Category: Public Transit

Alrighty, next stop on the Haverhill Line is Wakefield. Wakefield, Wakefield…..yeah, I don’t have much to remark in the opening paragraph.

So, once again, I wrote this during the Haverhill shutdown, so shuttles were running. Sorry, no foamer shots! However, Wakefield DOES have some charm to it. For one, you have storefronts lining the inbound platform, so if you wanted to buy something or get food before the train arrives, it’s quite easily doable. The station house nowadays has a barber shop as well, along with a real estate agency. Neat! On the other street are a variety of shops, including a couple of restaurants, interior design centers, and even a Dunkies!!! Yay! As for the station itself, there isn’t too much to remark about it. You have a sheltered area on the inbound side, some benches and wastebaskets, and a red dot matrix sign on the inbound side as well. It’s also all low-level, so fuck you if you need accessibility. There’s also no horns here. Bleugh.

The good: It’s in the town center (almost), has some charm to it, has the usual amenities, and even storefronts lining each platform! Neat! Furthermore, the 137 also stops here. However…

The bad: It’s inaccessible. AND the 137 only stops here one way. Ugh. Lastly, why is there no shelter outbound? Do reverse commuters to Haverhill or Reading just not exist? Furthermore, accessibility would be HARD because of said storefront. Just elevate it instead.

Nearby points of interest: The storefront lining the tracks look interesting. Route 129, which I haven’t checked out beyond street view imagery, is nearby with the town center as well!

Transit connections:
Commuter Rail (Haverhill)
MBTA bus (137, towards Malden only)

Overall, just grade separate it! Just, please! Keep the storefront, but build a viaduct with a common area underneath! It’s not gonna look pretty, but sometimes you gotta do heinous stuff for accessibility!

Rating: 4.5/10

Oh goody, we’re finally on the inner Haverhill Line. And, unfortunately, while all the entries were written amidst a line bustitution, I was still able to get materials to write about each station. So, after a trip up to Billerica to spend time with Brooke, I went down to Anderson and took the Reading shuttle. And, here we are.

So, Reading seems to be suffering from Ballardvale Syndrome. What is Ballardvale Syndrome? Well, if you remember from that entry, I mention about how they ripped out the wrong track. Here at Reading, that kinda happened as well, though it isn’t as egregious (trains actually stop at the mini-high!). Yay!

So, points to the station for being located pretty close to the town center. Neat! Furthermore, you have crossing bells for literally every crossing area – including the crossing in the station itself. That isn’t common, and I think Braintree is the only other station to have that. You also have a departure board, bicycle racks, a bus stop for the 137 to Malden & Oak Grove, and even a lite version of the Pedal & Park. Neat! You also have benches under the sheltered mini-high. A fun tidbit, is that outside of the times where the line is bussed, this station oftentimes serve as a short-turn terminal.

The good: It’s close to the town center and is accessible! It’s also got a bus connection, the 137 to Malden! Furthermore, there’s just an inkling of charm to this station. The crossover also has its own warning bell.

The bad: THEY RIPPED OUT ONE OF THE FREAKIN’ TRACKS! WHAT THE HELL, WHY, WHO, WHAT COMPELLED THEM TO DO THAT?! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA IT’S BALLARDVALE SYNDROME!

Nearby points of interest: There’s a couple of restaurants in the town center!

Transit connections:
Commuter Rail (Haverhill Line)
MBTA bus (137)

Overall, I like this station. It’s not a personal favorite, but it’s got charm, and maybe once the line opens back up I’ll come down here and railfan some time, as it seems worthy of that.

Rating: 7.5/10

Alrighty, so now that I’ve gone unhinged about Hastings and Silver Hill (to varying degrees), now let’s look at the one station in Weston that IS in service: Kendal Green.

So, there’s a bit of parking near the station, however this is the kind of station where if you’re running it close, the gates might block you from getting on the train. That’s right: there’s no inbound platform. People board either from the grade crossing itself, or a wood slab. Moving on from that, the station building is someone’s house, so it’s all boarded up for their privacy. There’s also a bench, a wastebasket, schedules, a red dot matrix sign, a 400ft platform, and even a bike rack! Wow, this is actually half-decent! Sadly, the area isn’t too walkable. Oh well!

The good: It’s got charm, has free parking, bike racks, and shelter! And, admittedly I’m biased, but I like the vibes that come with waiting at a rural station in the rain.

The bad: It’s not accessible, for one! Two, why is there no inbound platform? And thirdly, why is the red dot matrix sign only facing one way?! Yeah…..

Nearby points of interest: Not a lot…

Transit connections:
Commuter Rail (Fitchburg)

Overall, it’s a cute little station. I do find it interesting how they made it someone’s backyard. However, there are some major issues to be had here, though, and hopefully a rebuild is done in the future.

Rating: 4/10

Hook & Hastings was a company known for making organs (for instance, like what you’d find in a cathedral). Their instruments can be found in various places, including locally in the Boston area. Furthermore, their factory was also located in the Boston area, namely in the now-wealthy rural town of Weston.

