Fitchburg Line

Infobox rail line
name = Fitchburg Line

---

image_width = 250px
caption = Train #465 entering Porter, bound for South Acton.
type = Commuter rail
system = MBTA Commuter Rail
status =
locale = Greater Boston
start = Fitchburg
end = North Station
stations = 18
routes =
ridership =
open =
close =
owner = MBTA
operator = MBCR
character = Commuter rail line
stock = Commuter rail cars
linelength = 49.55 mi (79.44 km)
tracklength =
notrack =
gauge = RailGauge|sg
el =
speed =
elevation =

The Fitchburg Line is an MBTA line that runs from Boston's North Station to Fitchburg, Massachusetts. The line is along the tracks of the former Fitchburg Railroad, which was a railroad line across northern Massachusetts, United States, leading to and through the Hoosac Tunnel. It is one of the more scenic commuter rail lines, passing by Walden Pond between Lincoln and Concord.

History

The Fitchburg Railroad opened between 1840 and 1845 from Boston to Fitchburg. The Boston and Maine Railroad leased the Fitchburg Railroad in 1900 and bought it finally in 1919. It was sold to the MBTA on December 27, 1976.

Passenger service ran only to Fitchburg after 1960, after Boston and Maine eliminated its through service to its western terminal in Troy, NY. On January 18, 1965 service was cut back to West Concord, but was restored to Ayer on June 28, 1965. On March 1, 1975 it was cut back to South Acton, but was restored to Fitchburg and beyond to Gardner on January 13, 1980. Gardner service was ended on January 1, 1987 when Amtrak took over the MBTA contract, due to a dispute between Amtrak and Guilford; the MBTA only owned the trackage to Fitchburg. The Fitchburgh route was once a double tracked from Boston to Troy, NY. Double tracks only extend to Acton, MA which is why, operationally, South Acton is the only station beyond Cambridge at which every train stops.

The Fitchburg Line west of the old Stony Brook Railroad, which now junctions east of the old Ayer Junction, now serves as part of Guilford's main line between Mattawamkeag, Maine and Mechanicville, New York.

Planned Improvements

There is a plan to upgrade the Fitchburg Line to have cab signaling. In conjunction with this $70m upgrade, plans include track rehabilitation to increase speed and the extention of double track from South Acton to Ayer to increase capacity. [http://www.telegram.com/article/20071130/NEWS/711300676/1116]

Accessibility

Only five of the stations, including both terminals, are wheelchair accessible (see below). See also MBTA accessibility.

tation listing

External links

* [http://www.mbta.com/schedules_and_maps/rail/lines/?route=FITCHBRG MBTA - The Fitchburg Line]

References

* [http://members.aol.com/eddanamta/busfiles/contents.pdf Changes to Transit Service in the MBTA district] (PDF)
*Mileposts from [http://safetydata.fra.dot.gov/OfficeofSafety/Downloads/Default.asp?page=downloaddbf.asp FRA Highway-Rail Crossing Inventory Files] and [http://www.angelfire.com/tn/johnscnotppage/guilforddistrict3.html Guilford District 3]