Greenbush station
| Company type | MBTA Commuter Rail station |
|---|---|
| Industry | Transportation |
| Founded | October 31, 2007 |
| Headquarters | Scituate , United States |
Area served | Greenbush neighborhood, Scituate, Massachusetts and surrounding communities (Norwell, Hanover, Marshfield, Duxbury) |
| Products | Commuter rail service |
Greenbush station serves as the final stop on the MBTA Commuter Rail network within the Greenbush neighborhood of Scituate, Massachusetts, operating along the Greenbush Line.
Station layout
This station consists of one side platform located alongside the easternmost rail track. Nearby lies the Greenbush layover, which contains four tracks designated for overnight train storage. Commuters benefit from a substantial parking facility offering 1000 spaces at a $4.00 fee, accommodating passengers from surrounding communities such as Norwell, Hanover, Marshfield, and Duxbury. This lot provides twice the parking capacity compared to other stations along the line.
History
The origins of the Greenbush Line trace back to the South Shore Railroad, which commenced operations to Cohasset in 1849. The Duxbury and Cohasset Railroad, established in 1867 and opened in 1871, featured a stop initially named South Scituate, later renamed Greenbush in 1877. Following financial difficulties, these railroads consolidated under the Old Colony Railroad in 1877, which subsequently came under lease by the New York, New Haven, and Hartford Railroad in 1893.
As passenger numbers declined, Greenbush evolved into a significant short-turn terminal. Service beyond Greenbush was discontinued in 1939 due to hurricane damage. During World War II, ridership temporarily rose owing to nearby naval installations. Postwar enhancements included more frequent service and the introduction of diesel locomotives; however, ongoing financial deficits led to termination of service in 1959 after the Southeast Expressway opened.
Efforts to restore service began during the 1980s. Following the reopening of other Old Colony lines in 1997, the Greenbush project—costing $534 million—was completed with service recommencing on October 31, 2007.
In 2014, the MBTA initiated a request for proposals to sell an underused eastern parking area for mixed-use development. Although local resistance delayed sales of town-owned parcels in 2016, the MBTA sold its own 4.5-acre lot to The Drew Company for $2.02 million in 2017. The transaction finalized around 2019, leading to construction of a 78-unit residential building between mid-2021 and late 2023, promoting transit-oriented development adjacent to the station.