Lowell Line
Encyclopedia
The Lowell Line is a railroad line of the MBTA Commuter Rail
system, running north from Boston to Lowell, Massachusetts
. Originally built as the Boston and Lowell Railroad
, and later operated as part of the Boston and Maine Railroad
's Southern Division, the line was one of the first railroads in North America and the first major one in Massachusetts.
The Boston & Lowell Railroad started freight operations in 1835, with traffic from the Lowell mills to the Boston port. Demand for the express passenger service exceeded expectations, and in 1842 local service was added as well.
The line north of Lowell was first owned by the Boston, Concord & Montreal Railroad, which was chartered in 1844. Trackage was completed as far as Wells River, Vermont
, in 1853. The Boston and Maine acquired the railroad in 1895. The line served as the route for Boston to Montreal
service during the Golden Age of Rail (roughly 1880 to 1930). The Ambassador, the train from Boston to Montreal, ran through Concord, New Hampshire
, along this line until the mid-1960s. This line, along with the New Englander, via Concord, White River Junction
, Montpelier
, ran through the northwestern section of Vermont prior to entering Quebec
, Canada. The Alouette and Red Wing trains travelled to Montreal via Concord, Wells River and Newport
in northeastern Vermont prior to entering Quebec. (The route via Wells River, St. Johnsbury
and Newport was the more direct route of the two itineraries.) For this itinerary the Montreal route was marketed as an Air-line railroad.
Boston and Maine passenger service to Boston on the line was shortened from Nashua, New Hampshire
to Lowell in 1967.
In 1973 the MBTA
bought the Lowell line, along with the Haverhill and all other local Greater Boston passenger lines. Along with the sale, the B&M contracted to run the passenger service on the Lowell line for the MBTA. After bankruptcy, The B&M continued to run and fulfill its Commuter Rail
contract under the protection of the United States Bankruptcy Court
, in the hopes that a reorganization could make it profitable again. It emerged from the court's protection when newly-formed Guilford Transportation Industries (GTI) bought it in 1983.
For about thirteen months in 1980-81, daily passenger service was provided to Concord. Two round-trips were operated on each weekday and one on weekend days. Originally, there were intermediate stops in Manchester
and Nashua. A stop in Merrimack
was added later. The service was discontinued when Federal funding was withdrawn.
When GTI bought the B&M, commuter rail service was in jeopardy. The MBTA had owned the trains and the tracks since 1973, but it had outsourced the operation to the B&M. Amtrak took over commuter rail operations in 1986, and in 2003, operations shifted to the MBCR.
and include stations in North Chelmsford
and Tyngsborough
en route, for the sake of commuters in those towns.
In January 2011, a bill was introduced into the New Hampshire legislature to end the proposed extension and give up a potential $4.1 million grant into its planning.
The MBTA is planning a Green Line extension
through Somerville and part of Medford. One branch of the extension would follow the right of way of the Lowell Line into Medford. Several stations once existed along that section of the line, but none are in operation any longer.
.
MBTA Commuter Rail
The MBTA Commuter Rail serves as the regional rail arm of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, in the United States. It is operated under contract by the Massachusetts Bay Commuter Railroad Company a joint partnership of Veolia Transportation, Bombardier Transportation and Alternate...
system, running north from Boston to Lowell, Massachusetts
Lowell, Massachusetts
Lowell is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, USA. According to the 2010 census, the city's population was 106,519. It is the fourth largest city in the state. Lowell and Cambridge are the county seats of Middlesex County...
. Originally built as the Boston and Lowell Railroad
Boston and Lowell Railroad
The Boston and Lowell Railroad is a historic railroad that operated in Massachusetts. It was one of the first railroads in North America and the first major one in the state...
, and later operated as part of the Boston and Maine Railroad
Boston and Maine Railroad
The Boston and Maine Corporation , known as the Boston and Maine Railroad until 1964, was the dominant railroad of the northern New England region of the United States for a century...
