Framingham–Worcester Line
Worcester Union Station
Looking northwest towards the DCU Center in the distance
FraminghamWorcester LineMBTAWorcester LineWorcester Union Stationcommuter railtrain stations
Boston Landing
The Everett St. overpass predates the station here; it was built as a part of the Massachusetts Turnpike Extension in the 1960s, which destroyed much of the original four-track railroad and squeezed what remained into a narrow right-of-way to the south of the highway. The headhouse at center serves one of two elevators to the station platform.
Boston Landing
Looking west from the Everett St. overpass at the elevator headhouse and the Turnpike; the New Balance building, part of the larger "Boston Landing" development which funded the station and from which it takes its name, is seen at center in the background.
Boston Landing
The original Boston & Albany station in this part of Allston-Brighton was located where Market St. crosses the line, about a half-mile to the west of Everett St. where the modern-day Boston Landing station entrance is located. Another entrance is located at the west end of the platform.
Boston Landing
Like most new commuter-rail stations, Boston Landing is a center-platform station; this is the east end of the platform, looking toward the John Hancock Tower on Clarendon St. in the Back Bay far off in the distance. Like all new stations, this one is 100% high-platform.
Boston Landing
Codes require that new center-platform stations have an "area of refuge" allowing disabled passengers to escape the platform area in event of a fire or other emergency situation that renders the elevators inoperable. Boston Landing has one at each end of the platform; this is the east one.
Boston Landing
Looking west at the entrance stairway and Everett St. The strip mall at left, across the tracks, contains a Home Goods and a Stop & Shop supermarket; it was built in the 1990s and is slated to be replaced by a future phase of the Boston Landing development.
Boston Landing
The station environment is extremely noisy due to the lack of a barrier between the Turnpike and the railroad. Looking west here along the "outbound" platform.
Boston Landing
At the west end of the platform, stairs and another elevator allow passengers to cross the tracks and access the current phase 1 Boston Landing development.
Boston Landing
Another area of refuge west of the platform, with the New Balance building at top left.
Boston Landing
The bypass track at far right was used only during construction and no longer connects to anything on the east end (where CSX Beacon Park yard used to be).
Boston Landing
Looking east from the west end of the platform toward the Everett St. overpass.
Lansdowne station
Formerly known as Yawkey station, after Boston Red Sox owners Tom and Jean Yawkey, this station was renamed Lansdowne in the late 2010s after a reappraisal of the Yawkeys' history of racism — at the same time, nearby Yawkey Way was renamed David Ortiz Drive and the Morse code "TAY" and "JRY" were removed from the Fenway Park scoreboard. Originally a single low-platform station receiving service only around Sox games, Yawkey/Lansdowne was completely reconstructed in the 2010s as a fully accessible station with bidirectional weekday service. The reconstruction was partially funded by Fenway Center, the air-rights deverlopment seen under construction here; phase 1 of Fenway Center, constructed 2017–20, included a residential tower and the street-level deck over the inbound platform, at right. The completed development will deck ober the Turnpike from Beacon St., at left, all the way to Brookline Ave., center background.
Fenway CenterFraminghamWorcester LineKenmore SquareMBTAtrain stations
Lansdowne station
As a part of their air-rights agreement, the Fenway Center developers connected the mid-platform crossover of the station to Beacon St. with a landscaped walkway.
Fenway CenterFraminghamWorcester LineKenmore SquareMBTAtrain stations
Lansdowne station
Skyline view from the east end of the upper level of the station
Fenway CenterFraminghamWorcester LineKenmore SquareMBTAtrain stations
Lansdowne station
Looking east down the stairs to street level
Fenway CenterFraminghamWorcester LineKenmore SquareMBTAtrain stations
Lansdowne station
Looking west towards the Beacon St. overpass, which is partially closed for the Fenway Center construction
Fenway CenterFraminghamWorcester LineKenmore SquareMBTAtrain stations
Lansdowne station
Looking down at the east end of the outbound platform towards the David Ortiz (Brookline Ave.) Bridge. Construction work at left is constructing the foundation for phase 2 of Fenway Center, a deck over the freeway which will support lab/office and retail buildings and connect Beacon St. to Brookline Ave.
Fenway CenterFraminghamWorcester LineKenmore SquareMBTAtrain stations
Lansdowne station
Lansdowne has an unusual two-platform setup, with one normal side platform and a center platform that only serves one track. In the distance, Back Bay skyscrapers and Fenway Park at far right.
Fenway CenterFraminghamWorcester LineKenmore SquareMBTAtrain stations
Lansdowne station
This stairway feels really temporary. And what's with all the rusted-out lampposts? — this station is only a decade old!
Fenway CenterFraminghamWorcester LineKenmore SquareMBTAtrain stations
Lansdowne station
They fixed the station name on the signs but didn't update the map, which is already quote outdated.
Fenway CenterFraminghamWorcester LineKenmore SquareMBTAmapstrain stations
Lansdowne station
Fenway Park on the other side of Brookline Ave.
