Updated 12/23/2018
"Sticky page" for helpful nuggets of info I have gathered and that you need.
If you came to this page directly, don't forget to read my main blog page, and also the helpful links page.
1) Glossary: I have created a glossary of terms that you may find helpful. Access the glossary here.
2) Blog Index: Looking for a particular blog post here? This index of blog posts should help, although I don't update it every time I write a new blog post.
3) T-Alerts: You should sign up for text and/or e-mail T-Alerts to get delay notices sent directly to you: https://alerts.mbta.com/. Note that the "@framinghamline" twitter account is NOT operated by the MBTA and NOT 'watched' by a live person. It is an automated Twitter 'repeater' (built by Code for Boston) of the alerts that are broadcast via text message.
4) Lost something? Anything found anywhere on the Framingham-Worcester line (actually all south side lines) is brought to the South Station Lost & Found desk. There are no other Lost & Found locations (for South Side commuter rail lines), and if something is turned into the station agents at Back Bay, it will eventually go to the South Station Lost & Found. Sometimes it might take a day or two for a found item to get there - especially if it is on a train that 'lays over' at Worcester. The Lost & Found desk is around the corner behind the MBTA ticket vending machines at South Station. It is actually a little window with a doorbell. Their hours of operation are 7 AM to 7 PM. You can visit them in person or call them to ask about your lost item: (617) 222-8120. Amtrak has a different phone number for their South Station Lost & Found: (617) 345-7444. I don't know how or if Amtrak and Keolis coordinate lost & found items. If you lose something on the subway, bus, or North Side commuter rail, contact info is listed on this page: https://www.mbta.com/customer-support/lost-and-found
5) Monthly passes can be confusing. There are essentially three types of Commuter Rail monthly passes you can buy:
a) mTicket monthly pass using the app on your phone. This monthly pass doesn't include subway or bus access, since there is no way for a subway gate or bus fare box to read your mTicket pass. For this reason, mTicket monthly passes are discounted $10 from the 'hard copy' physical passes (b & c below).
b) CharlieTicket monthly pass on a paper ticket (technically called a "CharlieTicket"). I think this is the most common monthly pass. This is what you get if you buy a pass at a ticket window or a fare vending machine. Some corporate programs also send you this kind of pass if you get yours at work or through the mail. This CharlieTicket version includes unlimited subway and bus access - the ticket is inserted into a slot on the fare machines at the subway gates or on buses.
c) CharlieCard monthly pass: Finally, the "CharlieCard" monthly Commuter Rail pass. A "CharlieCard" is a hard plastic card (like a credit card). The only way to get these is to order them on-line. "CharlieCard" Commuter Rail monthly passes have the monthly pass printed on one side that you show to the conductor. The cards also include unlimited subway and bus access - they work like a regular 'tappable' CharlieCard to gain access to subway and buses. Many passengers prefer these because they are much more durable than the paper CharlieTickets and it is quicker and easier to tap them to gain access to subway gates (vs. the paper tickets that need to be fed and retrieved from a slot in the subway gate machines or bus fare boxes). Note that while subway or bus only riders can 'reload' a single CharlieCard with multiple monthly passes using the same card, that isn't possible for Commuter Rail monthly passes. The Commuter Rail conductors don't have card readers, so the only way they can validate the pass is visually. For this reason, Commuter Rail CharlieCard monthly passes need to be replaced every month (with the actual month and year printed on one side). Details / announcement here. Order them here.
The freshly redesigned official MBTA fare page is here with additional details. They also have a very helpful FAQ page. The current official MBTA Tariff is here.