's Southern Division, the line was one of the first railroads in North America and the first major one in Massachusetts.
History
The line north of Lowell was first owned by the Boston, Concord & Montreal Railroad, which was chartered in 1844. Trackage was completed as far as Wells River, Vermont
Wells River, Vermont
Wells River is a village in the town of Newbury in Orange County, Vermont, United States. The population was 325 at the 2000 census. The village center is located at the junction of U.S...
, in 1853. The Boston and Maine acquired the railroad in 1895. The line served as the route for Boston to Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
service during the Golden Age of Rail (roughly 1880 to 1930). The Ambassador, the train from Boston to Montreal, ran through Concord, New Hampshire
Concord, New Hampshire
The city of Concord is the capital of the state of New Hampshire in the United States. It is also the county seat of Merrimack County. As of the 2010 census, its population was 42,695....
, along this line until the mid-1960s. This line, along with the New Englander, via Concord, White River Junction
White River Junction, Vermont
White River Junction is an unincorporated village and census-designated place in the town of Hartford in Windsor County, Vermont, United States...
, Montpelier
Montpelier, Vermont
Montpelier is a city in the U.S. state of Vermont that serves as the state capital and the shire town of Washington County. As the capital of Vermont, Montpelier is the site of the Vermont State House, seat of the legislative branch of Vermont government. The population was 7,855 at the 2010...
, ran through the northwestern section of Vermont prior to entering Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
, Canada. The Alouette and Red Wing trains travelled to Montreal via Concord, Wells River and Newport
Newport (city), Vermont
Newport is a city in and the shire town of Orleans County, Vermont, United States. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 5,005. The city contains the largest population of any government in the county, yet encompasses the smallest area....
in northeastern Vermont prior to entering Quebec. (The route via Wells River, St. Johnsbury
St. Johnsbury, Vermont
St. Johnsbury is the shire town of Caledonia County, Vermont, United States. The population was 7,571 at the 2000 census. St. Johnsbury is located approximately northwest of the Connecticut River and south of the Canadian border.St...
and Newport was the more direct route of the two itineraries.) For this itinerary the Montreal route was marketed as an Air-line railroad.
Boston and Maine passenger service to Boston on the line was shortened from Nashua, New Hampshire
Nashua, New Hampshire
-Climate:-Demographics:As of the census of 2010, there were 86,494 people, 35,044 households, and 21,876 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,719.9 people per square mile . There were 37,168 housing units at an average density of 1,202.8 per square mile...
to Lowell in 1967.
In 1973 the MBTA
Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority
The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, often referred to as the MBTA or simply The T, is the public operator of most bus, subway, commuter rail and ferry systems in the greater Boston, Massachusetts, area. Officially a "body politic and corporate, and a political subdivision" of the...
bought the Lowell line, along with the Haverhill and all other local Greater Boston passenger lines. Along with the sale, the B&M contracted to run the passenger service on the Lowell line for the MBTA. After bankruptcy, The B&M continued to run and fulfill its Commuter Rail
MBTA Commuter Rail
The MBTA Commuter Rail serves as the regional rail arm of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, in the United States. It is operated under contract by the Massachusetts Bay Commuter Railroad Company a joint partnership of Veolia Transportation, Bombardier Transportation and Alternate...
contract under the protection of the United States Bankruptcy Court
United States bankruptcy court
United States bankruptcy courts are courts created under Article I of the United States Constitution. They function as units of the district courts and have subject-matter jurisdiction over bankruptcy cases. The federal district courts have original and exclusive jurisdiction over all cases arising...
, in the hopes that a reorganization could make it profitable again. It emerged from the court's protection when newly-formed Guilford Transportation Industries (GTI) bought it in 1983.
