Green Line (MBTA)

Green Line (MBTA)
4300streetcar · CC BY 4.0 · source
Name	Green Line
Caption	A Kinki Sharyo Type 7 train at Park Street station.
Type	Light rail
System	MBTA
Locale	Greater Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
Start	Boston College (B) Cleveland Circle (C) Riverside (D) Union Square / Medford/Tufts (E)
End	Government Center (B, C, D) Heath Street (E)
Stations	70
Daily ridership	137,800 (FY2019)
Open	1897 (Tremont Street subway)
Owner	MBTA
Operator	MBTA
Character	At-grade, elevated, and underground
Stock	Kinki Sharyo Type 7, AnsaldoBreda Type 8, CRRC Type 9
Linelength	23 mi

Green Line (MBTA). The Green Line is a light rail system operated by the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) in the Greater Boston area. As the oldest subway line in North America, its core section through the Tremont Street subway opened in 1897. The line operates four primary branches—labeled B, C, D, and E—that converge in a central tunnel through Downtown Boston, serving key areas including Boston University, Fenway–Kenmore, and Somerville.

History

The line's origins trace to the late 19th century with horse-drawn streetcars operated by the West End Street Railway, which were later electrified. The groundbreaking Tremont Street subway was constructed to relieve congestion on surface streets, with its initial segment opening between Park Street and the Public Garden. The system expanded significantly in the early 20th century through acquisitions by the Boston Elevated Railway, incorporating former Boston and Albany Railroad routes that became the Highland branch and Riverside branch. Following the formation of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority in 1964, the line was designated with its color identity as part of a system-wide naming convention. Major late-20th century projects included the relocation of the southern terminal to Government Center and the reopening of the Medford Branch as part of the Green Line Extension.

Service

The Green Line operates four surface branches that feed into the central subway. The Boston College branch (B) runs along Commonwealth Avenue serving Boston University and Boston College. The Cleveland Circle branch (C) travels along Beacon Street through Brookline. The Riverside branch (D) utilizes the former Boston and Albany Railroad right-of-way through Newton. The Heath Street branch (E) runs along Huntington Avenue past the Museum of Fine Arts and Northeastern University. All branches merge at Kenmore or Copley before running through the Tremont Street subway to Government Center, with the new Green Line Extension adding service to Union Square and Medford/Tufts.

Rolling stock

The fleet consists of three types of light rail vehicles. The Kinki Sharyo Type 7 cars, built in the late 1980s, feature a high-floor design. The AnsaldoBreda Type 8 cars, introduced in the late 1990s, are low-floor to improve accessibility. The newest vehicles are the CRRC Type 9 cars, which began entering service in the 2020s to support the Green Line Extension and replace older stock. All trains are powered by overhead lines on surface sections and a third rail in the underground central subway. Maintenance is performed at facilities including the Riverside carhouse and the new Union Square maintenance facility.

Stations

The line serves 70 stations, with a mix of underground, at-grade, and elevated platforms. Major underground stations include the historic Park Street, a key transfer point to the Red Line and Orange Line, and Government Center, which also connects to the Blue Line. Other significant stations are North Station, providing connections to Commuter Rail and the TD Garden, and Copley in Back Bay. Surface stops on the branches are often simple side platforms, while the new stations on the Green Line Extension, such as Lechmere and Union Square, feature full accessibility and modern amenities.

Future plans

The recently completed Green Line Extension represents the largest expansion in decades, adding service to Somerville and Medford. Proposed future projects include potential extensions to Needham and West Station in Allston as part of the Allston Multimodal Project. The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority is also planning a major renovation of the Government Center area and exploring signal upgrades to increase capacity through the central tunnel. Ongoing fleet modernization will see the eventual retirement of the Kinki Sharyo Type 7 cars in favor of new CRRC vehicles.

Category:MBTA Green Line Category:Railway lines opened in 1897 Category:Light rail in Massachusetts