Now what the HELL does that have to do with anything I write about?! I’ll tell you what: They had a flag stop here since the 1890s! Of course, like Mishawum, Silver Hill, and Prides Crossing, it fell victim to COVID cuts. However, this station is unique in the MBTA system in that there’s NO platform whatsoever. That’s right: the GRADE CROSSING is the station!

There’s also a gravel patch – looks to hold about 1 car max. Good luck parking!!! As for signage, you have the usual warnings about not crossing the tracks and remnants of old schedules being posted. Allegedly, there’s a sharpie writing on a wood post reading “HASTINGS STATION” but I haven’t seen such a thing. Anyhow, you don’t have any amenities – not even a shelter. Hell, you don’t even get a platform. That sucks! But, you CAN get a nice shot of the trains blowing through during the fall months, so there’s that at least! THE STATION IS THE PLATFORM THOUGH HFOEADYGIPHADGIOPHEGAOPHGEIOAWHGPERAOHKJ

The good: Nah.

The bad: WHY DID THIS STATION EVEN EXIST WELL AFTER THE HASTINGS FACTORY CLOSED?! WHAT KIND OF CRACK WERE THEY SMOKING, WHAT KIND OF BOOZE WERE THEY GUZZLING DOWN?!?! AGAIN, I MUST REITERATE, THE STATION IS THE GRADE CROSSING!!!!!!!!!!!! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

Nearby points of interest: NAH!

Transit connections: FUCK NO!

Rating: [INTEGER UNDERFLOW]/10

Overall, [Chelsea.exe has broke from being too unhinged]

On a more serious note, I would also suggest giving Miles’ entry on this station a read too, if you want something enjoyable and unhinged.

Oh goody! Yet another station that’s fallen victim to the COVID-19 pandemic! First Mishawum, then Prides Crossing, and now Silver Hill?! Jesus Christ, it’s like Death himself is coming through axing various stations. Well……

So, let’s see. We have a wooden bridge that can barely hold a dial-a-ride cutaway van, a wood shack, barricaded stairs, BIKE RACKS?! WHAT THE HELL?! WHO IN THEIR RIGHT MIND IS GOING TO BICYCLE TO SILVER FUCKIN’ HILL?! WHY???????????????

Oh yeah, there’s parking here – in spite of the MBTA system map stating otherwise. However, it’s just large enough for ONE BIG DUMB LIFTED TRUCK YEAH BABY!!! Or, Brooke’s friend Emilee’s SUV. Yeah, she was willing to drive all the way out here (it was on their way back towards Lowell). Thanks, Emilee! However, would I recommend YOU (the reader) to drive out here for funsies? Nah, not really. If you can drive out to Silver Hill, you can probably drive out somewhere better like Lincoln or Kendal Green.

The good: It’s got some charm! That’s GOTTA count for something, right?!

The bad: This station, the least-used (before COVID) on the entire Commuter Rail, is inaccessible. It’s in the middle of nowhere, had limited service, and barely even had parking!

Nearby points of interest: Well……I mean, if you’re into railfanning and you’re okay with doing it either from the gravel patch or the overpass, have at it! If not….don’t even bother.

Transit connections: Nah.

Rating: 1/10

Overall, it’s a blessing this station isn’t open. It’s inaccessible and barely any trains even stopped here!

Next stop: Lawrence! Let’s take a look at the station that the….11th(?!) largest city in the state has. As I’m on the train cresting the Merrimack River, the station slowly comes into view….wait, no, that’s the old station! Oh, NOW there it is. It’s just a measly single side platform. Oh…

So, the station is pretty standard. You have a full-length high level platform (only one of two on the Haverhill, the other being Malden Center. Oak Grove’s is only 400ft long), your standard amenities, and you STILL have the red dot matrix signage. Damn, even on NEW stations (this was built in ’05!) they still couldn’t help but go with red dot matrix signage. Oh well! You also have a loud speaker that beeps whenever a train is on track 2 approaching the station. Wait, what’s that on track 3? WHAT?!

YOU MEAN TO TELL ME, THERE WAS A SECOND PLATFORM HERE?! AND THEY JUST YANKED IT OUT, PRESUMABLY BECAUSE PEOPLE HAD TO CROSS THREE TRACKS?! THAT’S IT?! THAT’S BULLSHIT! WHY?! WHY THE HELL WOULD THE T AND/OR MEVA NEUTER THE HAVERHILL FURTHER THAN IT ALREADY IS?! WHAT WERE THEY THINKING, DRINKING, SMOKING?! AAAAAAAAAAAAA WHY NOT JUST REBUILD IT WITH A RAMP UP TO STREET LEVEL, OR AN OVERPASS TO THE 2ND/3RD LEVEL OF THE MCGOVERN TRANSPORTATION CENTER?! JUST, WHY?! WHAT WERE THEY THINKING?!