For about thirteen months in 1980-81, daily passenger service was provided to Concord. Two round-trips were operated on each weekday and one on weekend days. Originally, there were intermediate stops in Manchester
Manchester, New Hampshire
Manchester is the largest city in the U.S. state of New Hampshire, the tenth largest city in New England, and the largest city in northern New England, an area comprising the states of Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont. It is in Hillsborough County along the banks of the Merrimack River, which...
and Nashua. A stop in Merrimack
Merrimack, New Hampshire
Merrimack is a town in Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 25,494 at the 2010 census, making it the eighth-largest municipality in New Hampshire....
was added later. The service was discontinued when Federal funding was withdrawn.
When GTI bought the B&M, commuter rail service was in jeopardy. The MBTA had owned the trains and the tracks since 1973, but it had outsourced the operation to the B&M. Amtrak took over commuter rail operations in 1986, and in 2003, operations shifted to the MBCR.
Expansions
As of 2011, there is a current debate over whether or not to expand the Lowell line to Nashua, New HampshireNashua, New Hampshire
-Climate:-Demographics:As of the census of 2010, there were 86,494 people, 35,044 households, and 21,876 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,719.9 people per square mile . There were 37,168 housing units at an average density of 1,202.8 per square mile...
and include stations in North Chelmsford
North Chelmsford, Massachusetts
North Chelmsford is an unincorporated village in the town of Chelmsford, Massachusetts, United States. Although North Chelmsford has its own zip code , library, post office, police station, fire station, and local calling area, it is run by the same local town government and is part of the same...
and Tyngsborough
Tyngsborough, Massachusetts
Tyngsborough is a town located in the northwest section of Middlesex County, Massachusetts. Composed of of land and surface water, Tyngsborough borders the towns of Dunstable, Groton, Westford, Chelmsford, Dracut, and the City of Lowell, as well as the New Hampshire communities of Hudson,...
en route, for the sake of commuters in those towns.
In January 2011, a bill was introduced into the New Hampshire legislature to end the proposed extension and give up a potential $4.1 million grant into its planning.
The MBTA is planning a Green Line extension
Green Line (MBTA)
The Green Line is a streetcar system run by the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority in the Boston, Massachusetts area of the United States. It is the oldest line of Boston's subway, which is known locally as the 'T'. The Green Line runs underground downtown and on the surface in outlying...
through Somerville and part of Medford. One branch of the extension would follow the right of way of the Lowell Line into Medford. Several stations once existed along that section of the line, but none are in operation any longer.
Station listing
Operating stations are shaded in purple.| Milepost | City | Station | Opening date | Connections and notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | Boston | North Station | Orange Line Orange Line (MBTA) The Orange Line is one of the four subway lines of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. It extends from Forest Hills in Jamaica Plain, Boston in the south to Oak Grove in Malden, Massachusetts in the north. It meets the Red Line at Downtown Crossing, the Blue Line at State, and the Green... and Green Line Green Line (MBTA) The Green Line is a streetcar system run by the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority in the Boston, Massachusetts area of the United States. It is the oldest line of Boston's subway, which is known locally as the 'T'. The Green Line runs underground downtown and on the surface in outlying... MBTA Commuter Rail MBTA Commuter Rail The MBTA Commuter Rail serves as the regional rail arm of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, in the United States. It is operated under contract by the Massachusetts Bay Commuter Railroad Company a joint partnership of Veolia Transportation, Bombardier Transportation and Alternate... north-side lines Amtrak Amtrak The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union... Downeaster Downeaster The Downeaster is a 116-mile regional passenger train service managed by the Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority and operated by Amtrak, connecting North Station in Boston, Massachusetts, to Portland, Maine... service to Maine |
