Grafton station
| Company type | MBTA Commuter Rail station |
|---|---|
| Industry | Public transportation |
| Founded | February 23, 2000 |
| Headquarters | North Grafton , United States |
Area served | North Grafton, Massachusetts |
| Products | Commuter rail service (Framingham/Worcester Line) |
Grafton station is a stop on the MBTA Commuter Rail network located in North Grafton, Massachusetts, and is served by the Framingham/Worcester Line. This station is fully accessible, featuring mini-high platforms on both rail tracks.
An earlier station operated from the 19th century until 1960 near what was known as New England Village (later renamed North Grafton). The current facility, situated approximately eastward near the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University, commenced operations in 2000.
Original station
The Boston and Worcester Railroad, which later became part of the Boston and Albany Railroad (B&A), extended service to Worcester starting July 4, 1835. By 1838, a station was established near New England Village. Around 1845, upgrades were made to the station. The Grafton Centre Railroad, a narrow-gauge feeder line, began operations on August 20, 1874. To differentiate it from the terminus at Grafton Centre, the station was renamed North Grafton.
This branch line was converted to standard gauge in 1887, rebranded as the Grafton and Upton Railroad (G&U) in 1888, and extended its reach to Milford by 1890. Passenger service was electrified in 1902 and operated via streetcars managed by the Milford and Uxbridge Street Railway. North Grafton functioned as a transfer hub connecting B&A trains, G&U streetcars, and the Worcester Consolidated Street Railway lines serving both Worcester–Westborough and the Grafton Centre branch.
The Worcester Consolidated Street Railway discontinued its suburban routes between 1925 and 1931 due to financial difficulties; service to Westborough ended in 1927 and to Grafton in 1931. Streetcar operations on the G&U ceased on August 31, 1928, although freight services persisted. The railroad continues to operate a yard at North Grafton, where a freight house constructed between 1930 and 1957 remains active.
North Grafton remained a stop for B&A commuter trains until April 24, 1960, when most stations west of Framingham were eliminated. In August 1973, the MBTA began subsidizing service between Boston and Framingham (which had been run by Penn Central since 1968). By October 27, 1975, the final Worcester round trip was shortened to terminate at Framingham.
Current station
Service to Worcester was reinstated in 1994 to alleviate delays associated with reopening the Old Colony Lines. Initially operating nonstop between Framingham and Worcester, additional intermediate park and ride stations were subsequently introduced to improve scheduling issues related to the Greenbush Line. The final environmental impact statement for new stations at Grafton and Millbury was published in 1996; however, construction of Millbury station did not proceed.
The present-day Grafton station began service on February 23, 2000, marking the first of four infill stations added along the Framingham/Worcester Line. Positioned roughly east of the original North Grafton location near Massachusetts Route 30, it lies adjacent to the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine and redevelopment zones of the former Grafton State Hospital. This station supports plans for transit-oriented development aimed at further utilization of the hospital property.
The station comprises two low-level side platforms serving both tracks of the Worcester Line. Accessibility is ensured by mini-high platforms located at their western ends. The parking area on the north side connects directly via a ramp to the outbound mini-high platform. Additionally, a pedestrian footbridge links this lot to the inbound platform, complete with a ramp leading to its mini-high section.