MeVa also stops here, with the 3, heading to the Buckley TC and North Andover. We’ll look at that some other time. As for other amenities…….they were all locked and perma-closed. Bathroom? Closed. Cafe? Closed. There used to be more here, but they all shuttered up at some point, which REALLY sucks. For amenities that still exist, you can buy tickets here on weekdays! But hey, you can get some nice shots of the Merrimack River around here! Just be mindful of exploding gas mains.

The good: It’s got bus connections, plenty of parking (which doesn’t seem to all be fully utilized on weekends, but I’m sure it fills up on weekdays. It’s also close to downtown, with the 3 running every half-hour (hourly on Saturdays, no Sunday service). Neat! It’s also a full-length high level platform, which is also nice.

The bad: WHY DID THEY LET THE SECOND PLATFORM ROT AWAY?! JUST, WHY?! It’s also not in downtown, but that’s forgiven with the fact the tracks don’t run to there. But it is still a bit of a lengthy walk to downtown though.

Nearby points of interest: The 3 can take you to downtown! But, for the area immediately around the station? Eh, you can get some shots of the Merrimack River, and there’s some local restaurants nearby and green spaces. But this is mostly residential.

Transit connections:
Commuter Rail (Haverhill)
MeVa (3)

Overall, it’s alright. But, PLEASE, BUILD THAT DAMN SECOND PLATFORM AGAIN! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

Rating: 6.5/10

Andover, Andover… Well, I’ve heard some stuff about you and Brooke suggest meeting me out here the other day (it’s now Monday, 10/16, at 12:02 AM as of me writing this, she and I got together on the Saturday prior…) for coffee and other stuff. So, how is the station and area in general? Let’s see…

So, the station seems average enough. You have a mini-high with a long low-level section. Not much shelter on the low level area, but you have benches, wastebaskets, and even bike racks! Neat! Parking is across the street, and MeVa even stops here on Railroad St. Weekdays only, however. There’s also a station house, which, like Wilmington, houses a restaurant (Japanese instead of Indian, however). Weirdly enough, the gates also come down well before the train reaches them, while stopped at the mini-high. It’s presumably annoying for local traffic but meh. Now, I do have one question…..

WHY THE HELL IS THERE ONLY ONE PLATFORM?!

The good: It’s got bike racks, is close to Andover’s town center, has some parking, and is actually accessible in practice! Woohoo! MeVa also stops here, neat!!!

The bad: WHY THE HELL IS THERE NO SECOND PLATFORM?! Less annoying is the grade crossing situation but meh, whatever.

Nearby points of interest: Andover’s town center is charming!

Transit connections:
Commuter Rail (Haverhill)
MeVa (22)

Overall, the station has some charm but there are some glaring flaws, most notably in the lack of a second platform. Like, what?! Just, why?!

Rating: 6/10

Oh goody, a new line! So, the first station on the Haverhill without any subway connections….is Ballardvale. So, let’s take a look at it, being the first stop on the outer section of the line (defined here as Ballardvale-Haverhill).

First off, the platform is LONG! Certainly, much longer than anything that’d ever stop here. Secondly, NOTHING STOPS AT THE DAMN MINI-HIGH! IN ESSENCE, FUCK YOU IF YOU NEED TO BOARD AT THE MINI-HIGH PLATFORM! This is almost as bad as that ad for Big Bill Hells Cars that opens with “FUCK YOU BALTIMORE!”, but at least that is funny. This is just outright depressing. But, it gets worse. THEY RIPPED OUT THE WRONG TRACK. YEP! THE STATION HAS ONE TRACK, CLEARLY HAD A SECOND, AND THEY YANKED OUT THE WRONG TRACK AND JUST EXTENDED THE PLATFORM OVER IT. AND, OF COURSE, DID I MENTION THE TRAINS NEVER STOP AT THE MINI-HIGH, RENDERING THIS STATION INACCESSIBLE IN PRACTICE?! FUCK YOU IF YOU NEED THAT MINI-HIGH! Also, seemingly everyone and their mom trespassed to reach a ballfield on the other side. Kinda dangerous, and one of these days someone’s gonna be struck doing that. On a more positive note, you have your usual amenities, a red dot matrix sign, and even a shelter! Neat! You also have parking.

The good: It’s got parking and is in a residential area, and has a (at face value) decent-ish walkshed being residential

The bad: IT’S NOT ACCESSIBLE IN PRACTICE! THE PLATFORM IS SO DAMN LONG TRAINS DON’T EVEN BOTHER STOPPING AT THE MINI-HIGH! FURTHERMORE THEY RIPPED OUT THE WRONG TRACK!!! WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK, HOW BAD CAN THIS PLACE BE DESIGNED?! WHAT KIND OF CRACK WERE THEY SMOKING?!

Nearby points of interest: Not much, but a pizzeria, cafe, and convenience store all exist! Furthermore, you got some TOD!

Transit connections:
Commuter Rail (Haverhill)

Overall, NO. JUST, NO PLEASE GOD NO!!!

Rating: 4.5/10

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