MBTA opens Yawkey Station

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority opened its new Yawkey Station and marked the start of enhanced passenger rail service on the Framingham/Worcester Line.

MBTA says the Yawkey station, which serves Fenway Park and the Longwood Medical area, is now fully accessible, allows for increased service along the Worcester/Framingham line and will expand economic opportunities for each city and town along the line.

“The opening of Yawkey Station is the culmination of many years of cooperation and partnership to increase access to accessible, convenient and efficient public transportation between Worcester and Fenway,” said Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick. “This project shows that our growth strategy is real, not rhetorical. We must use public investment of time, money and ideas to stimulate growth and build opportunity for our residents.”

During construction, the tracks at Yawkey were realigned to allow for double-track capacity, serving as the catalyst for expanded Framingham/Worcester Line service. This increases commuter options from Worcester to Boston, connecting the commonwealth’s two largest cities, as well as along the entire length of the Framingham/Worcester Line.

With the new schedule, inbound departures from Worcester to Boston increase from 17 to 20 trains per day. Outbound departures from Boston to Worcester will also increase, from 16 to 20 trains per day.

Yawkey Station now has two fully accessible, full-length train platforms, four new elevators and an accessibility ramp. The main entrance is now on the new Yawkey Way Extension, which provides vehicular and pedestrian access off of Brookline Avenue through an area that had been used for Red Sox parking. In addition, new access to Maitland Street and Beacon Street was created, as well as a bike share station and new waiting areas with canopies and windscreens.