Category: Public Transit

So, last time I did the Worcester Line, in April, I did everything up to Framingham. Service originally terminated there, with Worcester service being restored in the ’90s. Since then, in the early ’00s, four infills opened up, being Ashland, Southborough, Westborough, and Grafton. Westborough is the first we’ll be looking at.

So, the station is pretty basic, as you’d expect. You have a copious amount of parking, wastebaskets, benches, yellow dot matrix signs for basic info, and a GIANT FREAKIN’ OVERPASS designed for back when CSX ran double-stack freight through here. Fortunately, the yard where they’d bring said double-stack freight to has since closed. Unfortunately, they still run freight, but less frequently than before. If you’re a railfan, you might also get to see the Lake Shore Limited heading each way. No stop, sadly. And, when a train approaches, YOU HEAR THE WAILING OF A FREAKIN’ SIREN! YEAH, WAS “TRAIN APPROACHING, PLEASE REMAIN BEHIND YELLOW LINE” NOT ENOUGH?! DID I ALSO MENTION HOW UNWALKABLE THE AREA IS?!

The good: There’s basic amenities and a giant footbridge! Neat! Also a lot of parking! WRTA’s dial-a-ride microtransit also serves here!

The bad: WHY IS IT NOT A FULL LENGTH HIGH PLATFORM?! WHAT THE HELL?! FURTHERMORE, WHY IS THE STATION HERE IN THE MIDDLE OF ALMOST-NOWHERE, WHEN THE RIGHT OF WAY LITERALLY RUNS THROUGH THE TOWN CENTER?! WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK?!

Nearby points of interest: Not a lot!

Transit connections:
Commuter Rail (Worcester)
WRTA (Via WRTA)

Overall, it’s just your run of the mill poorly-placed park and ride station. This could have had better ridership in Westborough Center. But, nah, just plop a giant parking lot with a platform in the middle of almost-nowhere. That oughta do the trick!

Rating: 5/10

Alrighty! So, today, I ventured out straight into the far-flung reaches of the Fitchburg Line as I had plans to see my dad. Unfortunately, I was running a little tight on time as the train I was taking shat itself and they had to send a rescue set out to get us westbound. However, I still eventually got to North Leominster. And with that, here it is.

So, the platform seems standard enough. You have some benches, wastebaskets, a red dot matrix sign and, on the far end, the grade crossing used to get onto the outbound side. Unfortunately, because of Norfolk Southern barreling down track 2, the train dropped several people and I off on the inbound side. It’s not very often you see freight trains run alongside the Commuter Rail, especially a class 1 freight company like Norfolk Southern or CSX. As for the parking garage itself, it’s like someone took Wickford Junction, aged it a bit, made it more dingy, and stripped the restrooms from it. MART also stops here! However, it’s unsigned. And, given the location and the usage of the lot, a garage park & ride isn’t the worst idea. Plus, for a park & ride, it’s got actually decent pedestrian connections to the neighborhood. Neat!

The good: It’s decently used AND it has relatively decent pedestrian connections. That is, to say, it’s not in a stroad hellscape. The layout for entering is also pretty decent, especially if you’re cutting it close.

The bad: …the busway sucks. The crossing on the far end also is very annoying, and more electronic signage indicating last-minute track changes from dispatch (e.g. a NS train gets clearance on the inbound track and your train has to board on the outbound side). Or heck, a crossover that DOESN’T involve grade crossings, even!

Nearby points of interest: Eh, I can’t immediately think of anything, and looking at Google Maps post-review doesn’t seem to bring up much of note. If I find anything after publishing this, I’ll make an edit.

Transit connections:
Commuter Rail (Fitchburg)
MART (1)

Overall, while the station is alright, it’s certainly not the best, and definitely not the best on the far end of the Fitchburg Line. However, for a park & ride, it’s okay.

Rating: 6.5/10

Alrighty, so, West Gloucester was a disappointment? But, how does normal Gloucester stack up? Well, for one, it’s in downtown and has multiple bus connections. Actually, this is pretty good! Let’s look!

