Public Transit – Page 13 – chelsea's corner

Uphams Corner (MBTA)

Whelp, welcome to Uphams Corner, the last zone 1A Commuter Rail station on my backlog. How good is it? Well, let’s see…

AAAAAAAAA I LIKE THESE KINDS OF FOAMER SHOTS!

So, while Uphams Corner itself isn’t that special, being just your average Fairmount station, which means it has benches, a spot to pitch in, a red dot matrix sign, a CharlieCard reader, and of course BUS connections. So, what bus connections are here? The 15, easily. And, furthermore, unlike the station, the 15 actually gets ridership? The difference with that? The 15’s actually frequent unlike the Fairmount! Eh, about every 15 minutes or so, vs. every 45 on the Fairmount on weekdays (and 90 on weekends! Vleugh!). At least there’s art on the Dudley Street underpass, and it looks nice!

The good: It’s on a busy road, has plenty of bus connections, and plenty of amenities as well as BlueBikes! Neat! Also, it’s a pretty nice place to railfan with the backdrop of the Boston skyline. Uphams Corner proper is also a short walk away. There’s also stairs!

The bad: Eh, I mean I genuinely can’t think of much wrong with the station itself. It’s more pedestrian-friendly than Newmarket, is fully high-level unlike Fairmount and Readville, and there’s actually stuff around the station. Though, supposedly the area isn’t the best at night, from what I can find online.

Nearby points of interest: There’s a few parks, the Kroc Community Center, and a few businesses going towards Columbia Road. There’s also a community garden nearby!

Transit connections:
Commuter Rail (Fairmount)
MBTA bus (15, 41)

Overall, this is probably the best station on the entire Fairmount, all things considered. Like, I genuinely can’t think of a lot wrong with it maybe aside from the lack of a way to load a CharlieCard. But, not a bad way to go out for the Fairmount Line.

Rating: 8.5/10

Four Corners/Geneva Ave. (MBTA)

Up next on the Fairmount Line, is Geneva Ave- wait, what? OH, it’s FOUR CORNERS/Geneva Avenue, okay! Got it. So, let’s look at Geneva-Four Corners.

So, of course, the platform is your standard Fairmount Line affair. Pitch in! Benches exist on the ramps as usual, there’s shelters, yellow dot matrix signs, and it’s partly residential partly urbanized. However, unlike the other stations, the platforms are staggered on either side of Geneva Avenue. However, you can still access both platforms, from both Washington Street and Geneva Avenue. Speaking of that, you also have bus connections on both streets with the 19 on Geneva Ave. and the 23 on Washington St. Neat! There’s also an anemic amount of parking, as typical for the line, but face it: why would you bring your car here?

The outbound platform from the inbound one!

Further down the ramp! And yes, that’s a playground for the school!

This is even worse because there’s a DIRT PILE.

The good: It’s got amenities! CharlieCard readers, wastebaskets, benches, and it’s sheltered! Also, the outbound side’s ramps being sheltered is a nice touch as well, and it feels nice being in the middle of the woods (despite being in the heart of Dorchester!). Also, there’s several ways in and out as well, which is nice.

The bad: Eh, the shelters that used to have plexiglass could stand to have it replaced! Also, why does the inbound side not have stairs? Yeah, that’s annoying.

Nearby points of interest: There’s a couple of parks, and a few businesses lining Washington Street.

Transit connections:
Commuter Rail (Fairmount)
MBTA bus (19 on Geneva Ave., 23 on Washington St.)

Overall, I like how it feels woods-y, while still being in the heart of Dorchester. That’s the kind of energy I can get behind with a Commuter Rail station in the middle of Boston. And, I dig it. But, it’s still not my personal favorite on the line.

Rating: 7.5/10

Morton St. (MBTA)

Alrighty, next stop is Morton Street! Well, well, well, is this any decent like Fairmount is? Let’s look.

So we have a station in Mattapan, fully high level, has insanely long ramps (long enough to need a bench?!), signage, entrances without any easy way to cross the namesake street (4 lanes?!), and a DUNKIES nearby! Well, this is actually kinda sweet! It’s also got a red dot matrix sign in place of a departure board, which I swear sometimes looks like it’s flickering from afar. Bah, whatever, I’m sure it’s no biggie. Also, the wastebaskets read “Pitch In”. Neat. There’s also history on some of the signs, as well.

Needlessly long ramp and secondary entrance

The good: It’s got full length highs and some amenities!

The bad: Why is there no crosswalk at the station itself? Furthermore, why is there a lack of benches? Yeah, that’s very annoying.

Nearby points of interest: Eh, not a lot aside from a few businesses.

Transit connections:
Commuter Rail (Fairmount)
MBTA bus (21, 26)

Overall, it’s an alright station. It’s serviceable, but it’s certainly not the best one out there. Next!

