Haverhill Line

Last updated
Haverhill Line
MBTA 1639 at Melrose Highlands station, October 2014.JPG
An inbound train at Melrose Highlands station in 2014
Overview
Owner Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority
Locale Northeastern Massachusetts
Termini
Stations15
Service
Type Commuter rail
System MBTA Commuter Rail
Train number(s)200–225, 280–298 (weekday)
1200-1215 (Saturday)
2200-2215 (Sunday)
Operator(s) Keolis North America
Daily ridership5,806 (October 2022) [1]
Technical
Line length33 miles (53 km) [2]
Track gauge 4 ft 8+12 in (1,435 mm)
Route map

Contents

BSicon CONTg.svg
67.1 mi
108 km
former Dover service
67.1 mi
108 km
BSicon eKHSTa.svg
67.1 mi
108 km
BSicon eHST.svg
61.7 mi
99.3 km
BSicon eHST.svg
57.2 mi
92.1 km
BSicon eHST.svg
54.4 mi
87.5 km
BSicon eHST.svg
50.4 mi
81.1 km
BSicon eHST.svg
45.5 mi
73.2 km
BSicon eHST.svg
44.5 mi
71.6 km
BSicon eHST.svg
40.7 mi
65.5 km
BSicon eHST.svg
38.3 mi
61.6 km
BSicon eHST.svg
36.4 mi
58.6 km
BSicon INTACC.svg
32.9 mi
52.9 km
Haverhill
BSicon LOGO Amtrak2.svg
BSicon hbKRZWae.svg
BSicon v-SHI3+l.svg
BSicon SHI3gr.svg
BSicon YRD.svg
BSicon lvACC-.svg
BSicon dSTR.svg
32.5 mi
52.3 km
Bradford
Layover
Bradford
BSicon v-SHI3l.svg
BSicon SHI3g+r.svg
BSicon eHST.svg
26.9 mi
43.3 km
North Andover
BSicon HSTACC.svg
26.0 mi
41.8 km
Lawrence
BSicon YRD.svg
BSicon eHST.svg
23.9 mi
38.5 km
Shawsheen Village
BSicon HSTACC.svg
22.8 mi
36.7 km
Andover
BSicon HSTACC.svg
20.5 mi
33 km
Ballardvale
BSicon CONTgq.svg
BSicon ABZgr+r.svg
BSicon POINTER2.svg
BSicon STRc2.svg
BSicon ABZg3.svg
Wildcat Branch (
limited
service
)
BSicon STR+1.svg
BSicon STRc4.svg
BSicon HST.svg
16.3 mi
26.2 km
North Wilmington
BSicon eHST.svg
BSicon STR.svg
Salem Street
BSicon lCONTf4.svg
BSicon STR~L.svg
BSicon STR2h+4.svg
BSicon dSTR~R.svg
BSicon STR.svg
  Lowell  
BSicon MFADEf.svg
BSicon LSTR.svg
BSicon HSTACC.svg
12.0 mi
19.3 km
Reading
BSicon HST.svg
9.9 mi
15.9 km
Wakefield
BSicon eHST.svg
Wakefield Junction
BSicon HST.svg
8.5 mi
13.7 km
Greenwood
BSicon HSTACC.svg
7.5 mi
12.1 km
Melrose Highlands
BSicon HST.svg
6.7 mi
10.8 km
Melrose/Cedar Park
BSicon HST.svg
6.2 mi
10 km
Wyoming Hill
BSicon cdHUBaq.svg
BSicon ldACC.svg
BSicon udKBHFa.svg
BSicon cdHUBeq.svg
BSicon dACC.svg
5.0 mi
8 km
Oak Grove
MBTA white T logo.svg
BSicon cdHUBaq.svg
BSicon udACC.svg
BSicon cdHUBeq.svg
BSicon dACC.svg
4.5 mi
7.2 km
Malden Center
MBTA white T logo.svg
BSicon udACC.svg
BSicon dSTR.svg
MBTA white T logo.svg Wellington
BSicon udACC.svg
BSicon dSTR.svg
MBTA white T logo.svg Assembly
BSicon udSTR.svg
BSicon cdv-ABZg+l~R.svg
BSicon cSTRq.svg
BSicon dCONTfq.svg
BSicon dMFADEg.svg
BSicon dLSTR.svg
BSicon ldACC.svg
BSicon udSTR2.svg
BSicon udSTRc3.svg
BSicon dSTR.svg
MBTA white T logo.svg Sullivan Square
BSicon POINTERf@gq.svg
BSicon dSTR.svg
BSicon udSTRc1.svg
BSicon udSTR2+4-.svg
BSicon dKRZ2+4u-.svg
BSicon ud-STR2+4.svg
BSicon uSTRc3.svg
  Lowell  
BSicon DST-L.svg
BSicon DST-R.svg
BSicon ucSTRc1.svg
BSicon udSTR+4.svg
0.8 mi
1.3 km
BSicon dCONTgq.svg
BSicon ABZql.svg
BSicon ABZg+r.svg
BSicon uSTR.svg
  Fitchburg  
BSicon STR.svg
BSicon uHSTACC.svg
MBTA white T logo.svg Community College
BSicon uCONT4+f.svg
BSicon STR.svg
BSicon uSTR.svg
  D  to Union Square
  E  to Medford/​Tufts
BSicon uACC.svg
BSicon STR.svg
BSicon utSTRa.svg
Lechmere
BSicon uhKRZWa.svg
BSicon hKRZWae.svg
BSicon utKRZW.svg
BSicon uhHSTACC.svg
BSicon STR.svg
BSicon utSTR.svg
Science Park
BSicon uhtSTR2a.svg
BSicon BLa.svg
BSicon KACCe.svg
BSicon utSTRc3.svg
BSicon utSTR.svg
0 mi
0 km
North Station
MBTA white T logo.svg MBTA white T logo.svg MBTA white T logo.svg BSicon LOGO Amtrak2.svg
BSicon utSTRc1.svg
BSicon utSTR+4.svg
BSicon utKXACCa-L.svg
BSicon BLe.svg
BSicon utXACC-R.svg
BSicon utSTR.svg
BSicon utCONTf.svg
BSicon utCONTf.svg
  D  to Riverside
  E  to Heath Street