So, unlike West Gloucester, Gloucester is single-tracked. Also unlike West Gloucester, it isn’t barebones! You have a bus shelter for CATA buses, wastebaskets, red dot matrix signs, SHELTER (even on the mini-high!!!!!), a crossing to the parking lot, wastebaskets, and did I mention it’s in the middle of downtown? Oh yeah, HORNS for the railfans! Neat! This is easily among my favorites! Plus, to top it off, Gloucester itself is actually a nice seaside town, and is a popular tourist destination during the spring and summer months on Cape Ann.

The good: It’s in downtown Gloucester! Furthermore, you have amenities, sheltered mini-highs, bus connections, and it’s in a walkable area! YAY!

The bad: It’s a mini-high and there’s a grade crossing to the parking lot. Vleugh. Two pet peeves.

Nearby points of interest: Downtown and the beaches! Also, wherever CATA can take you!

Transit connections:
Commuter Rail (Rockport Line)
CATA (Blue/Lanesville, Orange/Gloucester Xing-Business Express, Stage Fort Shuttle, Saturday Mall)

Overall, I like this station. Like, it’s personally a favorite of mine and I like Gloucester as a town. Now that I think of it, I need to visit this place further. Fortunately, that’s when I’ll be doing the CATA bus network. Stay tuned for that! (eventually…)

Rating: 8/10

Alrighty, so we’ve done Rockport, now, what about the second of the four famed seaside towns on the Rockport Line? Let’s look at Gloucester-

wait, what? This is WEST Gloucester? Alright, let’s look at West Gloucester. How bad can it be? Well……

So, after dialing my ride from Gloucester, I arrived and it’s pretty unassuming, all things considered. It’s a residential neighborhood with, actually, not a lot going on. You DO, however, have a big sign unlike anywhere else on the Commuter Rail. Oh boy.

The station itself has some parking, two platforms with mini-highs, benches, wastebaskets, and Helvetica signage. And, maybe the outhouses count as restrooms? Not sure. But, there’s a few major problems here, and I’ll get into them shortly.

OKAY, SO YOU WANT TO KNOW WHAT’S WRONG WITH THIS STATION? I’LL TELL YOU! THE MINI-HIGHS ARE UNSHELTERED – AGAIN! WHY IS THE INBOUND SIDE A QUARTER OF THE LENGTH OF THE OUTBOUND SIDE?! EVEN MORESO, IS THAT MOST PEOPLE HERE ARE BOARDING INBOUND TOWARDS CHELSEA AND BOSTON – NOT TOWARDS ROCKPORT! FURTHERMORE, YOU’RE ALWAYS PERPETUALLY STUCK WITH THE HUMMING OF THE ELECTRICAL SUBSTATION SO YA BETTER GET USED TO IT! MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM………… FUCKING FUCK! AND THE GRADE CROSSING!!!!!! ALL OF THIS, PLUS THE LACK OF THINGS NEARBY AND INFREQUENT SERVICE OUTBOUND (just take CATA!) ALL ARE REASONS THAT THIS, WEST FREAKIN’ GLOUCESTER, IS THE LEAST-USED PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE COMMUTER RAIL STATION ON THE ENTIRE SYSTEM AS OF 2023. THIS STATION SUCKS, AND SHOULD GET A MAJOR REBUILD.

The good: Nah. Ok, ok, it at least exists so locals don’t have to go into downtown Gloucester for their trains.

The bad: THE MINI-HIGHS SUCK, WHY IS ONE PLATFORM SHORTER THAN THE OTHER, THE SERVICE SUCKS IN TERMS OF FREQUENCY, AND FURTHERMORE JUST TAKE THE LOCAL BUS INSTEAD IF YOU NEED TO HEAD OUTBOUND. OH YEAH, THE HUMMING OF THE SUBSTATION!

Nearby points of interest: Nah.

Transit connections:
Commuter Rail (Rockport)
CATA (West Gloucester/Purple)

Overall, this station sucks, and if anything on the Rockport Line needs a rebuild after Beverly, I’d argue a case for this station in particular despite low ridership, and I’d give CATA a busway for it as well. Either way, if you can help it, I wouldn’t suggest waiting here.