Rating: 7/10

Fairmount (MBTA)

Alrighty, the Fairmount Line’s namesake! Well, let’s see how it holds up vs. the rest of the line. Is it a decent place? Is it dogshit? Well, let’s find out.

So, getting off the train it’s clear that it’s OLD. In essence, the oldest station on the entire line (second to Readville), given it’s still with mini-highs. That also means ALL offpeak trains board at the puny-sized platform. Yikes. But, for amenities, you have some parking, a CharlieCard reader (yay!), some signage, wastebaskets, benches, and even departure boards. Neat! Furthermore, the ramps ACTUALLY DROP YOU AT THE MINI-HIGHS, RATHER THAN FORCING A NEEDLESSLY LONG WALK! Did I mention from here to South Station is also only $2.40 (a subway fare)? As for crossing over, it’s pretty easy: just use the ramps and Fairmount Avenue. Bus connections are found a block over on either side of the tracks.

Fairmount Avenue, towards the bus connections

The good: It’s cheaper, has a shorter ramp unlike Hyde Park, and just has more service! It’s also got a CharlieCard reader unlike most other zone 1A stations, which is a nice bonus! Also, it’s got a proper departure board. And, also, parking.

The bad: Would be nice if it were a full-length high platform!

Nearby points of interest: Just like Hyde Park, this one’s close by to Cleary Square.

Transit connections:
Commuter Rail (Fairmount)
MBTA bus (24)

Overall, for what it is, it’s pretty darn good for a station. It gets a decent amount of service throughout the day, is in a largely walkable area, and has a transit connection (which I’ll be looking at some time). So, will the rest of the line beat it? I don’t know, so stay tuned for that.

Rating: 7.5/10

Long Wharf (MBTA)

Well, it’s an MBTA station, and it has the T sign in some form. So, guess duty calls to where I’m reviewing literal piers. Whelp, meet Long Wharf.

So, Long Wharf is the “water transportation” in Aquarium’s door announcement where it says “bus connection and water transportation”. So, what about the bus connection? Well, there’s just the 4 at peak hours only. Even then, you have to walk a bit to reach the northern dock, where the Hingham/Hull and East Boston ferries board, while the southern dock is where the Charlestown ferry boards. Likewise, the Salem and Winthrop ferries, which are ran by their respective municipalities, also board here, but are not under MBTA jurisdiction. As for amenities, you really only have a bench on the north dock, while the southern dock has the customer service booth where tickets can be bought.

Yeah, no, that’s not the Charlestown ferry.

The good: It’d be a bit nicer if signage was clearer or stood out more. There’s also benches, which is nice.

The bad: It’s kinda barebones! I mean yeah, it’s a ferry terminal, but it’d be nice if there was an indoor waiting area and with some kind of automated announcement! Or hell, even manual announcements with a loud enough PA system! How was I supposed to know the last picture was the East Boston ferry given the signage didn’t stand out?!

Nearby points of interest: It’s on the edge of the North End, with the New England Aquarium right there.

Transit connections:
MBTA ferry (Charlestown, Hingham/Hull, East Boston)
MBTA bus (4)
Blue Line (at Aquarium)

Overall, it’s a ferry terminal, and an average one at that. There’s not a lot to talk about, and it’s fairly barebones.

Rating: 4/10

Wellesley Farms (MBTA)

Alrighty, Wellesley Farms! So, Wellesley Hills kinda sucked and Wellesley Square definitely sucked, so is Wellesley Farms any bad? Let’s see.

Alrighty, so not only does Wellesley Farms have a station building (which houses the bike rack!), it’s also on the register of historic places! Neat! Unfortunately, that’s where the good ends. You’ve got amenities on the inbound platform, while the outbound only has a few unsheltered benches. On the upside, it’s a nice and quiet place to railfan express trains, which is nice. Furthermore, there’s a lake nearby, and it just feels tranquil, moreso when it’s raining (like when I came here!). Unfortunately, though, there’s not a lot nearby – just a few houses. And, just like Green’s Farms, there’s no farm nearby. Also, crossing over involves a pretty long walk over the overpass and down a side street. As a fun aside, you can technically get the Green Line from here – if you’re willing to walk for almost 40 minutes. But, at that point, just call a Catch Connect.

That’s a fine little station building! I like it!

The other side’s amenities. Not much. Also, was there a crossing here?

And an unzoomed platform – with red dot matrix sign!

The good: You got some parking! Furthermore, the inbound side has most of the amenities you’d want (shelter, benches, wastebaskets, and a red dot matrix sign!). Plus, it’s in a rich suburban area! Neat! I also like the rural vibes

The bad: It’s still inaccessible! Furthermore, it’s a walk to anything nonresidential, and using the Worcester Line as inter-Wellesley transit is too impractical due to low headways (hourly outside peak on weekdays, 2 hours on weekends!).