6) Parking:
a) Which app? MBTA lots are now managed by Republic parking and payment is by the "PayByPhone" app / system. The official MBTA parking page is here. Although it isn't inside the app there is a helpful index of location numbers for all MBTA parking lots available here. Republic Parking has this ParkMBTA web page with more info on parking and how to use the app (and how to pay if you can't get access to the app).
b) Monthly parking: if you purchase a monthly parking permit using the app or the online portal, you can park in any MBTA parking lot that costs the same or less as your normal lot as long as the lot is on this list. Even though the Framingham lot is 'managed' by the MWRTA, it still participates in the monthly reciprocity program. Town & city owned and managed lots and garages (such as the Worcester Union Station garage) aren't part of the monthly reciprocity program.
c) Framingham is a special case: The Framingham "MBTA" lots, station platforms, and pedestrian bridge are owned by the MBTA but managed by the MetroWest Regional Transit Authority (MWRTA). The MWRTA has started an e-mail service for announcements related to the Framingham station. Subscribe by calling them at 508-283-5080 or by sending them an e-mail at [email protected]. More information about the Framingham parking lots is in this blog post.
d) When do lots hit capacity? Originally created in June 2017, and now updated in December 2018, this VERY non-scientific surveys of fellow commuters has the approximate times each Framingham-Worcester CR lot fills up. This list only considers the official primary lots. Some areas have privately managed (usually monthly permit) lots (for example, there are many around downtown Framingham). Your mileage may vary and I'm not responsible for you missing your train and don't sue me, etc. etc. etc. Note that during the summer ridership is considerably lighter and therefore lots won't fill up as quick. Also, Fridays, school and religious holidays, weather, weeks with a Monday or Friday holiday, tidal cycles, phases of the moon, random events, and anything else you can think of seem to affect the usage of the parking lots. If you disagree with the data below or have something to add, send me a note here.
NOTE: If you don't usually park at one of these lots, and really need to park there, plan on arriving 30 minutes prior to the times of 'reaching capacity' noted below.
Worcester (Union Station garage): doesn't usually fill up
Worcester (Shrewsbury St. surface lot): reaches capacity by 8:00 AM
Grafton: Often full by 7:40 AM. Almost always full by 9:05 AM.
Westborough: usually reaches close to capacity at 7:15 AM and completely full at 7:35 AM
Southborough: usually reaches legal capacity by 7:30 AM
Ashland south lot: reaches capacity by 8:30 AM
Ashland north lot: reaches capacity by 8:30 AM
Framingham north ("banana") lot: usually reaches capacity at 7:40 AM.
Framingham north ("infield") lot: usually reaches capacity at 7:40 AM.
Framingham south (Route 135) lot: reaches capacity by 6:15 AM
Framingham town lot for daily parking, south of Route 135 near Consumer Auto Parts: Usually has spaces available at 8:00 AM. Don't know if it fills up after that. Note it is $5
West Natick: reaches capacity at 7:00 AM
Natick Center: NO daily parking lots
Wellesley Square: definitely fills up, not sure how early
Wellesley Hills: definitely fills up, not sure how early
Wellesley Farms: usually reaches capacity around 8:15 AM
Auburndale: usually reaches capacity around 8:15 AM
West Newton, Webster Street lot: doesn't usually fill up
West Newton, Washington Street lot: doesn't usually fill up before 9:15 AM - but used by people going to local businesses, so can be full at points during day
Newtonville: No lot, but metered spaces filled by ___
7) I hate the terms "inbound" or "outbound" track. Tracks are numbered so there is no confusion. See this post here for more detailed explanation. For the Framingham-Worcester line, it's easy - west of Yawkey, the track on the north side of the line is track 1, while the track on the south side of the line is track 2. MBTA / Keolis Customer Service and the @MBTA_CR twitter folks call track 1 the "outbound" track and track 2 the "inbound" track, even though that's not what always happens, even on the regular schedule. The labeling of tracks in the field (on station signs) reflects the MBTA / Keolis terminology, mostly using "inbound" and "outbound" labels (as opposed to track numbers).
Details:
Between Worcester and Ashland, inbound trains normally board on track 2 and outbound trains normally board on track 1. So on this stretch, the terms "outbound track" and "inbound track" are accurate.