Rating: 2/10

Alrighty, so we went from Beverly (which kinda sucked), to Prides Crossing (which undisputedly sucks), and now we’re at Beverly Farms. Is it bad like Wellesley or Green’s Farms? Well, let’s see.

Okay, so Beverly Farms. You have a rather barren mini-high, but not as bad as Beverly’s in that it’s one piece (or two? one for each side?), yay! There’s some parking, some of it looks like a mud and gravel patch? Yeah, I’m not sure, but there’s still parking. There’s some benches and wastebaskets on the platforms at least, along with two(!!!) red dot matrix signs! Yay! There’s also shelter on the inbound side, primarily around the storefront housing a bagel shop. As for Beverly Farms, the neighborhood? Well, I actually like it and need to check it out further. The area’s got some charm to it. However, I must ask one thing: WHY IS THERE NO SHELTER ON THE OUTBOUND SIDE?! Pretty typical of most stations, sadly.

The good: Well, it’s in a nice area! Furthermore, the mini-highs aren’t decrepit! Also, there’s a bagel shop and a decent amount of parking!

The bad: The platform’s kinda barebones, and there’s no shelter outbound! Furthermore, why is it in zone 5?!

Nearby points of interest: There’s a few restaurants and shops in the neighborhood, including a Dunkies, a bagel shop, and a couple of bars, along with a bookstore and gift shop. There’s also a beach to the south!

Transit connections:
Commuter Rail (Rockport Line)

Overall, while the platforms are just bad, I like the area and want to check it out further some time, and admittedly I’m a little biased with that regard. But, even objectively, Beverly Farms is just an interesting area!

Rating: 5/10

Hey, remember when I reviewed Mishawum about five months ago? The very first sentence in that blog is me rambling on about how the station closed in late 2020 as part of some COVID-related cuts. Well, six stations fell victim to that, actually. Or, as I call them, the sinister six. Mishawum (Lowell Line) was the first one to receive an entry. The second one, is the subject of this blog: Prides Crossing. And, for those curious, the remaining four are Hastings and Silver Hill, both on the Fitchburg Line, Plymouth on the Kingston Line, and Plimptonville on the Franklin Line. It also happened this was the easiest one to do. So, without further ado, welcome to Prides Crossing. Or, as I and a few other LGBT peeps jokingly referred to it as, Trans Prides Crossing.

Getting here was relatively easy, if a bit long of a walk. I mean, 15 minutes one-way isn’t the end of the world but still. Amusingly enough, the grade crossing on Hale Street pictured above, was NOT something Google wanted me to cross. I’m legitimately not sure why, as sidewalks existed. See?

I’m not sure why Google insists on jacking up the EDI of the route, when walking the black line I drew worked out fine and beget me a 3/4-mile walk. This isn’t even the first time, as I’ve contemplated hiking to the Walmart in North Smithfield after riding the 59X, too, and it did the same thing around Slatersville. But, after a rather tame 3/4-mile walk, I made it. So, I commenced the review.

So, you have a singular side platform on the Rockport Line, with a hunk of asphalt used to access track 2. There’s a few benches, including the famed “Democrat” and “Republican” benches. Wastebaskets are also here, along with a red dot matrix sign, except it was facing parallel to the tracks rather than perpendicular. There’s also Prides Crossing Confections, which if you’re looking for locally-made sweet treats, despite being mildly pricy, I recommend checking out.

The good: It’s actually got some amenities! For a station of its caliber, I’d have expected nothing at all! Also, there’s some things nearby!

The bad: It’s inaccessible and there’s one platform! Also, it’s so darn close to Beverly Farms, to where I ask one thing: “why? why use this over Beverly Farms?”

Nearby points of interest: Prides Crossing Confectionary is the big one!