Nearby points of interest: Not a lot. Wellesley Lower Falls has some things per Miles’ entry on this station, but given the Marathon was in progress as of me reviewing this, I couldn’t check it out. But hey, I like this place for railfanning.

Transit connections:
Commuter Rail (Worcester)
MWRTA (Catch Connect)

Overall, this is probably the best Wellesley station, given the tranquil nature and the station building. Unfortunately, though, it’s still grossly inaccessible and a bit far from anything. But hey, Catch Connect exists on weekdays!

Rating: 4/10

Wellesley Hills (MBTA)

Up next: Wellesley Hills! After Wellesley Square turned out to be a complete dud, how does the next closest station, Wellesley Hills, turn out? Well, actually, a little better. Let’s see.

Well, there’s definitely hills! The outbound side is literally hugging a cliff! As for the station itself? Well, it still kinda sucks. Still inaccessible, low-level boarding, and the same amenities as Wellesley Square. Except, unlike there, you have an actual SHELTER that’s not shoddy! And, there’s a cafe in the station building that’s open all day! How do you change sides, though? Well, there’s a grade crossing on the western end of the outbound platform. Just be mindful of Amtrak passing by in the early afternoon and in the evening.

A train, and the stairs down to the platforms

The station building and Marathon crowds!

The good: It’s a nice area in terms of scenery! Furthermore, this also has a similar “town center” feel to Wellesley Square, which I dig. I also really like the station building and the fact it’s still in use as a cafe, and is open all day. MWRTA’s Catch Connect also deviates here!

The bad: Not accessible! Yeah, this is a recurring theme with the Wellesley trio. I also wish there was a second shelter on the low-level platform. Furthermore, why are there no benches on the outbound side?!

Nearby points of interest: There’s a few restaurants nearby! Not as much that stands out though, as around Wellesley Square. Sorry! But, as a railfanning spot, I kinda like it!

Transit connections:
Commuter Rail (Worcester Line)
MWRTA (Catch Connect)

Overall, it’s a slight improvement to Wellesley Square, it’s got a shelter, but it’s still not that great a station sadly. Sorry! Is Wellesley Farms any good?

Rating: 3.5/10

Wellesley Square (MBTA)

So, I went over how West Natick and Framingham were both pretty good and serviceable stations, and so far the stations beyond the reach of the subway system (defined here as everything past zone 2) were looking pretty good. So, with that in mind, how does the Wellesley trio stack up? First up batting: Wellesley Square!

So, getting off the train, one thing is immediately clear: it’s not ADA accessible!!!! Uh oh, that’s not good! Furthermore, you got a few benches, a bike rack that’s on the outbound side, and stairs going up to the streets. There’s also parking as well, which I presume fills up quickly. On the inbound side, you only have A FREAKIN’ BUS SHELTER. WHY?! WHAT THE FUCK?! THIS IS THE SIDE EVERYONE’S GONNA BE USING TO GET TO WORK AND ALL IT GETS IS A FUCKING BUS SHELTER?! Ugh… Oh yeah, no departure board, and a red dot matrix sign. There’s also parking, of course, and it’s in Wellesley’s town center. It also gives off rich town energy, which to be fair is what Wellesley is. But hey, at least it’s a front-row seat to the Marathon!

Curving tracks underneath the underpass!

Once the next outbound pulled in, I got on, found Brooke, and went to Framingham for round 2 and to see the marathon. After that, I’d go back to Wellesley for the next member of the trio. Stay tuned for Wellesley Hills!

The good: It’s in Wellesley’s town center, has some parking, and bike racks!

The bad: WHY IS THERE A BUS SHELTER ON THE INBOUND SIDE?! It’s not even accessible either! Never mind that, I’d say it’s nice there’s a fancy station building but we don’t even have that here! Ugh…. It could also use slightly better signage and, ya know, ACCESSIBILITY!

Nearby points of interest: It’s in Wellesley’s town center. You’ve also got Wellesley College nearby, a few parks, and the local library.

Transit connections:
Commuter Rail (Worcester Line)
MWRTA (Catch Connect)

Rating: 3/10

Overall, this station actually kinda sucks for a town center – and in one of the richest towns in the entire state, at that! Like, what gives?????? But hey, you can at least Catch Connect to other points!

West Natick (MBTA)

West Natick, oh West Natick. Well, it feels like it’s in the middle of nowhere upon getting off the train from Framingham. But, is it really though? Well……

Bye, ya smoking diesel guzzling growler!

