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

Service changes are planned on the Green, Fitchburg, Franklin, and Lowell lines.

The December Green Line service change is the final service suspension as part of the Track Improvement Program and is expected to lift the last slow zones across all subway lines.

The MBTA today announced service changes in December on the Green, Fitchburg, Franklin, 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 @MBTA, @MBTA_CR, and @MBTA_CR_Alerts for up-to-date service information.

On the Green Line:

Green Line service will be suspended between Park Street and Union Square as well as Medford/Tufts for 15 days December 6 – 20:
- Free and accessible shuttle bus service will replace trains between North Station and Medford/Tufts.
- 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, 91, and CT2 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.
  - Riders are reminded that Route 86 service will shorten to end at Harvard Square beginning on December 15 as part of Phase 1 of Bus Network Redesign. Beginning on December 15, riders can use the new Route 109, which will run every 15 minutes or better all day from Sullivan Square through Union Square to Harvard Square.
  - Riders using shuttle buses during these service changes should budget ample extra travel time. For example, a rider travelling to Park Street from Medford/Tufts should budget at least an additional 35 minutes of travel time in addition to their regular commute.
  - Union Square riders are strongly encouraged to use local buses to Sullivan Square or Central Square for a faster travel time to downtown Boston.
- This service change is in place to work as part of the Track Improvement Program. This is the final service suspension as part of the Program and is expected to lift the last slow zones across all subway lines.

On the Fitchburg Commuter Rail Line:

Fitchburg Commuter Rail Line service will be suspended between Littleton/495 and Wachusett during the following dates:
- December 6 – 8
- December 14 – 15
  - 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 bridge inspection work and 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 Franklin Commuter Rail Line:

Franklin Commuter Rail Line service will be suspended between Forge Park/495 and Readville during the weekend of December 7 – 8.
- 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 crews to perform work as part of the East Street Bridge Replacement Project.

On the Lowell Commuter Rail Line:

Lowell Commuter Rail Line service will be suspended between North Station and Lowell during the following weekends:
- December 7 – 8
- December 21 – 22
  - 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.
Lowell Commuter Rail Line service will be suspended between Anderson/Woburn and Lowell December 14 – 15:
- A dedicated diversion schedule will be available soon on mbta.com.
- Free and accessible shuttle buses will replace train service between Anderson/Woburn and Lowell.
- Regular Commuter Rail fares should be purchased for service beyond Anderson/Woburn.
These service changes are in place to allow crews to perform fiber optic resiliency work along the Lowell Line.

The MBTA previously announced service changes in November. 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.