Transit connections: None (is closed)

Overall, from an objective perspective, it kinda sucks! But, it is an unusual station and travelling out here was a good time, I must admit. Also, worth it for the chocolates from the shop here, if nothing else. Too bad there’s no bus connection…

Rating: 2.5/10

The EDI of a land route is defined as the the ratio of the straight-line distance of the route, verseus the street/track distance of the route. In essence, this means a route that’s close to a straight line will beget a 1, while a route that goes in an elongated U shape will beget something like a 26, like the MTA’s Q38. However, there are some guidelines that must be followed, determining eligibility:
1. No loops.
2. 3 stops minimum.
3. Must not end along the return journey.
3a. Routes with loops must end at the halfway point of said loop.
3b. Routes need two distinct termini.
4. It must make some sense on a map.
5. Must be a currently operating service pattern at calculation time.
6. Must be a land route.

So, now that we got what the EDI is out of the way, what does that have to do with anything I write about? Well, I’ll tell you what:

The 44 has the 2nd-highest EDI in my blog jurisdiction! (only beat out by the 554, also on the MBTA) (click here for more info on the EDI)

Okay, so the route itself is actually pretty tame. We leave Ruggles and head down Tremont Street, and down Malcolm X Blvd., passing Madison Park and O’Bryan High Schools on the way to Nubian. So, from here, we go down Warren and Walnut Avenues, eventually turning into Humboldt Avenue. Actually, the route’s pretty tame and there’s nothing crazy beside the shape of it. Now, pretty much noone rode from end to end, but many people got on at Nubian and got off along Humboldt and Columbus Avenues. Speaking of which, the route flies down the median of Columbus Avenue, with people getting on here going to Jackson Square. Neat!

The good: It’s regular, running every half-hour on weekdays and Saturdays. Furthermore, it serves residential neighborhoods, and connects them, and Egleston Square, to the Orange Line and Nubian!

The bad: Really? Hourly on Sundays? It’s not even long in mileage!

Nearby points of interest: Not a lot aside from Jackson, Egleston, and Nubian Squares

Overall, it’s an okay route, but why is the Sunday schedule bad? Just, why? At least it has a notoriously high EDI! (clocking in at 3.7)

Rating: 6.5/10

The Tremont Street subway is the oldest segment of subway in North America, running between Boylston and Government Center. Carrying the Green Line, it handles….a lot of trains per hour, to put it lightly, with some trains turning at Park or Government Center. In the ’90s, the tunnel was retrofitted to use catenary designed for standard pantographs, verseus pantographs found on a PCC or a trolleybus, and it is presently on the Register of Historic Places.

Now what does this have to do with anything?!

I’ll tell you what: the 43 runs down Tremont Street! …albeit, not between Government Center and Boylston stations.

By the time I got here, I was a little nervous because there were some TORNADO WARNINGS back at home. But, given I’m pumping out this entry (and the Rockport one), my house was safe. Plus, the weather was prescribed to be bad in Boston that day too. And, I got on the bus, as we turn out of Ruggles and down the namesake street. Going down Tremont, it’s a straight shot all the way to Park Street. There wasn’t much of interest to remark, though the weather did turn worse. Housing, yep. Mixed-use? Looked like it. There was even a Starbucks! Neat! But, I do wonder, what if there was a GLX to Nubian via Tremont Street? Anyways, yeah, there wasn’t too much to remark, aside from MBTA headquarters. But, you can see the Common and the state house! Neat!

The good: It’s short and sweet! Furthermore, for what it is it’s often enough that one can use it for short trips if they’re lazy enough. Especially evident when I rode it, as a wave of severe storms (enough to pop a few tornadoes in Rhode Island!!!) were blowing through. As for end to end? Ehhhh…..

The bad: The Orange Line duplicates the route! If you’re going end to end, just take the Orange Line, it’s still more frequent AND is faster! We hit traffic in Park Plaza, leading to the operator cussing!

Nearby points of interest: Not a lot. Ben Franklin Institute of Technology exists. There’s the Common and the state house. Tremont Street is lined with businesses too, which I might check out in the future.

Overall, it’s actually pretty decent for a short bus route. For short trips that aren’t end to end, it does the job pretty well. But, if you are going end to end, just take the Orange Line.

Rating: 7.5/10