September Service Changes Planned on Red Line to Improve Reliability and Train Speeds for Riders

Red Line service will be suspended between JFK/UMass and Braintree September 6 – 29. Shuttle buses will make stops at Braintree, Quincy Adams, Quincy Center, Wollaston, North Quincy, and Ashmont.

Kingston, Middleborough, and Greenbush Commuter Rail line service will be suspended between South Station and Braintree during the weekends of September 7 – 8 and September 14 – 15.

The MBTA today reminded riders of service changes in September on the Red Line, which will allow crews to repair 18 miles of track between JFK/UMass and Braintree, resulting in the removal of over 20 speed restrictions and improving round-trip Braintree Branch travel times by as much as 24 minutes. These track improvements will also lay the groundwork for the MBTA’s goal of raising current Red Line train speeds above current speeds where possible. Kingston, Middleborough, and Greenbush (Old Colony) Commuter Rail line trains, which run adjacent to the Red Line, will also be replaced with shuttle bus service between South Station and Braintree during the weekends of September 7 – 8 and September 14 – 15 to accommodate this critical work.

The MBTA is not currently planning any other subway or Commuter Rail service changes in September.

On the Red Line:

As previously announced, Red Line Braintree Branch service will be suspended between JFK/UMass and Braintree for 24 days from September 6 to September 29.
- Riders should note that Middleborough, Kington, and Greenbush (Old Colony) Commuter Rail line service will also be replaced by shuttle bus service during the weekends of September 7 – 8 and September 14 – 15.
- Riders are strongly encouraged to use the Middleborough, Kington, and Greenbush (Old Colony) Commuter Rail lines for fare-free service between Braintree, Quincy Center, JFK/UMass, and South Station (with the exception of the weekends of September 7 – 8 and September 14 – 15). Commuter Rail schedules are available on mbta.com.
  - Commuter Rail trains operate about every 20-30 minutes. Travelling between Braintree and South Station on the Commuter Rail is about 24 minutes.
  - Additional Keolis personnel will be available at Braintree, Quincy Center, and JFK/UMass during weekday morning and evening rush hour periods to answer questions and assist riders boarding Commuter Rail trains.
  - Extra coaches will be added to the Middleborough, Kington, and Greenbush Commuter Rail lines to accommodate the anticipated increase in ridership.
  - Riders should note that regular Commuter Rail fares will be collected for travel beyond Braintree.
- Free and accessible shuttle bus service will make stops at Braintree, Quincy Adams, Quincy Center, Wollaston, North Quincy, and Ashmont for connections to further Red Line subway service.
- There will be no direct shuttle bus service to or from JFK/UMass. Riders boarding or disembarking at JFK/UMass should utilize the fare-free Commuter Rail when possible.
- Riders using shuttle buses during this service change should budget ample extra travelling time. For example, a rider travelling to Park Street from Braintree should anticipate an extra 40 minutes in addition to their regular commute. Again, riders are strongly encouraged to consider the fare-free Commuter Rail during this service change.
- There will be increased subway service on the Ashmont Branch in order to maintain train frequency through the Red Line core between JFK/UMass and Alewife. Trains will operate at about an eight-minute frequency between Ashmont and Alewife.
- Riders can find complete information soon at mbta.com/RedLine.
- This service change is in place to perform work as part of the Track Improvement Program, including replacing tracks and ties, resurfacing and tamping track areas, and upgrading station amenities. The track work accomplished during these 24 days allows the MBTA to run service up the maximum allowable speed of 40 miles per hour, but also lays the groundwork for raising current Red Line train speeds above that. Other critical steps after the work is completed will need to be take place before train speeds are raised, like additional Red Line motorperson training, further service and schedule planning, and more.

On the Kingston, Middleborough, and Greenbush Commuter Rail lines:

Kingston, Middleborough, and Greenbush Commuter Rail line service will be suspended between South Station and Braintree during the weekends of September 7 – 8 and September 14 – 15.
- Free and accessible shuttle buses will operate directly between South Station and Braintree, stopping only at South Station and Braintree. The diversion schedule will be available online soon at mbta.com/CommuterRail.
- Passengers can also utilize free and accessible shuttle buses replacing Red Line Braintree Branch service between Braintree and Ashmont.
- There will be no direct shuttle bus service to or from JFK/UMass.
- Passengers should note that bicycles are not allowed on shuttle buses, and regular Commuter Rail fares will be collected between Kingston, Middleborough, Greenbush, and Braintree stations.
- Keolis Customer Service Agents, MBTA staff, and Transit Ambassadors will be on site at impacted stations to support riders.
- This service change is in place to accommodate Track Improvement Program work taking place on the Braintree Branch noted above. Suspending service on these Commuter Rail lines allows crews to be more productive during the planned work during these weekends thanks to the unencumbered access to the track area.

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 (the site formerly known as Twitter) @MBTA, @MBTA_CR, and @MBTA_CR_Alerts for up-to-date service information.

The MBTA previously announced service changes in August. 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.