Published in the September 14, 2017 edition.
WAKEFIELD — The MBTA plans to temporarily stop weekend commuter rail service along its Haverhill line beginning a week from Saturday.
Earlier this week, Town Administrator Stephen P. Maio and Selectman Mehreen Butt attended an informational meeting in Reading and learned that the shuttle bus service bringing train riders to the T’s Oak Grove station in Malden and Melrose will be free. They will ride in luxury aboard private motor coaches as well.
Maio said in a text message that customers will then pay the normal $2.75 price for the subway at Oak Grove. You can also use a commuter rail pass if you have one.
Multiple motor coaches will run, since one full bus does not equal on train.
On the weekend of October 21 and 22 the shuttles will run to North Station as work will be commenced on the Orange Line.
Temporary bus stops at North Avenue and Greenwood Stations will be marked.
Between Sept. 23 and Dec. 2 (with the exception of Oct. 21 and 22), shuttle buses will leave the North Avenue stop to Oak Grove at 8:54 a.m., 11:49 a.m., 2:54 p.m., 5:54 p.m., 8:59 p.m. and 11:49 p.m. The buses will leave Greenwood about seven minutes later.
The shuttle buses will leave Oak Grove to Haverhill at 9:45 a.m., 12:40 p.m., 3:45 p.m., 6:45 p.m., 9:50 p.m. and 12:25 a.m.
There will be no train service on weekends in Wakefield while the MBTA installs a new train safety control system on the Haverhill commuter rail line.
This is a federally-mandated upgrade that will prevent human error and reduce train collisions and derailments. The MBTA must shut down service to effectively meet deadlines required by the Federal Railroad Administration.
Weekday services will not be impacted.
For updated information go to MBTA.com