Fenway CenterFenway ParkFraminghamWorcester LineKenmore SquareMBTAtrain stations
Lansdowne station
Looking east from the end of the outbound platform towards the Prudential Tunnel and Back Bay Station. In the distance, at the Mass. Ave. overpass, a crane constructs another air-rights development in front of the Transit Building.
Fenway CenterFraminghamWorcester LineKenmore SquareMBTAtrain stations
Lansdowne station
This can't be a legal amount of wheelchair clearance past this stair, can it?
Fenway CenterFraminghamWorcester LineKenmore SquareMBTAtrain stations
Lansdowne station
Looking west along the outbound platform past the station elevators toward the Beacon St. overpass
Fenway CenterFraminghamWorcester LineKenmore SquareMBTAtrain stations
Lansdowne station
David Ortiz Drive entrance to the station, perfectly placed for inbound passengers to get to Fenway Park
Fenway CenterFraminghamWorcester LineKenmore SquareMBTAtrain stations
MBTA Worcester Layover
Seen from the 45 Shrewsbury St. commuter parking lot
FraminghamWorcester LineMBTAWorcester Union Stationcommuter railtrain stationstrains
MBTA Worcester Layover
MBTA F40PH-3C #1064 and a weekday consist of bilevel coaches waits for Monday morning. Note the "shore power" cables connected at the front so the diesel engine does not need to idle to keep the engine lubricated overnight.
FraminghamWorcester LineMBTAWorcester Union Stationcommuter railtrain stationstrains
Worcester Union Station
Part of the upper commuter parking lot has been converted to a construction laydown yard, leaving just the accessible spaces.
AmtrakFraminghamWorcester LineMBTAWorcester Union Stationcommuter railtrain stationstrains
Worcester Union Station
Temporary stairs up to the temporary platform
AmtrakFraminghamWorcester LineMBTAWorcester Union Stationcommuter railtrain stationstrains
Worcester Union Station
Wheelchair ramp up to the temporary platform. Wheelchair users have to travel quite a distance relative to the old location.
AmtrakFraminghamWorcester LineMBTAWorcester Union Stationcommuter railtrain stationstrains
Worcester Union Station
Note the original platform track is now out of service, and a new concrete foundation supports the temporary platform at right.
AmtrakFraminghamWorcester LineMBTAWorcester Union Stationcommuter railtrain stationstrains
Worcester Union Station
Looking east along the temporary platform
AmtrakFraminghamWorcester LineMBTAWorcester Union Stationcommuter railtrain stationstrains
Worcester Union Station
Fencing blocks off the old low-level platform, while most of the platform track and substructure has already been lifted in preparation for reconstruction.
AmtrakFraminghamWorcester LineMBTAWorcester Union Stationcommuter railtrain stationstrains
Worcester Union Station
Long before Union Station was made accessible, there were multiple platforms, and passengers would cross the tracks at grade to board on the more southerly tracks. The new center platform will be located about where the old platform was, but the tracks will have to be shifted a bit to provide sufficient horizontal clearance.
AmtrakFraminghamWorcester LineMBTAWorcester Union Stationcommuter railtrain stationstrains
Worcester Union Station
The path of travel from the station proper to the commuter parking lot was not accessible, but this was not a problem since the high-level platform was located right at the station. Before demolition began, the construction contractor dunped enough asphalt along the walkway to make it safe for temporary use. This path will no longer be open to the public after construction is finished.
AmtrakFraminghamWorcester LineMBTAWorcester Union Stationcommuter railtrain stationstrains
Worcester Union Station
It's a loooooong walk to the temporary platform from Union Station.
AmtrakFraminghamWorcester LineMBTAWorcester Union Stationcommuter railtrain stationstrains
Worcester Union Station
Construction equipment stopped in the trackway next to the old (under-length) high-level platform, the curvature of which presents an issue for present accessibility standards.
AmtrakFraminghamWorcester LineMBTAWorcester Union Stationcommuter railtrain stationstrains
Worcester Union Station
By a total coincidence, the westbound Amtrak Lake Shore Limited (train #449) pulled into the station just as I was getting ready to head home — which I guess explains all the people waiting on the platform.
AmtrakFraminghamWorcester LineMBTAWorcester Union Stationcommuter railtrain stationstrains
Worcester Union Station
Today's Lake Shore Limited is led by two GE P42DC locomotives, road numbers 112 and 88.
AmtrakFraminghamWorcester LineMBTAWorcester Union Stationcommuter railtrain stationstrains
Worcester Union Station
Last door of the train hanging off the end of the platform
AmtrakFraminghamWorcester LineMBTAWorcester Union Stationcommuter railtrain stationstrains
Worcester Union Station
This is a very interesting version of the "spider" map, dated 2022: it shows Lansdowne station (not Yawkey), but it also shows Mishawum station (which is no longer on the schedule and was supposed to be permanently closed when its mini-high platforms were patrially demolished). It shows Winchester, which is closed for reconstruction, but not South Attleboro, which is also closed for reconstruction (although in a less advanced phase of procurement). And of course it shows the full Green Line Extension as if it was open.
AmtrakFraminghamWorcester LineMBTAWorcester Union Stationcommuter railmapstrain stationstrains
