List of Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority yards

Last updated

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority uses a number of yards and facilities for maintenance and storage of its road and rail fleets.

Contents

Active yards

Bus

List of Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority yards
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3km
1.9miles
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Location of MBTA bus facilities
1
Albany Street Garage
2
Arborway Yard
3
Cabot Garage
4
Charlestown and Somerville
5
Everett Shops
6
Fellsway Garage
7
Lynn Garage
8
North Cambridge Carhouse
9
Quincy Garage
10
Southampton
11
Watertown Yard

Many of these facilities are former streetcar carhouses that were gradually converted to trackless trolley and bus use, although some like Southampton (built 2004) are of recent construction. Of the former streetcar carhouses, only Arborway and Watertown were Green Line yards during part of the MBTA era. Everett was an Orange Line yard until 1975.

NameLocation [1] Routes served [1]
Albany Street Garage Buses at Albany Street Garage, August 2018.jpg Albany Street, South End, BostonLocal, Mass Pike Express, and crosstown routes
Arborway Yard MBTA XN40 buses at Arborway Yard Aug 2024.jpg Washington Street, Jamaica Plain, BostonLocal bus routes; former terminus of the Green Line E branch
Cabot Garage Cabot bus facility from 4th Street Bridge, September 2016.jpg Dorchester Avenue, South BostonLocal bus routes
Charlestown Garage Charlestown Garage from Alford Street, April 2017.JPG Arlington Avenue, Charlestown, BostonLocal bus routes
Everett Shops MBTA Everett Shops July 2025.jpg Broadway, Everett Heavy repair for buses and for subway components; former Orange Line terminus and yard
Fellsway Garage MBTA Fellsway Garage Feb 2025.jpg Salem Street, Medford Local bus routes
Lynn Garage Western Avenue entrance to Lynn garage, May 2017.JPG Western Avenue, Lynn Local bus routes; North Shore express routes
North Cambridge Carhouse MBTA trackless trolleys at North Cambridge Carhouse, April 2017.JPG Massachusetts Avenue, North Cambridge Formerly storage and maintenance for Harvard-based trolleybus routes; being converted for battery buses
Quincy Garage MBTA Quincy Garage, August 2018.jpg Hancock Street, Quincy Quincy-based local bus routes
Somerville Garage at Charlestown Somerville Garage and Partners Healthcare building, April 2017.JPG Arlington Avenue, Charlestown, BostonLocal bus routes
Southampton Bus Maintenance Facility Buses at Southampton Street Garage, March 2022.JPG Southampton Street, South Bay, Boston Silver Line dual mode buses; local bus routes
Watertown Yard Watertown Carhouse February 2013.JPG Galen Street, Watertown Midday layover for local bus routes; former terminus of the Green Line A branch and Green Line heavy maintenance facility

Subway

List of Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority yards
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4.3miles
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Location of MBTA subway yards
1
Alewife Yard
2
Bowdoin Yard
3
Cabot Yard
4
Caddigan Yard
5
Codman Yard
6
GLX VMF
7
Lake Street Yard
8
Mattapan Yard
9
North Station Yard
10
Orient Heights Yard
11
Reservoir Yard
12
Riverside Yard
13
Wellington Yard

The subway lines each have one maintenance facility (except for three on the Green Line) and often several other yards used for overnight and midday storage. Tail tracks for temporary storage of trains are also present at Forest Hills (Orange Line) and Wonderland (Blue Line); the Green Line has sidings at Heath Street, Blandford Street, and Northeastern University.

NameLocation [1] Route [1] Use [1]
Alewife Yard North track running to Alewife Yard, October 2020.JPG north of Alewife Red Line layover/storage
Bowdoin Yard Tail tracks from Bowdoin station, December 2019.JPG west of Bowdoin Blue Line layover/storage
Cabot Yard Red Line trains in Cabot Yard, March 2008.jpg near Broadway Red Line maintenance and storage
Caddigan Yard Red Line trains in Caddigan Yard, August 2018.JPG south of Braintree Red Line (Braintree branch)layover/storage
Codman Yard Codman Yard.jpg south of Ashmont Red Line (Ashmont branch)layover/storage
Green Line Extension Vehicle Maintenance Facility GLX VMF from Red Bridge, March 2022.JPG Inner Belt District Green Line (D and E branches)maintenance and storage
Lake Street Yard Boston College inbound platform and yard, October 2016.jpg at Boston College Green Line (B branch)maintenance and storage
Mattapan Yard Mattapan Carhouse from Neponset Trail bridge, August 2018.JPG at Mattapan Mattapan Line maintenance and storage
North Station Yard Green Line yard tracks at North Station, December 2022.jpg at North Station Green Line layover and storage
Orient Heights Yard Orient Heights yard aerial photo, July 2016.JPG east of Orient Heights Blue Line maintenance and storage
Reservoir Yard Reservoir Carhouse from Strathmore Road, January 2016.JPG between Reservoir and Cleveland Circle Green Line (C branch and D branch)maintenance and storage
Riverside Yard Trains in Riverside Yard (2), December 2017.JPG at Riverside Green Line (D branch)maintenance and storage
Wellington Yard Wellington Yard panorama.jpg at Wellington Orange Line maintenance and storage