|
| Boston Engine Terminal | A flag stop with a wooden platform for MBTA employees | |||
| MBTA Fitchburg Line Fitchburg Line The Fitchburg Line is an MBTA line that runs from Boston's North Station to Fitchburg, Massachusetts. The line is along the tracks of the former Fitchburg Railroad, which was a railroad line across northern Massachusetts, United States, leading to and through the Hoosac Tunnel. It is one of the... , Haverhill/Reading Line Haverhill/Reading Line The Haverhill Line is a branch of the MBTA Commuter Rail system, running north from downtown Boston, Massachusetts through the cities and towns ofMalden,Melrose,Wakefield,Reading,Wilmington,Andover,... and Newburyport/Rockport Line Newburyport/Rockport Line The Newburyport/Rockport Line is a branch of the MBTA Commuter Rail system, running northeast from downtown Boston, Massachusetts towards Cape Ann and the Merrimack Valley, serving the North Shore. The first leg serves Chelsea, Lynn, Swampscott, Salem, and Beverly. From there, a northern branch of... split |
||||
| Cambridge Cambridge, Massachusetts Cambridge is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, in the Greater Boston area. It was named in honor of the University of Cambridge in England, an important center of the Puritan theology embraced by the town's founders. Cambridge is home to two of the world's most prominent... |
East Cambridge | closed on the old alignment, west of the current route |
||
| 1.9 | Somerville Somerville, Massachusetts Somerville is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, located just north of Boston. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 75,754 and was the most densely populated municipality in New England. It is also the 17th most densely populated incorporated place in... |
Prospect Hill | closed originally Milk Row |
|
| 2.4 | Winter Hill | closed | ||
| 2.8 | Somerville Junction | closed originally Somerville split with Lexington and Arlington Branch |
||
| 3.6 | North Somerville | closed | ||
| 4.0 | Medford Medford, Massachusetts Medford is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, in the United States, on the Mystic River, five miles northwest of downtown Boston. In the 2010 U.S. Census, Medford's population was 56,173... |
Tufts University | November 1976 (reopening) | closed October 1979 originally College Hill |
| 4.6 | Medford Hillside | closed | ||
| 5.5 | West Medford West Medford (MBTA station) West Medford station is located at 481 High Street as it passes through West Medford Square in Medford, Massachusetts, a suburb of Boston. It is on the MBTA Lowell Line.... |
originally Medford Gates (in 1835) | ||
| 7.3 | Winchester Winchester, Massachusetts Winchester is a town located in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, eight miles north of Boston. With its agricultural roots having mostly disappeared, it is now an affluent suburb... |
Wedgemere Wedgemere (MBTA station) Wedgemere is a passenger rail station on MBTA Commuter Rail's Lowell Line. Wedgemere and the following station, Winchester Center, are, according to town legend, two of the closest-together railway stations in the world. The two stations are about 2500 feet apart... |
originally Mystic | |
| 7.8 | Winchester Center Winchester Center (MBTA station) Winchester Center is a passenger rail station on MBTA Commuter Rail's Lowell Line.-External links:* * *... |
split with Woburn Branch Woburn Branch Railroad The Woburn Branch Railroad was a branch line of the Boston and Lowell Railroad that connected the city square in Woburn, Massachusetts to the main line.... |
||
| 9.0 | Winchester Highlands | closed June 1978 | ||
| 9.8 | Woburn Woburn, Massachusetts Woburn is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, USA. The population was 38,120 at the 2010 census. Woburn is located north of Boston, Massachusetts, and just south of the intersection of I-93 and I-95.- History :... |
Montvale | closed split with Stoneham Branch |
|
| Lechmere Warehouse | 1979 | closed 1996 | ||
| 10.5 | Walnut Hill | closed January 17, 1965 | ||
| 11.6 | Mishawum Mishawum (MBTA station) Mishawum is a passenger rail station on MBTA Commuter Rail's Lowell Line. Currently trains only stop at the station 6 times a day Monday through Friday, there are no stops on Saturday or Sunday.Here is the current schedule:... |
September 24, 1984 (reopening) | originally East Woburn; limited reverse commute service only | |
