North Station
North Station | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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North Union Station) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rebuilt | 1928, 1989, 1995, January 2007 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Passengers | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2012 | 18,427 daily boardings[1] (MBTA Commuter Rail) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
FY 2022 | 346,610 annual boardings and alightings[2] (Amtrak) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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North Station is a
Description
The concourse of the station, named for longtime Boston Celtics coach and executive Red Auerbach, is located under the TD Garden arena, with two entrances from Causeway Street, as well as entrances from Nashua Street to the west. Five island platforms serving ten tracks run north from the concourse. Just north of the platforms, a pair of two-track drawbridges cross the Charles River. Eight commuter rail lines and three Amtrak services terminate at South Station about 1 mile (1.6 km) to the south, with no direct rail link between the two stations. The proposed North–South Rail Link would link the two halves of the commuter rail system, with new underground platforms at both stations.
North Station is
Lovejoy Wharf, located off Beverly Street northeast of North Station, is the
History
Previous stations
The four major northside railroads originally built separate terminal stations in Boston. The Boston and Lowell Railroad (B&L) was the first to open, with service beginning on June 24, 1835.[5]: 26 The first station was built later in 1835 along Lowell Street (now Lomasney Way) and was several blocks north of Causeway Street. A new station was built at Causeway Street east of Nashua Street in 1857, with the original depot converted to a freight house.[5]: 33 An even larger third station on the Causeway Street site, constructed of brick with towers at the front corners, was opened on November 24, 1873.[5]: 33
The Boston and Maine Railroad (B&M) opened in July 1845, with a temporary station at Canal and Traverse streets. The permanent station, opened on October 20, was between Canal and Haverhill streets and fronted on Haymarket Square. Trains had to cross busy Causeway Street to reach the station; at first, a city ordinance required the railroad to pull cars across the street with oxen rather than locomotives. In 1867, the station was extended northwards from Market Street to Traverse Street.[5]: 38
The 1843-opened
The Eastern Railroad opened in 1838 with an East Boston terminal; ferries carried passengers between there and Lewis Wharf in Boston.[5]: 17 On April 10, 1854, the railroad opened its Boston terminal on Causeway Street opposite Friend Street – west of the B&M tracks and east of the soon-to-be-built B&L station.[5]: 18 This "temporary" station was destroyed by fire on June 21, 1862.[5]: 22 The brick replacement station, completed the next year, "had a reputation of being dirty, unattractive, and uninviting."[5]: 23
North Union Station
The B&M leased the Eastern in 1884, though it continued to use its own terminal.[5]: 23 As a condition of the B&M's 1887 lease of the B&L, the state required the B&M to construct a union station for use by the combined B&M system plus the Fitchburg.[5]: 43 After years of resistance by the B&M, construction on North Union Station began in 1893.[5]: 47 The station was built as an eastward expansion of the B&L station, with a total frontage of 568 feet (173 m) on Causeway Street. The center of the new facade was an 80-foot (24 m)-high granite triumphal arch flanked by four massive columns.[5]: 50 The east side was formed by a five-story baggage and express building.[5]: 53 The station was designed by the firm of Shepley, Rutan and Coolidge, which designed South Station several years later.[6]: 129
The new station was opened in stages from August 1893 to June 1894.[5]: 50 The Eastern depot had been demolished in 1893 to allow construction to proceed.[5]: 23 The B&M depot was demolished in 1897, with the site used for the Canal Street incline of the Tremont Street subway.[5]: 42 The Fitchburg was leased by the B&M in 1900, after which the former Fitchburg depot was used as the B&M offices.[5]: 10 By that time, the station was popularly known as "North Station".[7] The former Fitchburg depot burned on January 17, 1925; it was demolished in 1926–28.[5]: 12
North Station
In 1926, the B&M began work on an expansion and modernization of the freight yards north of North Station in Somerville.[8] The next November, the railroad announced plans for a new North Station complex.[9] Demolition of the old station began the next month.[5]: 65 The partially-complete station was opened on August 19, 1928; it was formally opened on November 14, 1928 – one year after the original announcement.[5]: 74
The new station had 22 tracks paired around island platforms, largely similar to its previous configuration.[5]: 72 The concourse was topped with the Boston Garden arena, with a 14-story office building to the east and a hotel to the west. (Early plans had called for these to be integrated into the station like the arena.[6]: 156 ) The complex fronted on Causeway Street for 700 feet (210 m) from Nashua Street to Beverly Street.[10] A project lasting from August 26, 1930 to mid-1931 rebuilt the approach to the station, with four new drawbridges crossing a relocated Charles River channel.[5]: 76