But between Framingham and Boston, rush hour trains use track 2 (both inbound and outbound). Track 1 is the other track.
At all three Newton stations, the only platform is on track 2.
At West Natick and Wellesley Hills, the only parking lots are closest to track 2. At those stations, the only access to the track 1 platform is a walkway across the tracks from the track 2 platform.
I only use track numbers in my twitter and blog posts, so sorry - you need to learn which track is which to play along with me!
8) THIS IS REALLY OLD AND I HAVEN'T UPDATED IT RECENTLY....Routing of trains along with status of 'rail destressing' project as of approximately 5/23/2016 is below and also available here. A detailed explanation of this table is available at item number 4 in this blog post.
"Sticky page" for helpful nuggets of info I have gathered and that you need.
If you came to this page directly, don't forget to read my main blog page, and also the helpful links page.
1) Glossary: I have created a glossary of terms that you may find helpful. Access the glossary here.
2) Blog Index: Looking for a particular blog post here? This index of blog posts should help, although I don't update it every time I write a new blog post.
3) T-Alerts: You should sign up for text and/or e-mail T-Alerts to get delay notices sent directly to you: https://alerts.mbta.com/. Note that the "@framinghamline" twitter account is NOT operated by the MBTA and NOT 'watched' by a live person. It is an automated Twitter 'repeater' (built by Code for Boston) of the alerts that are broadcast via text message.
4) Lost something? Anything found anywhere on the Framingham-Worcester line (actually all south side lines) is brought to the South Station Lost & Found desk. There are no other Lost & Found locations (for South Side commuter rail lines), and if something is turned into the station agents at Back Bay, it will eventually go to the South Station Lost & Found. Sometimes it might take a day or two for a found item to get there - especially if it is on a train that 'lays over' at Worcester. The Lost & Found desk is around the corner behind the MBTA ticket vending machines at South Station. It is actually a little window with a doorbell. Their hours of operation are 7 AM to 7 PM. You can visit them in person or call them to ask about your lost item: (617) 222-8120. Amtrak has a different phone number for their South Station Lost & Found: (617) 345-7444. I don't know how or if Amtrak and Keolis coordinate lost & found items. If you lose something on the subway, bus, or North Side commuter rail, contact info is listed on this page: https://www.mbta.com/customer-support/lost-and-found
5) Monthly passes can be confusing. There are essentially three types of Commuter Rail monthly passes you can buy:
a) mTicket monthly pass using the app on your phone. This monthly pass doesn't include subway or bus access, since there is no way for a subway gate or bus fare box to read your mTicket pass. For this reason, mTicket monthly passes are discounted $10 from the 'hard copy' physical passes (b & c below).
b) CharlieTicket monthly pass on a paper ticket (technically called a "CharlieTicket"). I think this is the most common monthly pass. This is what you get if you buy a pass at a ticket window or a fare vending machine. Some corporate programs also send you this kind of pass if you get yours at work or through the mail. This CharlieTicket version includes unlimited subway and bus access - the ticket is inserted into a slot on the fare machines at the subway gates or on buses.
c) CharlieCard monthly pass: Finally, the "CharlieCard" monthly Commuter Rail pass. A "CharlieCard" is a hard plastic card (like a credit card). The only way to get these is to order them on-line. "CharlieCard" Commuter Rail monthly passes have the monthly pass printed on one side that you show to the conductor. The cards also include unlimited subway and bus access - they work like a regular 'tappable' CharlieCard to gain access to subway and buses. Many passengers prefer these because they are much more durable than the paper CharlieTickets and it is quicker and easier to tap them to gain access to subway gates (vs. the paper tickets that need to be fed and retrieved from a slot in the subway gate machines or bus fare boxes). Note that while subway or bus only riders can 'reload' a single CharlieCard with multiple monthly passes using the same card, that isn't possible for Commuter Rail monthly passes. The Commuter Rail conductors don't have card readers, so the only way they can validate the pass is visually. For this reason, Commuter Rail CharlieCard monthly passes need to be replaced every month (with the actual month and year printed on one side). Details / announcement here. Order them here.
