutes) as you get used to new construction zones and paths of travel at the station. Trains might arrive and depart on a different track than what is typical. Be sure to check your track number before boarding. Photo taken on September 14, 2021 showing work on the steel structure that will cover the railyard.  Activity on Tracks and Platforms The contractor is currently erecting a steel structure that will cover the entire railyard, which will support the expanded bus terminal. The next phase of steel erection has begun, and the structure (which is currently over Tracks 1-6) has begun to cover Tracks 7, 8, 9 & 10. The contractor will continue to place concrete on the new steel structure above the tracks as the structure is completed.    In the Tower Work Zone, the contractor is continuing with pre-excavation operations to support installation of the tower deep foundation elements, which will begin in October. This work will be entirely behind the construction barriers, but customers may hear work and experience vibrations from it.    In the next few weeks, a second crane will be set up to assist with the construction of the steel structure and the expansion of the bus terminal. This crane will be located between the station and the Post Office (adjacent to Track 13). Once it is operational, Track 13 will continue to operate normally during the day, but will be closed between 9:00 PM and 5:00 AM. The overhead canopy, located between Tracks 12 and 13 will be removed in October. This work will occur at night. Pedestrian travel routes will be maintained at all times and clearly delineated. There will be access to CharlieCard validators used for the Fairmount Line.   The common platform has expanded around the work zone, providing direct access to all tracks. Passengers can use the new bifold doors near Tracks 1 and 2 to access the outdoor concourse and platforms. The other sets of doors are now closed. The contractor has also completed the infill of Tracks 1 and 2, further expanding the platform. Activity in Atlantic Avenue Area A crane, located in the Atlantic Avenue Work Zone, is currently erecting the steel structure for the new bus terminal expansion and parking garage overbuild.   The lane on Atlantic Avenue formerly available for parking will continue to be used for pedestrian access around the work zone while steel erection work continues.   Commuters traveling between the South Station concourse and the South Station bus terminal are encouraged to use the Platform A walkway to bypass the expanded Atlantic Avenue Work Zone. Activity in Summer Street Plaza Area Work in this area is taking place behind construction barriers. This area serves as the main construction access for the Tower Work Zone. A uniformed police officer is stationed in the area when the gate is in use. Pedestrian travel routes will be maintained at all times and clearly delineated. There will be access to CharlieCard validators used for the Fairmount Line.  For more information: Visit the project website, www.southstationairrights.com If you have questions, please email the project team: team@southstationairrights.com  Project hotline (for complaints, emergencies, and general inquiries): 617-445-3500 The schedule for this infrastructure project is weather dependent and subject to change without notice. Please encourage your friends, colleagues, and neighbors who may be interested in this project to sign up for email alerts as well. Visit www.southstationairrights.com for more information.

South Station Air Rights · 51 Franklin St Ste 400 · Boston, MA 02110-1335 · USA

Commuter Rail notice: South Station Summer St Plaza closing

The Plaza area next to Summer Street will be closing on Monday, August 24 for the implementation of a work zone as part of the South Station Transportation Center Improvement. Please use the ramp and stairs to access South Station and the train platforms.

Affected routes:

• Framingham/Worcester Line
• Needham Line
• Franklin Line
• Fairmount Line
• Providence/Stoughton Line
• Middleborough/Lakeville Line
• Kingston/Plymouth Line
• Greenbush Line

For more information: https://www.MBTA.com/Southstation

Last Updated: Aug 11 2020 02:17 PM

Commuter Rail notice: South Station Summer St Plaza closing

South Station Air Rights Project - Construction Anticipated to Restart on May 18

• South Station Air Rights Project

Work on the South Station Air Rights Project is planned to resume on May 18. Once the schedule impacts of the COVID-19 delays can be determined, a new construction timeline will be established.

Please note that Suffolk Construction, the contractor for the South Station Air Rights Project, and its subcontractors will be maintaining full compliance with the City of Boston’s COVID-19 Safety Policies to ensure the safety of not only work crews but members of the traveling public.

• New Construction Zone to be Established

Beginning on May 18, Suffolk Construction will begin establishing a construction zone adjacent to Track 13. The contractor recently installed a new sidewalk for pedestrians to access the train platforms directly from Dorchester Avenue, providing a more direct connection for those rail passengers looking to access the Fort Point Channel area.

If you are a passenger who will be using the sidewalk from Dorchester Avenue to the rail platform, you will need to use the newly painted crosswalk to enter the station (near the end of Tracks 11 and 12). Beginning Monday, May 25, passengers will no longer have direct access to Track 13 from the alley between South Station and the Post Office, as this will be part of the construction zone.