Until the 1960s, the station was the hub for
Prior interstate train service from North Station:
Name | Final B & M station at peak level | Partner railroad in continuing joint train service | Final destination | Year discontinued |
---|---|---|---|---|
The Minute Man | Troy, New York via Fitchburg, Massachusetts and Greenfield, Massachusetts | New York Central |
Chicago, Illinois |
1957 |
The Cheshire | Bellows Falls, Vermont via Fitchburg, Massachusetts and Keene, New Hampshire | - | - | 1958 |
Green Mountain Flyer | Bellows Falls, Vermont | Rutland Railway |
Montreal, Quebec |
1953 |
Mount Royal | Bellows Falls, Vermont | Rutland Railway |
Montreal, Quebec |
1953 |
Ambassador[15] | White River Junction, Vermont via Lowell, Massachusetts and Concord, New Hampshire |
Central Vermont Railway | Essex Junction, Vermont, Montreal, Quebec | 1956 |
Alouette[16] | Wells River, Vermont via Lowell, Massachusetts and Concord, New Hampshire | Canadian Pacific Railway | Montreal, Quebec | 1956 (unnamed train from 1956–1965) |
Connecticut Yankee | Travelling as the Red Wing via Concord, New Hampshire and Plymouth, New Hampshire, then connecting with main route from New York City at White River Junction, Vermont | Central Vermont Railway Quebec Central Railway |
Sherbrooke, Quebec |
c. 1952 |
Flying Yankee | Portland, Maine via Dover, New Hampshire | Maine Central Railroad | Bangor, Maine | 1957 |
The Gull[16] | Portland, Maine | Maine Central Railroad Canadian Pacific Railway Canadian National Railway |
Halifax, Nova Scotia via Saint John, New Brunswick | 1960 |
Kennebec Limited | Portland, Maine | Maine Central Railroad | Vanceboro, Maine | 1958 |
Mountaineer (summer only) | White Mountains |
Maine Central Railroad | Intervale, New Hampshire | 1955 |
Penobscot | Portland, Maine | Maine Central Railroad | Bangor, Maine | 1957 |
Pine Tree Limited | Portland, Maine | Maine Central Railroad | Bangor, Maine | 1958 |
Red Wing | Wells River, Vermont via Lowell, Massachusetts and Concord, New Hampshire | Canadian Pacific Railway | Montreal, Quebec | 1959 |
MBTA era
New station
On January 20, 1984, a fire destroyed the wooden trestles leading to the North Station drawbridges. Temporary terminals were soon established: Haverhill/Reading trains terminated at Oak Grove, Rockport/Ipswich trains at a temporary platform at Sullivan, and Lowell and Gardner trains at a temporary station near Lechmere.[14] On June 28, 1984, the MBTA awarded a $11.3 million contract for construction of replacement trestles plus new tracks and platforms.[17] The rebuilt station opened on April 20, 1985.[14] On March 29, 1989, the MBTA awarded a $13.7 million construction contract to raise the five commuter rail platforms for accessibility.[17] (Until then, a modified forklift was used as a mobile lift.)[18] Groundbreaking was held for the underground garage on June 25, 1990, followed by the platform project on July 12.[17] However, the nearest accessible subway transfer was State station over half a mile away; not until 2001 were the North Station and Haymarket subway stations made accessible.[18]
In February 1993, the state reached a deal with a developer for the replacement of the aging Boston Garden. In exchange for the land and easements to construct the FleetCenter, the developer would construct a new train shed and waiting area on the ground floor of the new arena. The MBTA would also be granted easements for a Green Line tunnel under the arena to replace the Causeway Street Elevated, for a combined underground "superstation" for the Green and Orange lines, and for pedestrian access to North Station.[19] The FleetCenter, North Station concourse, and garage opened in 1995.[20][21]
Two
In 2001, intercity service returned to North Station with Amtrak's Downeaster to Portland, Maine (later extended to Brunswick), using the Lowell and Haverhill lines to the New Hampshire border. It has become one of the more popular routes in New England.[14] Due in part to this, North Station was the 24th busiest Amtrak station in the country in fiscal 2019, and the sixth busiest in New England (behind South Station, Providence, New Haven Union, Back Bay and Route 128).[25]
In April 2006, the MBTA announced plans for an enlargement of the waiting area at North Station.
Boston Garden Towers changes
Beginning in early 2016, Boston Properties built 'The Hub On Causeway', a mixed-use development including two towers, on the former Boston Garden site. The development included a new entrance to the rail station from Causeway Street opposite Canal Street, plus an underground passageway from the rail station to the subway station.[30][31] The passageway opened on January 6, 2019.[32]
Installation of fare gates on the North Station concourse began on March 24, 2022.[33][34] The gates were activated on October 1, 2022.[35]
Drawbridge replacement
The two aging two-track
References
- ^ Central Transportation Planning Staff (2019). "2018 Commuter Rail Counts". Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority.
- ^ "Amtrak Fact Sheet, Fiscal Year 2022: Commonwealth of Massachusetts" (PDF). Amtrak. June 2023. Retrieved August 30, 2023.