The freshly redesigned official MBTA fare page is here with additional details. They also have a very helpful FAQ page. The current official MBTA Tariff is here.
6) Parking:
a) Which app? MBTA lots are now managed by Republic parking and payment is by the "PayByPhone" app / system. The official MBTA parking page is here. Although it isn't inside the app there is a helpful index of location numbers for all MBTA parking lots available here. Republic Parking has this ParkMBTA web page with more info on parking and how to use the app (and how to pay if you can't get access to the app).
b) Monthly parking: if you purchase a monthly parking permit using the app or the online portal, you can park in any MBTA parking lot that costs the same or less as your normal lot as long as the lot is on this list. Even though the Framingham lot is 'managed' by the MWRTA, it still participates in the monthly reciprocity program. Town & city owned and managed lots and garages (such as the Worcester Union Station garage) aren't part of the monthly reciprocity program.
c) Framingham is a special case: The Framingham "MBTA" lots, station platforms, and pedestrian bridge are owned by the MBTA but managed by the MetroWest Regional Transit Authority (MWRTA). The MWRTA has started an e-mail service for announcements related to the Framingham station. Subscribe by calling them at 508-283-5080 or by sending them an e-mail at [email protected]. More information about the Framingham parking lots is in this blog post.
d) When do lots hit capacity? Originally created in June 2017, and now updated in December 2018, this VERY non-scientific surveys of fellow commuters has the approximate times each Framingham-Worcester CR lot fills up. This list only considers the official primary lots. Some areas have privately managed (usually monthly permit) lots (for example, there are many around downtown Framingham). Your mileage may vary and I'm not responsible for you missing your train and don't sue me, etc. etc. etc. Note that during the summer ridership is considerably lighter and therefore lots won't fill up as quick. Also, Fridays, school and religious holidays, weather, weeks with a Monday or Friday holiday, tidal cycles, phases of the moon, random events, and anything else you can think of seem to affect the usage of the parking lots. If you disagree with the data below or have something to add, send me a note here.
NOTE: If you don't usually park at one of these lots, and really need to park there, plan on arriving 30 minutes prior to the times of 'reaching capacity' noted below.
Worcester (Union Station garage): doesn't usually fill up
Worcester (Shrewsbury St. surface lot): reaches capacity by 8:00 AM
Grafton: Often full by 7:40 AM. Almost always full by 9:05 AM.
Westborough: usually reaches close to capacity at 7:15 AM and completely full at 7:35 AM
Southborough: usually reaches legal capacity by 7:30 AM
Ashland south lot: reaches capacity by 8:30 AM
Ashland north lot: reaches capacity by 8:30 AM
Framingham north ("banana") lot: usually reaches capacity at 7:40 AM.
Framingham north ("infield") lot: usually reaches capacity at 7:40 AM.
Framingham south (Route 135) lot: reaches capacity by 6:15 AM
Framingham town lot for daily parking, south of Route 135 near Consumer Auto Parts: Usually has spaces available at 8:00 AM. Don't know if it fills up after that. Note it is $5
West Natick: reaches capacity at 7:00 AM
Natick Center: NO daily parking lots
Wellesley Square: definitely fills up, not sure how early
Wellesley Hills: definitely fills up, not sure how early
Wellesley Farms: usually reaches capacity around 8:15 AM
Auburndale: usually reaches capacity around 8:15 AM
West Newton, Webster Street lot: doesn't usually fill up
West Newton, Washington Street lot: doesn't usually fill up before 9:15 AM - but used by people going to local businesses, so can be full at points during day
Newtonville: No lot, but metered spaces filled by ___
7) I hate the terms "inbound" or "outbound" track. Tracks are numbered so there is no confusion. See this post here for more detailed explanation. For the Framingham-Worcester line, it's easy - west of Yawkey, the track on the north side of the line is track 1, while the track on the south side of the line is track 2. MBTA / Keolis Customer Service and the @MBTA_CR twitter folks call track 1 the "outbound" track and track 2 the "inbound" track, even though that's not what always happens, even on the regular schedule. The labeling of tracks in the field (on station signs) reflects the MBTA / Keolis terminology, mostly using "inbound" and "outbound" labels (as opposed to track numbers).
