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The following was submitted by the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority:
The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) recently announced the Winchester Center station on the Lowell Commuter Rail Line will partially reopen on Monday, Sept. 30.
The south end of the station will be fully accessible and will serve passengers riding both inbound and outbound. Signage will direct riders to the platform.
“We’re excited to open a new, improved and accessible Winchester station. Our administration is proud to support the work the MBTA is doing to make our public transportation system more reliable and accessible, and improve quality of life for the people we serve,” said Gov. Maura Healey. “This Winchester station will make it easier for residents to get to and from where they need to go and for visitors to access the area.”
“Public transportation needs to be accessible for all, and we are proud to support MBTA General Manager Phil Eng as he continues to deliver for our communities,” said Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll. “We will continue to our efforts to ensure that all riders have safe and reliable experiences on the T.”
“We are very pleased to be announcing that, effective on Sept. 30, passengers will be able to board and exit trains at Winchester Center and that the station is now fully accessible,” said Transportation Secretary and CEO Monica Tibbits-Nutt. “The MBTA has completed the projects to make the station ADA-compliant, to improve the overall customer experience, and to upgrade safety features. We are grateful to our partners in the community for their patience during construction in Winchester and we appreciate the understanding of the public at large as the MBTA undertakes other critical capital investment projects system wide.”
“The communities we serve deserve safe and accessible public transportation,” said MBTA General Manager and CEO Phillip Eng. “Thank you to the town of Winchester and our riders for their patience and support as well as our System-Wide Accessibility, Capital Delivery, and Railroad Operations teams for their dedication on this project. We’re all committed to delivering a safe, reliable, affordable and accessible transportation system across all modes of the MBTA that everyone can be proud of.”
“We began working on the project to renovate the Winchester Center commuter rail station almost a decade and a half ago,” said Sen. Jason Lewis. “Now, finally, the community will have a safe, modern and fully accessible station that will serve commuters for many years to come and will revitalize downtown Winchester. I’m deeply grateful to my colleagues in the Winchester legislative delegation who have steadfastly championed this project; the Winchester town officials and residents who have helped to guide the project, especially Beth Rudolph; the team at the MBTA who persisted through many design, operational, and financial challenges; and the contractors and construction workers who are making the new station a reality.”
“I am excited to see the new Winchester station begin service again. This project ensures Winchester’s ability to keep commuters on the rails and off the roads, reducing traffic and emissions,” said Sen. Patricia Jehlen. “I am grateful for the years of collaboration and accommodation by residents and businesses to make it successful. I thank my colleagues Sen. Lewis, Rep. [Michael] Day and Rep. [Michelle] Ciccolo for their work together to bring this project about. I hope the dividends of once again having commuters arrive right in Winchester Center will pay off for decades to come.”
“I am encouraged by the initial partial opening of Winchester Center Station,” said Day. “I look forward to seeing the project come to completion to restore full access to Winchester’s vibrant business and cultural district.”
“I’m excited to see this long-awaited project coming to fruition and the station begin to be reopened. Transit services, especially commuter rail, are a vital part of keeping our communities connected and our residents mobile,” said Ciccolo. “I thank the MBTA and its staff for their diligence on this complex project and I am grateful to the public and community for its patience as the construction unfolded. I believe when this station is completed, it will have been certainly worth the wait and will definitely serve the community well for years to come.”
The new Winchester Center station, which will be constructed for approximately $50 million as part of the Winchester Center Station Accessibility Improvements project, will feature side platforms with level boarding that ensure accessibility for all passengers and supports ridership capacity.
Additional key enhancements include:
• Reconstructing ramps and adding three new elevators to provide two fully accessible paths of travel to each platform. Two elevators will be open on September 30, 2024, and the final one will be in service for the full opening.
• Upgrading canopies, signs, railings, and lighting for safety and security
• Adding benches, bike racks, a public address system, and other amenities for comfort and convenience
• Updating walkways, sidewalks, and parking lot area
• A fully accessible raised platform to accommodate longer nine-car trains
Updated information, boarding guidelines for Winchester Center:
The MBTA has issued new guidelines for passengers traveling to Winchester Center Station to ensure a smooth and efficient experience during the ongoing construction project:
• Board into the first two coaches closest to the front of the train to exit at Winchester Center
• To exit the train in Winchester, ride in the first two coaches closest to the leading end of the train. If you are not seated in the first two coaches when the train arrives in Winchester, and cannot travel through the train to reach them, let a crew member know. The train will be moved to align the platform with the exit closest to you.
• Zone 1 fare: Winchester Center station is within Zone 1. A one-way fare costs $6.50 (or $3.25 for Reduced Fare riders).
• An updated Lowell Line schedule will is posted on mbta.com.
Winchester Center station has not seen major repairs since the 1950s. The station closed for repairs in 2021, and the groundbreaking for construction began in 2022.
Construction on the upgraded station is anticipated to be fully completed in December 2024.
