MBTA Commuter Rail
The MBTA Commuter Rail (reporting mark MBTX) system serves as the commuter rail arm of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority's (MBTA's) transportation coverage of Greater Boston in the United States. Trains run over 394 mi (634 km) of track to 134 stations. It is operated under contract by Keolis, which took over operations on July 1, 2014, from the Massachusetts Bay Commuter Railroad Company (MBCR).
| MBTA Commuter Rail | |||
|---|---|---|---|
An outbound Lowell Line train at Anderson/Woburn in 2023 | |||
| Overview | |||
| Owner | Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) | ||
| Locale | Eastern Massachusetts and central Rhode Island | ||
| Transit type | Commuter rail | ||
| Number of lines | 13 | ||
| Number of stations | 135 active; 8 currently closed | ||
| Daily ridership | 92,400 (weekdays, Q3 2023) | ||
| Annual ridership | 19,000,800 (2022) | ||
| Website | mbta | ||
| Operation | |||
| Began operation |
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| Operator(s) | Keolis Commuter Services | ||
| Reporting marks | MBTX | ||
| Number of vehicles | 110 diesel locomotives, 475 coaches | ||
| Technical | |||
| System length | 394 mi (634 km) | ||
| Track gauge | 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge | ||
| Top speed | 79 mph (127 km/h) | ||
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In 2022, the system had a ridership of 19,000,800, or about 92,400 per weekday as of the third quarter of 2023, making it the fifth-busiest commuter rail system in the U.S., behind the three New York-area systems and the Chicago-area system. The line's characteristic purple-trimmed coaches operate as far south as North Kingstown, Rhode Island, and as far north as Newburyport and as far west as Fitchburg, both in Massachusetts.
Trains originate at two major terminals in Boston – South Station and North Station. The only connection between the two halves of the system is the non-revenue Grand Junction Branch. The North–South Rail Link is a proposed tunnel between North Station and South Station to allow through-running service.