The Haverhill Line (formerly named the Haverhill/Reading Line) is a branch of the MBTA Commuter Rail system, running north from downtown Boston, Massachusetts through the cities and towns of Malden, Melrose, Wakefield, Reading, Wilmington, Andover, North Andover, Lawrence, and Haverhill.

The service operates on the Western Route of the former Boston and Maine Railroad, which extends north to Portland, Maine, though MBTA commuter rail service has not continued north of Massachusetts since 1967.

History

Early cutbacks

1931-built Lawrence station, used until 2005 1931 Lawrence station on 1936 postcard.JPG
1931-built Lawrence station, used until 2005

Until 1959, the Boston and Maine Railroad (B&M) operated commuter service along its Western Route from Haverhill and Reading to Boston. In 1959 the section from Reading to Wilmington Junction became freight-only, and Haverhill commuter trains as well as intercity service from New Hampshire and Maine were rerouted over the Wildcat Branch and the lower Lowell Line. Salem Street stop on the Wildcat Branch opened to replace North Wilmington on the mainline. [3] The MBTA was formed in August 1964 to consolidate and fund Boston's transit system. In December 1964, the MBTA signed a contract to subsidize B&M commuter service within the MBTA funding district. On January 4, the B&M discontinued most interstate service, with a single commuter-oriented round trip to Dover, New Hampshire, the only such service remaining on the Western Route. [3] On January 18, the B&M cut back commuter service to the MBTA-subsidized area; the Dover trip was the only service beyond Wilmington, through in-district Reading local service continued. The Wakefield Junction stop on the Reading Line was discontinued at this time. [3]

On June 30, 1967, the B&M ended all interstate service. The Dover trip was cut back to Haverhill, funded by the towns of Haverhill, North Andover, Lawrence, and Andover. The Salem Street stop was discontinued at this time. [3]

In September 1973, the MBTA purchased the Western Route between Somerville and Wilmington Junction, with the intent to replace all Reading Line service with the Haymarket North Extension of the rapid transit Orange Line. [3] However, local opposition to the extension - largely in Melrose, where rapid transit conversion would have required the elimination of grade crossings, possibly blocking important east-west local roads - and funding issues meant that the Orange Line only reached Oak Grove. A single track was retained for Reading Line service to Melrose, Wakefield, and Reading. Pearl Street station in Malden closed on December 27, 1975 concurrent with the opening of the Orange Line's Malden Center station; a commuter platform at Malden Center - the first high-level platform on the commuter system - opened on May 1, 1977 but closed again in September 1979. [3]