Commuter rail

All MBTA Commuter Rail lines except the Lowell Line have a dedicated layover near the end of the line. Most provide ground power and other facilities, allowing trainsets to be stored overnight; others are simply several yard tracks off the mainline. The MBTA has one heavy maintenance facility on the northside, plus two light maintenance facilities on the southside. Equipment is transferred between the two sides via the Grand Junction Railroad.

List of Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority yards
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Location of MBTA Commuter Rail facilities
1
Bradford Layover
2
Franklin Layover
3
Greenbush Layover
4
Kingston Layover
5
MBTA Commuter Rail Maintenance Facility
6
Middleboro Layover
7
Needham Layover
8
Newburyport Layover
9
Pawtucket Layover
10
Readville Interim Repair Facility
11
Rochester Maintenance Facility
12
Rockport Layover
13
Southampton Street Yard
14
Stoughton Layover
15
Wamsutta Layover
16
Weaver's Cove Layover
17
West Cambridge Maintenance Facility
18
Westminster Layover
19
Worcester Layover
NameLocation [1] Route [1] Use [1]
Bradford Layoverat Bradford Haverhill Line layover/storage
Franklin Layover Franklin storage yard from station platform January 2023.jpg east of Franklin/Dean College Franklin/Foxboro Line layover/storage
Greenbush Layover Greenbush MBTA station, Scituate MA.jpg at Greenbush Greenbush Line layover/storage
Kingston Layover Kingston Layover, June 2017.JPG at Kingston Kingston Line layover/storage
MBTA Commuter Rail Maintenance Facility MBTA Commuter Rail Maintenance Facility aerial.JPG Inner Belt, Somerville northside linesHeavy maintenance for all commuter rail equipment; layover/storage
Middleboro Layover Middleborough Layover, October 2020.JPG at Middleborough Fall River/New Bedford Line layover/storage
Needham Layover Needham Layover from West Street, March 2016.JPG south of Needham Heights Needham Line layover/storage
Newburyport Layover Cab cars at Newburyport Layover, May 2017.JPG south of Newburyport Newburyport/Rockport Line layover/storage
Pawtucket Layover Pawtucket Layover, June 2017.JPG Pawtucket, Rhode Island Providence/Stoughton Line layover/storage
Readville Interim Repair Facility Readville Interim Repair Facility, December 2017.JPG north of Readville southside linesRunning maintenance and layover/storage. Expansion into a southside maintenance facility is planned. [2]
Rochester Maintenance FacilityCape Main Line in Rochester Overhaul and maintenance [3]
Rockport Layover Rockport freight house and layover yard October 2013.jpg at Rockport Newburyport/Rockport Line layover/storage
Southampton Street Yard Southampton Street Yard May 2012.JPG south of South Station, Bostonsouthside linesrunning maintenance and midday storage – primarily an Amtrak heavy maintenance facility
Stoughton Layover MBTA train laying over near Stoughton station, April 2016.JPG at Stoughton Providence/Stoughton Line layover
Wamsutta Layover Wamsutta Layover construction from Acushnet Avenue, December 2023.JPG North of New Bedford Fall River/New Bedford Line layover/storage
Weaver's Cove Layover Weaver's Cove Layover near completion, December 2022.JPG North of Fall River Fall River/New Bedford Line layover/storage
West Cambridge Maintenance Facility MBTA Alewife MOW yard, March 2017.JPG south of Alewife northside linesMaintenance of way equipment storage
Westminster Layover Westminster Layover, July 2021.jpg west of Wachusett Fitchburg Line [4] layover/storage
Worcester Layover Locomotives at Worcester Layover (2), June 2017.JPG east of Worcester Framingham/Worcester Line layover/storage