The newsletter was shortened for publication here. To view the ful contents
https://mailchi.mp/89560e626169/south-station-air-rights-project-open-house-on-january-6442724?e=3a8a5c15a9 

South Station Air Rights Project - Construction Anticipated to Restart on May 18

MBTA Commuter Rail: track information will be removed from South Station terminal boards 1 min prior to departure

"Starting Wednesday March 18, the track information will be removed from South Station terminal boards one minute prior to departure. This is an important effort to improve passenger safety and to ensure trains depart on time. 

Be sure to allow sufficient time to safely board your train. Please follow all conductors instructions and remember that only crews are permitted to open doors."

Last Updated: Mar 10 2020 10:35 AM
https://mbta.com/schedules/CR-Franklin/alerts

a station board photo from my archives 2016

"Much of the platform will become a construction zone" at South Station

From the Boston Globe, an article of interest to Franklin Line commuters

"The tens of thousands of commuter rail and bus riders who pour through South Station every day will soon have a more complicated course through the terminal.

Construction zones will go up in and around the station and platforms as work begins this month on a 51-story tower above the railbed area where passengers board trains. Over the coming months, the open area in front of the platforms will slowly be cordoned off, as workers build an extension of the loading zone over a portion of the rails, according to detailed construction plans the Massachusetts Department of Transportation posted on a new website late Friday.

Construction zones will also be set up along the Atlantic Avenue and Summer Street side entrances to the platform areas, and work will begin on an expanded bus terminal.

By July, work will be in full swing, and passing through the station will be a very different experience."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2020/01/11/construction-zones-coming-soon-south-station-platforms/EFN7GJkEFViUaBpkZgScxI/story.html?

Rendering of the final expanded outdoor concourse area. (image from https://southstationairrights.com/)

Additional info on the MA DOT project page    https://southstationairrights.com/

South Station Construction Sequence video  https://youtu.be/zm3JNciahIM

MBTA: Starting November 20: Commuter Rail schedule changes (not for Franklin Line)

Fall/Winter Commuter Rail schedules go into effect on Monday, November 20th. Schedules are now available on mbta.com. 

Please note that Haverhill, Lowell, Framingham/Worcester, and Providence/Stoughton are the only lines with changes made to train times. 

Additionally, all lines have been updated to incorporate severe weather service information and can be viewed on mbta.com on each line's schedule page.
Paper copies of the schedules will be available in the Boston-based stations (North Station, South Station, and Back Bay) on Monday, November 13th. 

For those who utilize the MBTA Commuter Rail application, please make sure to update the schedule in your application prior to travel on November 20th. When opening the application, a prompt will appear stating that a new Commuter Rail schedule is available. Please check the update button to ensure that the new schedules have been updated in your application. 

For more information, please visit: http://www.keoliscs.com/news/mbta-keolis-announce-fall-schedules-effective-november-20/ 

Last updated: Nov 08 2017 03:01 PM

You can view/download the Franklin Line schedule here (PDF)
https://d3044s2alrsxog.cloudfront.net/sites/default/files/route_pdfs/commuter-rail-franklin-2017-11-20.pdf

Fall/Winter Commuter Rail schedules go into effect on Monday, November 20th

South Station - the end of the line or the beginning?

When you think of Boston South Station, you most likely think about catching a train or bus, commuting home, or taking a weekend trip to New York City or Providence. It would be no surprise if, like many of the 22 million passengers who passed through South Station in 2011, you primarily regard the station as a means to get where you want to go. You may also appreciate the food and amenities that South Station offers, the holiday and art displays, and the connections to the MBTA Red and Silver Lines.

Read more about the early history of South Station here
http://transportation.blog.state.ma.us/blog/2013/01/all-aboard-journey-to-the-new-south-station.html

Franklin Line Schedule Changes 10/27/08

They are adjusting the schedule to "ease congestion" and to "accommodate the recent Amtrak schedule changes".

The MBTA apologizes for the "late notification".

The changes go into effect on Monday 10/27/08. The changes will be available on the MBTA schedule page on Monday. In the meantime, you should know that:

1 - what was known as the 4:10 PM train (#715) will leave South Station at 3:55 PM (15 minutes early)
2 - what was known as the 4:30 PM train (#799) will leave South Station at 4:30 but terminate at Readville running via the Dorchester Branch.
3 - a new train (#717) will leave South Station at 4:20 PM and make stops at Back Bay, Ruggles, Hyde Park, Readville, Dedham Corp, Norwood Depot, Norwood Central, Windsor Gardens, Walpole, Norfolk, Franklin/Dean and Forge Park/495.

A PDF of the changes is available on the MBTA website here

Marry Christmas

1 - This Christmas enjoy the holiday trains from South Station:



2 - follow this link to a great Christmas story (be patient for the first commercial, the story is worth waiting for)

http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=4003490&affil=wpvi

3 - and to recognize our countrymen and women serving in the military:



Merry Christmas to one and all!


PS - thanks to Joan at Songs of Experience for the link to ABC News