In November 1974, North Andover and Andover declined to renew their subsidies. Service to North Andover station ended on November 15. [4] Days before, Andover commuters and businesses raised funds to continue service until April 1975. On April 7, 1975, town residents voted "overwhelmingly" to reimburse the commuters and subsidize service for an additional year. [5] The town declined to subsidize further service, and the three Andover stops (Shawsheen, Andover, and Ballardvale) were dropped effective April 2, 1976. [6] The round trip, by then stopping just at Lawrence, Bradford and Haverhill, was ended in June 1976. [3] The MBTA bought all B&M commuter equipment and lines on December 27, 1976, including the Western Route from Wilmington Junction to the New Hampshire border. [3]

Restoration

North Wilmington station reopened in 1979 along with the restoration of Haverhill service North Wilmington station platform.jpg
North Wilmington station reopened in 1979 along with the restoration of Haverhill service

Despite the passenger cutbacks, the upper Western Route remained in use by freight. During the 1979 energy crisis, the MBTA restored service to much of the outer northside lines, including trains to Fitchburg and for a time Gardner on the Fitchburg Line, and short-lived service to Concord via the Lowell Line. Weekday service was restored to Haverhill via Reading with funding from the Merrimack Valley Regional Transit Authority on December 17, 1979. Station stops resumed at North Wilmington, Ballardvale, Andover, Shawsheen, Lawrence, Bradford, and Haverhill but not North Andover. [3] Weekend service to Haverhill began on April 27, 1980, but Shawsheen station was closed. [3]

On January 20, 1984, a fire destroyed the wooden trestles approaching the Charles River Bridge. Haverhill/Reading Line trains ran to the normally-unused platform at Oak Grove for transfer to the Orange Line during the disruption. Oak Grove was discontinued as a regular stop when North Station and the drawbridges reopened on April 20, 1985, but the platform at Malden Center was permanently reopened for transfer purposes. [3] The switch may have been made due to a request by John A. Brennan Jr., who was then constructing a large development near Malden Center station. [7]

Daily ridership on the line increased from 2,955 in 1991 to 4,970 in 2001. [8] On December 14, 2001, Amtrak's Downeaster service began operating from Boston to Portland, Maine. [3] The Downeaster runs via the lower Lowell Line and the Wildcat Branch then the Western Route, with a stop at Haverhill. Around this time, some rush-hour Haverhill trains began using the Wildcat Branch to avoid interference from Reading local trains. On December 5, 2005, the new McGovern Transportation Center replaced the old Lawrence station. [3]

2010s improvement projects

Double tracking

Double track being installed in Andover in 2016 Second track construction in Andover, March 2016.JPG
Double track being installed in Andover in 2016

Due to the Reading line being single-tracked along the Orange Line corridor in the 1970s, and most double track removed north of Wilmington after the 1976 discontinuation, the Haverhill Line has the most single track on the MBTA system. [9] In early 2009, the MBTA began planning the addition of double track between Reading and Ballardvale that summer. [9] Those plans fell through, but later that year the MBTA was awarded $51.5 million of stimulus funding for a variety of projects, including $10.2 million for the addition of double track from one mile north of Ballardvale to Andover Street in Lawrence, as well as $7.2 million for signal upgrades. [10] The double tracking will increase capacity on the section of the line shared with freight service, increasing reliability and allowing for possible travel time decreases for the Downeaster. [11] The second track was not extended through Ballardvale station due to limited space for a second platform, but Andover station was to receive a second platform and possibly additional parking following the removal of a town vehicle yard. [12]

Work started in April 2010; a groundbreaking was held in May 2010 with completion then estimated for February 2012. [11] [12] [13] Due to funding issues and construction delays, the work was not finished in 2012. [14] By late 2013, a 1,300 feet (400 m) stone wall at Andover station had been replaced, along with a century-old culvert, as part of drainage improvements. Construction of the track and crossovers was partially complete; the signal system was largely finished. [15] After more delays, the project was completed around 2017. [16] [17] However, second platforms were not built at Andover and Ballardvale, limiting the usefulness of the second track for the MBTA. [18] Instead, Pan Am Railways often uses the second track in Andover to idle freight trains. [17]

In 2011, the Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority won a $20.8 million federal grant to add additional double track from Wilmington Junction to just south of Ballardvale station. [19] This second section of double track is largely for use by Downeaster trains but may benefit MBTA trains using the Wildcat Branch as well. The $26.0 million project (including a $5.2 million match from the MBTA) included 14,100 feet of new double main, rebuilt interlockings at Wilmington Junction and Lowell Junction, a maintenance-of-way siding at Wilmington Junction, preparing three grade crossings on the Wildcat Branch for future double tracking, and replacement of 5 miles of old track between Lawrence and Bradford. Work began in 2012 and was completed around 2017. [20] [21]