Future yards

List of Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority yards
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7km
4.3miles
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Location of future MBTA yards
1
Beacon Park Yard
2
Medford garage
3
Quincy Bus Maintenance Facility
4
Widett Circle
NameLocationRoutes served
Beacon Park Yard Beacon Park Yard with second mainline track construction, October 2016.JPG At Beacon Park YardMidday layover for the Worcester Line. To be constructed by 2032 as part of the realignment of I-90. [5]
Medford garage440 Riverside Avenue, Medford Will replace Lynn Garage and Fellsway Garage. The MBTA purchased the property in August 2025. [6]
Quincy Bus Maintenance Facility Quincy Bus Garage construction April 2025.jpg North of Quincy Adams Will replace Quincy Garage. Expected completion in 2027. [7]
Widett Circle Facing east along Widett Circle loop trck, March 2022.JPG Inside Widett CircleLayover yard for southside lines. The MBTA Board authorized negotiations for property purchase in December 2022. [8] [9] The MBTA took possession of the property in April 2023. [10]

Former yards

List of Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority yards
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30km
19miles
4
3
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Location of former MBTA Commuter Rail yards
1
Attleboro Layover
2
Fitchburg Layover
3
Haverhill Layover
4
Ipswich Layover
List of Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority yards
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3km
1.9miles
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Location of former MBTA subway and bus yards (including subway yards converted to bus facilities)
1
Arborway Yard
2
Bennett Carhouse and Eliot Shops
3
Everett Shops
4
Forest Hills Shops
5
Lechmere Yard
6
Sullivan Square Shops
7
Watertown Yard
8
Bartlett Yard
NameLocationRoutesUseClosed & reason
Attleboro Layover Aerial image of Attleboro Layover, March 2002.jpg south of Attleboro Providence/Stoughton Line layover/storage2006; replaced by Pawtucket Layover
Bennett Carhouse MBTA 8510 at Bennett Street Carhouse in 1967.jpg south of Harvard Square, CambridgeHarvard-based streetcar and trackless trolley routesmaintenance and storage1970; Eliot Shops closed
Eliot Shops Red Line cars at MBTA Eliot Shops in 1967.jpg south of Harvard Square, Cambridge Red Line (also Blue Line from 1924–1952)maintenance and storage1970; redevelopment
Fitchburg Layover MBTA train passing East Fitchburg Yard, December 2014.JPG east of Fitchburg Fitchburg Line layover/storage2016; replaced by Wachusett Layover
Forest Hills Shops Forest Hills Inspection Shop, June 1925.jpg south of Forest Hills Orange Line maintenance and storage1987; completion of the southwest Corridor
Haverhill Layovernorth of Haverhill Haverhill Line layover/storage1987; replaced by Bradford Layover
Ipswich Layover Former layover tracks in Ipswich, May 2017.JPG south of Ipswich Newburyport/Rockport Line layover/storage1998; extension to Newburyport
Lechmere Yard MBTA Type 7 trolleys in Lechmere Yard in 2006.jpg at Lechmere Green Line layover/storage2020; relocation of Lechmere station
Sullivan Square Shops MBTA Sullivan Square shop in 1967.jpg at Sullivan Square Orange Line and streetcars maintenance and storage1975; completion of the Haymarket North Extension
Bartlett YardRoxbury near Nubian Square MBTA bus and streetcars maintenance and storage2005; operations moved to Arborway Yard in 2003 [11] [12]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Ridership and Service Statistics" (PDF) (14th ed.). Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. 2014.
  2. "Executive Summary" (PDF). South Side Maintenance and Layover Facility EENF. Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. November 2022.
  3. "Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority FY23-27 Capital Investment Plan (CIP): Proposed" (PDF). Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. March 2022.
  4. "MBTA Wachusett Commuter Rail Extension Project". Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. Archived from the original on March 15, 2016. Retrieved March 24, 2016.
  5. "Allston Multimodal Project Fact Sheet". Massachusetts Department of Transportation. 2021.
  6. "440 Riverside Avenue Medford, MA" (PDF). Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. August 12, 2025.
  7. Brennan, Christopher E. (October 24, 2023). "MBTA Contract No. R17CN06 – Construction Manager at Risk Services for the MBTA Quincy Bus Maintenance Facility Project: Final Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) Amendment" (PDF). Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. pp. 12, 15.
  8. Henderson, Richard (December 15, 2022). "Widett Circle Acquisition" (PDF). Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority.
  9. "MBTA Seeks to Purchase Widett Circle Property for Commuter Rail Layover Yard" (Press release). Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. December 15, 2022.
  10. "MBTA completes purchase of land for new commuter yard". Trains News Wire. April 12, 2023.
  11. "Final Draft MBTA Bartlett Yard RFP - 9/25/06". Boston Redevelopment Authority. September 25, 2006.
  12. Hamwey, Scott; Markiewicz, Alexandra. "MBTA Bus Facility Modernization Program - New Arborway Bus maintenance Facility and Bus Electrification Project". Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 20, 2022.

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