- ^ a b "North Station Neighborhood Map" (PDF). Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. April 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 20, 2016. Retrieved November 25, 2015.
- ^ "Water Transport: Water Shuttles and Water Taxis". Massachusetts Port Authority. Archived from the original on July 2, 2017. Retrieved December 8, 2015.
- ^ ISBN 1-884650-03-1.
- ^ ISBN 0-300-00764-7.
- ^ Chasson, George Jr. (1987). Lonto, Arthur J. (ed.). "Boston's Main Line El: The Formative Years 1879–1908". Headlights. 49. Electric Railroader's Association: 11.
- ^ "Hopes to Complete New Terminal in Two Years". Boston Globe. October 28, 1926. p. 36 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "B. & M. R. R. Announces Vast Building Plans". Boston Globe. November 15, 1927. pp. 1, 15 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Atlas of the City of Boston. G.W. Bromley & Co. 1938. Plate 6 – via Ward Maps.[permanent dead link]
- ^ Boston & Maine September 1937 timetable
- ^ Boston & Maine April 1946 timetable
- ^ 'Official Guide of the Railways,' June 1961, Boston & Maine section
- ^ a b c d e f Belcher, Jonathan. "Changes to Transit Service in the MBTA district" (PDF). Boston Street Railway Association.
- ^ "White River Junction, Vt. and Area, 1964–65 and 2000". Trainweb.org. September 2002.
- ^ a b VanBokkelen, James. "Run-Through Passenger Trains in New England". Far Acres Farm. Retrieved April 2, 2017.
- ^ a b c Sanborn, George M. (1992). A Chronicle of the Boston Transit System. Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. Archived from the original on 2015-08-18. Retrieved 2019-10-29 – via Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
- ^ a b Ackerman, Jerry (March 8, 1989). "T pressured to open all routes to accessible". Boston Globe. pp. 1, 16 – via Newspapers.com. (second page, third page)
- ^ "Chapter 0015: An Act Furthering The Establishment Of Multipurpose Arena And Transportation Center". Acts and Resolves. Massachusetts General Court. February 26, 1993. pp. 23–33.
- ^ "Boston – North Station, MA (BON)". Great American Stations. Amtrak.
- ^ INDEPENDENT STATE AUDITOR'S REPORT ON CERTAIN ACTIVITIES OF THE MASSACHUSETTS BAY TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY: JULY 1, 1995 TO JUNE 30, 2002 (PDF) (Report). Auditor of the Commonwealth. March 28, 2003.
- ^ a b "Lovejoy Ferry Service Ends" (PDF). TRANSreport. Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization: 3. January 2005. Retrieved November 25, 2015.
- ^ a b Ridership and Service Statistics (PDF) (13 ed.). Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 13, 2011.
- ^ Vaccaro, Adam (January 4, 2019). "Boston will get a new ferry soon, but only for some people". Boston Globe.
- ^ "Amtrak Company Profile (FY 2019)" (PDF). Amtrak. March 31, 2019. p. 2. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
- ^ "North Station Concourse To More Than Double In Size" (Press release). Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. April 26, 2006.
- ^ "North Station Improvement Project". Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. Archived from the original on February 16, 2007.
- ^ "North Station Concourse Doubles In Size" (Press release). Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. February 7, 2007.
- ^ "New Train Announcement Boards Activated at North Station" (Press release). Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. November 14, 2007.
- ^ Carlock, Caroline (November 5, 2015). "Boston Properties clears major hurdle for ambitious Boston Garden project". Boston Business Journal. Retrieved November 25, 2015.
- ^ Epsilon Associates, Inc. (September 6, 2013). "Expanded Project Notification Form: The Boston Garden". Boston Redevelopment Authority. Retrieved November 25, 2015.
- ^ Smyth, Sean (January 6, 2019). "Underground tunnel connecting North Station commuter rail, T stations is now open". Boston Globe.
- ^ "Report from the General Manager" (PDF). Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. February 24, 2022. p. 12.
- ^ MBTA Commuter Rail [@MBTA_CR] (March 24, 2022). "🚧 Attention riders! Beginning Thursday, March 24, two sections of the North Station concourse will be blocked off for the first phase of fare gate construction. Construction will include removal of flooring & installation of electrical needed to power the gates" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ "Commuter Rail to Begin Operating Fare Gates at North Station on October 1" (Press release). Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. September 23, 2022.
- ^ a b "North Station Draw One Bridge Replacement: Project Overview Spring 2023" (PDF). Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. May 2023.
- ^ "Commuter Rail Schedules Initiative: North Side" (PDF). Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. October 6, 2015. p. 13. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 2, 2017. Retrieved October 14, 2016.
- ^ "MBTA Contract No. Q60CN01: North Station Terminal Area Signal System Improvements" (PDF). Retrieved 29 December 2019.
- ^ "North Station Terminal Area Signal System Improvement Project". Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. Retrieved November 29, 2022.