| 12.7 | Anderson Regional Transportation Center Anderson Regional Transportation Center Anderson Regional Transportation Center is a train and bus station located at 100 Atlantic Ave., off Commerce Way in Woburn, Massachusetts, a suburb of Boston. It can be accessed from Exit 37C off Interstate 93 or the Washington Street exit off Interstate 95/Route 128. It opened on April 28, 2001,... |
April 28, 2001 | Amtrak Amtrak The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union... Downeaster Downeaster The Downeaster is a 116-mile regional passenger train service managed by the Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority and operated by Amtrak, connecting North Station in Boston, Massachusetts, to Portland, Maine... service to Maine originally South Wilmington (had been open previously) |
|
| 15.2 | Wilmington Wilmington, Massachusetts Wilmington is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 22,325 at the 2010 census.-History:Wilmington was first settled in 1665 and was officially incorporated in 1730, from parts of Woburn, Reading and Billerica. Minutemen from Wilmington responded to the alarm... |
Wilmington Wilmington (MBTA station) Wilmington station is located at 405 Main Street at its intersection with Church Street Wilmington, Massachusetts, a suburb of Boston. The station serves trains on the MBTA's Lowell Line, and some trains from the Haverhill Line via the Wildcat Branch... |
split with Wildcat Branch Wildcat Branch The Wildcat Branch is a single track railroad branch line which connects the MBTA Lowell Line in Wilmington, Massachusetts to the MBTA Haverhill/Reading Line at Wilmington Junction... , carrying the Amtrak Amtrak The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union... Downeaster Downeaster The Downeaster is a 116-mile regional passenger train service managed by the Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority and operated by Amtrak, connecting North Station in Boston, Massachusetts, to Portland, Maine... service (without stopping here) |
|
| 17.0 | Silver Lake | closed June 27, 1965? | ||
| Billerica Billerica, Massachusetts Billerica is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 40,243 at the 2010 census. It is the only town named Billerica in the United States and borrows its name from the town of Billericay in Essex, England.- History :... |
East Billerica | closed June 27, 1965 | ||
| 21.8 | North Billerica North Billerica (MBTA station) North Billerica is a passenger rail station on MBTA Commuter Rail's Lowell Line, located in North Billerica, Massachusetts and serves close to 300,000 commuters.-History:... |
junction with Billerica and Bedford Branch | ||
| 24.6 | Lowell Lowell, Massachusetts Lowell is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, USA. According to the 2010 census, the city's population was 106,519. It is the fourth largest city in the state. Lowell and Cambridge are the county seats of Middlesex County... |
Bleachery | closed junction with Lowell and Lawrence Railroad Lowell and Lawrence Railroad The Lowell and Lawrence Railroad was a small independent railroad that was chartered in 1846 to build a rail line linking the two giant Merrimack River Valley cities of Lowell, Massachusetts to Lawrence, Massachusetts.... , Lowell Branch (B&M B&M B&M may refer to:* B & M, a chain of discount stores in the UK* B&M an acronym of Burnham & Morrill, a brand of baked beans now owned by B&G Foods* Bolliger & Mabillard, a Swiss roller coaster manufacturer* Boston and Maine Railroad* Brick and mortar... ) and Framingham and Lowell Railroad Framingham and Lowell Railroad The Framingham and Lowell Railroad was a railroad in Middlesex County, Massachusetts. It was incorporated in 1870 to provide a rail connection between Framingham to Lowell through the towns of Sudbury, Concord, Acton, Carlisle, Westford and Chelmsford... (NYNH&H) |
|
| 25.5 | Lowell Lowell (MBTA station) Lowell is a rail station on the MBTA Commuter Rail system in Lowell, Massachusetts. The station forms part of the Charles A. Gallagher Transit Terminal, which also incorporates the Robert B. Kennedy Bus Transfer Center.- Terminal and services:... |
LRTA buses to Lowell and beyond originally Middlesex Street junction with Lowell and Nashua Railroad (B&L) |
||
| Merrimack Street | closed |
Accessibility
North Station is wheelchair accessible, as are Anderson RTC and stations north of there. See also MBTA accessibilityMBTA accessibility
Physical accessibility on the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority system is incomplete but improving, with accessibility on all buses , all Orange Line stations, all but 2 Red Line stations, and all but 2 Blue Line stations...
.