Ballardvale station
| Company type | MBTA Commuter Rail station |
|---|---|
| Industry | Public transportation |
| Founded | 1836 |
| Headquarters | Andover, Massachusetts , United States |
| Products | Commuter rail service |
Ballardvale station operates as an MBTA Commuter Rail stop on the Haverhill Line, situated within the Ballardvale neighborhood of Andover, Massachusetts. This station consists of a single side platform adjacent to one track.
History
The route passing through Ballardvale was initially established by the Andover and Haverhill Railroad in 1836. In 1849, the Boston and Maine Railroad shifted the line approximately westward to better accommodate the expanding industrial center of Lawrence, Massachusetts. The original station building was later repurposed into a private home.
At Andover Street, a new two-story depot designed in the Italianate style was constructed in 1849 to serve as Ballardvale’s station, with an additional baggage room added around 1893. By 1950, this depot was divided, relocated , and transformed into a residence; meanwhile, the separate baggage room functioned as a shelter for passengers for a period.
When the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) was created in 1964 to support suburban commuter rail services, Andover was initially not included within its service district. After service cuts by B&M in 1965 and 1967, local funding preserved commuter rail operations in Andover. However, in November 1974, both North Andover and Andover chose not to continue their financial support, leading to the cessation of service at North Andover. Temporary funding from Andover residents and businesses allowed service to continue until April 1975, when town voters approved a subsidy extension for one more year. Ultimately, service at all three Andover stations ended on April 2, 1976, with the final train run on June 30 of that year.
On December 27, 1976, the MBTA took ownership of most B&M commuter rail assets, including the Western Route. Efforts to reinstate service on the Haverhill Line began in 1978 with regional funding assistance. Service was restored on December 17, 1979, which included reopening Ballardvale station.
In January 1989, the MBTA committed $770,000 toward expanding parking facilities and installing accessible mini-high platforms at both Ballardvale and Andover stations; these improvements were completed by 1992. Although a comprehensive double-tracking initiative occurred between 2010 and 2017 along much of the line, Ballardvale station continues to operate with only a single track. The MBTA has plans to rebuild the station and add a second track to enhance capacity and improve operational reliability.