Whelp, the Helvetica Condensed is a reassuring sign of things! But, it’s not actually bad??? The station’s accessible, has a sheltered mini-high, has amenities, plenty of parking, a departure board(!!), a sheltered parking lot(!!!), and even a neighborhood map that shows MWRTA connections! Holy crap, they actually put some QOL improvements into this station! As for the area, it’s definitely in a suburban neighborhood with a modest amount of parking. Furthermore, you also have solar panels covering the parking spaces as well, which is nice! However, it’s also a “screw you” Commuter Rail station, as there’s a departure board at the entrance, and if the train’s blocking the crossing, you’ll have to wait up to 2 hours. Yeah…….

Yeah, sorry, no Natick Center review until they’re done with construction!

Sheltered parking – and Transit Police keeping tabs on the area. If you see something, say something!

I don’t believe I’ve seen this at any Commuter Rail station before – only on the subway

Now, as for the area surrounding it, yeah it’s pretty much all suburbia. However, it’s also an almost-front row seat for the Boston Marathon. You can also tell when your train to South Station has left Framingham when the horns start ringing out, as there’s a couple of grade crossings between here and Framingham.

Oh my, another HSP! This time deadheading to Framingham!

The good: It’s located in a decent place, has enough parking, sheltered parking, and overall has amenities you’d expect from your average Commuter Rail station. Furthermore, it also has a map showing MWRTA bus connections! Yeah, I don’t think I’ve seen anything like that anywhere else on the system – not even in Pawtucket or Blue Hill Avenue! I also like how it feels nice and peaceful, being in the middle of suburbia.

The bad: Eh, would be nice if there was a pedestrian bridge instead of a grade crossing, and full-length high platforms.

Nearby points of interest: There’s a small plaza, but aside from that, just take the 10 or 11 to wherever, as it’s all housing. If you’re willing to hike for about an hour, you can get to the Natick Mall!

Transit connections:
Commuter Rail (Worcester Line)
MWRTA (10, 11)

Overall, I like the station and how it feels quiet and tranquil. Heck, if anything, they’re more my personal favorites, and for a Worcester Line station it’s probably one of the best. Now, if only that grade crossing was gone…..

Rating: 8/10

Framingham (MBTA/Amtrak)

Alrighty, Framingham! Framingham, in several ways, is like Stamford in that it divides the Worcester Line into an inner and outer zone. However, this only comes in during peak hours, where some trains express through the inner line or short-turn at Framingham. So, here we go.

So, first thing to note is there’s a mini-high here! Furthermore, you have “BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!” as trains sit at the station. Would it kill them to have “TRAIN APPROACHING, PLEASE REMAIN BEHIND THE YELLOW LINE!” instead like on the NEC? Alright, whatever, you got some benches, wastebaskets, etc., etc., and a footbridge. There’s also an elevator (WHICH BROKE AFTER I LEFT!!!), which unfortunately was a hot mess. That’s probably because of the Marathon passing and this station being a front-row seat. Furthermore, since there’s a CSX yard nearby, you can also get some action on that front here too. Oh yeah, Amtrak stops here once a day in each direction. Receive-only towards Chicago and discharge-only towards Boston, however.

Looking towards the station on the grade crossing!

So, there’s also plenty of parking, and the MetroWest Regional Transportation Authority stops here as well! In fact, they even have a caboose (converted into an office space!) located in the aptly-named banana lot. However, since it’s Patriots Day, MWRTA wasn’t operating.

I legitimately like the MWRTA paint scheme on the caboose.

Yeah, I’m not sure what CSX was doing, however they were moving the freight cars back and forth up the wye

WHY IS IT DISPLAYING THE WINDOWS DESKTOP?!

The good: It’s in downtown Framingham! And, it’s even in a walkable area, has Amtrak service (albeit VERY limited – this is also, as of the end of Amtrak’s 2023 fiscal year, Massachusetts’ least-used Amtrak station), and even has a few short-turns from here to South Station. Also, I seriously dig the MWRTA caboose, it adds a bit of character not found in other stations out here. Like, where’s the GATRA caboose in Mansfield or the RIPTA one in Pawtucket?!

The bad: Really? Mini-highs still? Well, it at least makes some sense out here given heavy freight activity, but wouldn’t gauntlet tracks work? Also, the elevators are probably on the lesser reliable side given they crapped out today during the Boston Marathon.

Nearby points of interest: Well, the station building houses a steakhouse, and there’s a few parks nearby. Furthermore, it’s in the downtown area, and if you’re a railfan it’s a pretty good place to railfan CSX.

Transit connections:
Amtrak (Lake Shore Ltd.)
Commuter Rail (Worcester Line)
MWRTA (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 15)

Overall, I really like this station. Darn, I really need to come out here more often for railfanning purposes (especially for CSX!). Only way it’d be better is if MWRTA had an indoor waiting area with restrooms for commuters and Amtrak passengers. But, as-is, it’s probably one of the better stations on the line.

Rating: 7.5/10