Bridges

Merrimack River Bridge work in May 2017 Merrimack River Bridge during rehabilitation (2), May 2017.JPG
Merrimack River Bridge work in May 2017

Several bridges on the line were in poor condition, including the twelve-span, 1,042-foot (318 m)-long bridge over the Merrimack River between Bradford and Haverhill. [22] A single-track covered bridge was built in 1839, and was replaced with a two-track steel truss bridge on the same piers in 1881. [23] In 1904–05, the bridge was raised 11 feet (3.4 m) at the south end and 13 feet (4.0 m) at the north end as part of a grade crossing elimination project. A temporary one-track wooden trestle was constructed to the west of the bridge; the truss spans were jacked up 2 feet (0.61 m) at a time while the masonry piers were built up under them. [24] The truss spans were replaced in 1919, again reusing the piers; the northern approach over Washington Street was replaced in 1928. [22] In 2008, the MBTA began a $3 million project to repair the bridge. [25] However, traffic on the bridge was still under heavy speed restrictions, with one freight train at 5 miles per hour (8.0 km/h) or two passenger trains at 15 miles per hour (24 km/h) allowed. [26]

In 2010, the state applied for $110.8 million in federal funding to replace the bridge, but the request was denied in May 2011. [26] In December 2011, the state received $10 million in TIGER stimulus funds to aid in rehabilitation of the bridge, then to cost $43 million. Passenger train speeds would be increased to 40–60 miles per hour (64–97 km/h), while freight speeds will be increased to 30 miles per hour (48 km/h) and maximum car loading increased to the 286,000-pound (130,000 kg) standard. [27] The MBTA awarded a $23.9 million contract for the first phase in early 2014, with construction expected to last from April 2014 to April 2017. [28] By 2014, the total cost was expected to reach $100 million. Some off-peak trains were substituted with buses during the repairs, and service was suspended on six weekends between September 2014 and November 2016. [29] The second phase of bridge reconstruction - repairs to the piers - lasted from 2016 to 2019. [30] Additional scour protection work was completed in 2021. [31]

Repairs were also made to two smaller arch bridges over the Shawsheen River in Andover, both dating to the line's opening in 1839. The historic bridges were no longer able to support modern train loads; instead, fill was removed from the arch and modern flat steel bridges placed inside them. The steel bridges carry the train loads so that the stone arches need merely support their own weight. The $10.9 million project began in September 2012, with substantial completion in September 2013 and full completion a year later. [32]

Plaistow extension proposal and layovers

Prior to 1987, when the system was operated by B&M successor Guilford Transportation Industries, trains were stored overnight on Guilford-owned sidings north of Haverhill station in a largely industrial area. When the MBTA contracted with Amtrak in 1987 to operate the system, a new layover yard for the line was needed. The MBTA constructed a two-track layover yard adjacent to a rebuilt Bradford station at a cost of $2.2 million. It was built without an environmental evaluation process in violation of state law; not until 1992 did complaints from residents prompt the MBTA to belatedly start the process. [33] Because of its proximity to the Bradford residential neighborhood, the noise and diesel fumes from the layover have prompted continued complaint from residents. [34] [35]

The former Plaistow station, which last had passenger service in 1967 Plaistow station, May 2017.JPG
The former Plaistow station, which last had passenger service in 1967

In 2008, Massachusetts entered negotiations to buy property in Plaistow, New Hampshire for a layover yard (to replace the undersized Bradford layover) and a new station. [36] Funding was available, and Plaistow was potentially interested, but wanted to better understand the potential drawbacks of being the location of the layover station. [37] [38] By August 2010, both states said that they were close to reaching a deal that would allow trains to operate over the proposed expansion. [39]

Plaistow residents voted down one extension possibility in 2012, but the extension remained on the table. In August 2013, the New Hampshire Department of Transportation began another study of layover and station sites. [40] A number of station and layover site options were presented in May 2014, and three final options were released in September 2014: a station and layover just past NH-125, a station there with the layover moved just south of the state line, and a station and layover near NH-121A. [41] [42] [43] However, the Plaistow Board of Selectmen voted for the "no build" option to not extend commuter rail to the town in April 2015. [44]

As of 2022, the MBTA plans to relocate and expand the layover facility in the mid-to-late 2020s. [45]

