Blue Line Maintenance Work
The Blue Line travels nearly 6 miles from Bowdoin to Wonderland. The tracks are just a piece of the complex system that supports trains weighing hundreds of thousands of pounds—and nearly 80,000 rider trips a day.
Building a Better T
As part of our $9.6 billion, 5-year capital investment plan, we're renovating stations, modernizing fare collection systems, upgrading services for our buses, subways, and ferries, and improving the accessibility of the entire system.
What work will you be doing?
The work is part of the MBTA's $8 billion, 5-year capital improvement program. During weekend work in September 2019 at Bowdoin, our crews replaced 312 feet of track near Bowdoin for a smoother ride.
In May 2020, track replacement work will resume between Bowdoin and Airport stations. Starting in August, we will again close sections of track between Bowdoin and Airport so we can begin working on harbor tunnel improvements.
How is rail installed?
Sticks of rail, which are 39 feet long and weigh about 1,500 pounds each, are placed in a line, and then welded to each other to create a continuous welded rail section, called a “stringer.”
Stringers are installed using special equipment. Much of the new rail being installed will replace existing stringers that have worn down over the years, as well as jointed rail.
How will this work affect me?
Our crews need safe and uninterrupted access to the tracks to get this work done.
Photo Gallery
A crew member uses a torch to cut rail near Bowdoin Station.
A crew member cools down rail after track welding near Bowdoin Station.
A crew member separates joints of rail, as other workers weld rail in the background, during track replacement work near Bowdoin.
Related Projects
Building a Better T
As part of our $9.6 billion, 5-year capital investment plan, we're renovating stations, modernizing fare collection systems, upgrading services for our buses, subways, and ferries, and improving the accessibility of the entire system.