Details:
Between Worcester and Ashland, inbound trains normally board on track 2 and outbound trains normally board on track 1. So on this stretch, the terms "outbound track" and "inbound track" are accurate.
But between Framingham and Boston, rush hour trains use track 2 (both inbound and outbound). Track 1 is the other track.
At all three Newton stations, the only platform is on track 2.
At West Natick and Wellesley Hills, the only parking lots are closest to track 2. At those stations, the only access to the track 1 platform is a walkway across the tracks from the track 2 platform.
I only use track numbers in my twitter and blog posts, so sorry - you need to learn which track is which to play along with me!
8) THIS IS REALLY OLD AND I HAVEN'T UPDATED IT RECENTLY....Routing of trains along with status of 'rail destressing' project as of approximately 5/23/2016 is below and also available here. A detailed explanation of this table is available at item number 4 in this blog post.
9) Radio frequencies: If you have a scanner and are interested in listening to the dispatcher and train crews, the frequencies that you should monitor are listed in the glossary under the Dispatcher definition. If you want a scanner, see this recommendation from our own local scanner expert and rail buff (Scanner Master is in Holliston!).
10) Ridership Data: Ever wonder about ridership data for the MBTA commuter rail?
a) First, read this really good article by Steve Koczela (@skoczela) about the ridership data. Bottom line, all of the data collected or cited is suspect.
b) Steve's article mentions the "Blue Book." The most recent Blue Book (2014) is available here.
c) The 2012 MPO study is available here. It is now quite dated, but it does break down ridership to the individual train level (at least according to the schedule then in effect).
11) On-Time Performance: The MBTA publishes on-time performance data to a website where customized reports can be created. Here is the direct link for the Framingham-Worcester line data. The main page is here.
12) Station Information: Ever looking for more information about each station? Blogger "Miles" does great reviews of stations on the MBTA and the Wikipedia articles are also very good. Here's a master index:
Worcester: Official MBTA page - Miles' blog post - Wikipedia article
Grafton: Official MBTA page - Miles' blog post - Wikipedia article
Westboro: Official MBTA page - Miles' blog post - Wikipedia article
Southboro: Official MBTA page - Miles' blog post - Wikipedia article
Ashland: Official MBTA page - Miles' blog post - Wikpedia article
Framingham: Official MBTA page - Miles' blog post - Wikipedia article
West Natick: Official MBTA page - Miles' blog post - Wikipedia article
Natick Center: Official MBTA page - Miles' blog post - Wikipedia article
Wellesley Square: Official MBTA page - Miles' blog post - Wikipedia article
Wellesley Hills: Official MBTA page - Miles' blog post - Wikipedia article
Wellesley Farms: Official MBTA page - Miles' blog post - Wikipedia article
Auburndale: Official MBTA page - Miles' blog post - Wikipedia article
West Newton: Official MBTA page - Miles' blog post - Wikipedia article
Newtonville: Official MBTA page - Miles' blog post - Wikipedia article
Boston Landing: Official MBTA page - Miles' blog post - Wikipedia article - Dave's blog posts about Boston Landing
West Station: Official MBTA page - Miles' blog post - Wikipedia article - Dave's blog posts about West Station
Yawkey: Official MBTA page - Miles' blog post - Wikipedia article
Back Bay: Official MBTA page - Miles' blog post - Wikipedia article
South Station: Official MBTA page - Miles' blog post - Wikipedia article