Recent changes

The line was shut down on weekends in September through December 2017 for the installation of Positive Train Control equipment in order to meet a 2020 federal deadline. [46] [3] Substantially reduced schedules due to the COVID-19 pandemic were in effect from March 16 to June 23, 2020, and from December 14, 2020, to April 5, 2021. [3] On January 23, 2021, reduced schedules went into place with no weekend service on seven lines, including the Haverhill Line. [3] Weekend service on the seven lines resumed on July 3, 2021. [47]

Continuous welded rail was installed on an 11.5-mile (18.5 km) section between Fells Interlocking in Malden and the Ipswich River in Wilmington from September to November 2021. Most off-peak service between Reading and North Station was cancelled, with many Haverhill trains operating using the Wildcat Branch. [48] In June 2022, the MBTA indicated plans to add a second track at Reading station by 2023, allowing 30-minute headways between Boston and Reading. Hourly service to Haverhill was also being studied. [49] A second track and platform at Ballardvale is planned. [18]

As of February 2022, the line has 13 Boston–Haverhill round trips and 9+12 Boston–Reading round trips on weekdays, with two inbound and one outbound Haverhill train using the Wildcat Branch. Weekend service has eight Boston–Haverhill round trips. [50] During the closure of the Orange Line from August 19 to September 18, 2022, all Haverhill Line trains stopped at Oak Grove. [51] It was retained as a permanent Haverhill Line stop after the closure. [52] By October 2022, the line had 5,806 daily riders; this represented 82% of pre-COVID ridership, the second-highest percentage on the system. [1]

All service between Reading and Boston was replaced by buses from September 10 to November 5, 2023 during installation of automatic train control and positive train control systems. Service on the outer section of the line operated via the Wildcat Branch and the inner Lowell Line, while North Wilmington station was closed. [53] Beginning May 20, 2024, weekday midday inbound trains were again temporarily routed over the Wildcat Branch during construction work. [54] [55] In 2024, the town of North Andover began a planning study for a potential infill station at the Osgood Landing development. [56]

Station listing

Mileages to the New Hampshire stations are via the Wildcat Branch and Wilmington – 0.4 miles (0.64 km) longer than the mainline through Reading – which was the route used at the time of discontinuance. [57]

State Miles (km) [58] [59] [60] Fare zoneLocationStationConnections and notes
MA 0.0 (0.0)1A Boston Wheelchair symbol.svg North Station BSicon LOGO Amtrak2.svg Amtrak: Downeaster
MBTA.svg MBTA Commuter Rail: Fitchburg, Lowell, and Newburyport/Rockport Lines
MBTA.svg MBTA subway: Orange Line, Green Line (D and E branches)
Aiga bus trans.svg MBTA bus: 4
Aiga bus trans.svg EZRide
0.8 (1.3) Somerville Commuter Rail Maintenance Facility Flag stop for MBTA employees only
4.5 (7.2) Malden Wheelchair symbol.svg Malden Center MBTA.svg MBTA subway: Orange Line
Aiga bus trans.svg MBTA bus: 97 , 99 , 101 , 104 , 105 , 106 , 108 , 131 , 132 , 137 , 411 ,  430
5.0 (8.0) Wheelchair symbol.svg Oak Grove MBTA.svg MBTA subway: Orange Line
Aiga bus trans.svg MBTA bus: 131 , 132 ,  137
6.2 (10.0)1 Melrose Wyoming Hill Aiga bus trans.svg MBTA bus: 131 , 132 ,  137
6.7 (10.8) Melrose/Cedar Park
7.5 (12.1) Wheelchair symbol.svg Melrose Highlands Aiga bus trans.svg MBTA bus: 131
8.5 (13.7)2 Wakefield Greenwood Aiga bus trans.svg MBTA bus: 137
9.4 (15.1) Wakefield Junction Closed on January 18, 1965
9.9 (15.9) Wakefield Aiga bus trans.svg MBTA bus: 137
12.0 (19.3) Reading Wheelchair symbol.svg Reading Aiga bus trans.svg MBTA bus: 137
16.3 (26.2)3 Wilmington North Wilmington
20.5 (33.0)4 Andover Wheelchair symbol.svg Ballardvale
22.8 (36.7)5 Wheelchair symbol.svg Andover Aiga bus trans.svg MVRTA: 2, 21
23.9 (38.5) Shawsheen Closed April 27, 1980
26.0 (41.8)6 Lawrence Wheelchair symbol.svg Lawrence Aiga bus trans.svg MVRTA: 3, 9
Moved from location 0.4 miles (0.6 km) west in 2005
26.9 (43.3) North Andover North Andover Closed in November 1974
32.5 (52.3)7 Haverhill Wheelchair symbol.svg Bradford
32.9 (52.9) Wheelchair symbol.svg Haverhill BSicon LOGO Amtrak2.svg Amtrak: Downeaster
Aiga bus trans.svg MVRTA:
NH 36.4 (58.6) Atkinson Atkinson Closed June 30, 1967
38.3 (61.6) Plaistow Plaistow Closed June 30, 1967
40.7 (65.5) Newton Newton Junction Closed June 30, 1967
44.5 (71.6) East Kingston Powwow River Closed June 30, 1967
45.5 (73.2) East Kingston Closed June 30, 1967
50.4 (81.1) Exeter Exeter Closed June 30, 1967
Served by Amtrak Downeaster service since 2001
54.4 (87.5) Newfields Newfields Closed June 30, 1967
57.2 (92.1) Newmarket Newmarket Closed June 30, 1967
61.7 (99.3) Durham Durham Closed June 30, 1967
Served by Amtrak Downeaster service since 2001
67.1 (108.0) Dover Dover Closed June 30, 1967
Served by Amtrak Downeaster service since 2001
  Currently operating station

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The Senator Patricia McGovern Transportation Center, also known as the McGovern Transportation Center or simply Lawrence station, is a transit station in Lawrence, Massachusetts. It serves the MBTA Commuter Rail Haverhill Line and Merrimack Valley Regional Transit Authority local bus service. The station, which opened in 2005, is the latest of seven distinct stations located in Lawrence since 1848; it is located in the city's Gateway District.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andover station (MBTA)</span> Train station in Andover, Massachusetts, US

Andover station is an MBTA Commuter Rail station in Andover, Massachusetts. It serves the Haverhill Line. The station has one platform with a mini-high platform for handicapped accessibility serving one track, while the second track lacks a platform. The previous station building, used from 1907 to 1959, is still extant; it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982 as Third Railroad Station.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bradford station</span> Train station in Bradford, Massachusetts, US

Bradford station is an MBTA Commuter Rail station in the Bradford neighborhood of Haverhill, Massachusetts, served by the Haverhill Line. The Haverhill Line's layover yard is located adjacent to the station.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Reading station (MBTA)</span> Train station in Reading, Massachusetts, US

Reading station is an MBTA Commuter Rail station in Reading, Massachusetts. It serves the Haverhill/Reading Line. It is located at Lincoln and High Streets on the western fringe of Reading's central business district. The station's historic depot building was built in 1870 by the Boston and Maine Railroad. The station was the terminus of the line from 1959 until the re-extension to Haverhill station in 1979.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North Wilmington station</span> Train station in Wilmington, Massachusetts, US

North Wilmington station is an MBTA Commuter Rail station in North Wilmington, Massachusetts. It serves the Haverhill Line, and is located off Middlesex Avenue (Route 62). It has some of the most limited station faculties on the MBTA system – a single short non-accessible platform serving the line's single track at the location, with a small parking lot and shelter for passengers. North Wilmington served by most Boston–Haverhill trains except for a small number that use the Wildcat Branch. It is a flag stop except during weekday peak hours.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ballardvale station</span> Train station in Andover, Massachusetts, US

Ballardvale station is an MBTA Commuter Rail station on the Haverhill Line, located in the Ballardvale village of Andover, Massachusetts. The station has a single side platform serving a single track.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wildcat Branch</span> Railway line in Massachusetts, U.S.

The Wildcat Branch is a single track railroad branch line which connects the MBTA Lowell Line in Wilmington, Massachusetts to the MBTA Haverhill Line at Wilmington Junction. The total length of the branch line from the connection with the Lowell Line to the merge with the Haverhill Line is 2.88 miles (4.63 km). It was operated from 1836 to 1848, then rebuilt in 1874, and has been used since.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Salem Street station</span>

Salem Street station was a short-lived commuter rail station in Wilmington, Massachusetts in use from 1959 to 1967. It was located at the Salem Street crossing. It was established by the Boston and Maine Railroad (B&M) as the sole stop on the Wildcat Branch, in the wake of a restructuring brought on by service cuts. In 1965, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority started funding MBTA Commuter Rail service on the B&M routes, but closed Salem Street in 1967.

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