Haymarket station (MBTA)

Haymarket station

Company type	Rapid transit station
Industry	Public transportation
Founded	1898
Headquarters	Boston , United States
Area served	Boston metropolitan area
Owner	Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA)

Haymarket station is a subterranean rapid transit hub operated by the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA), situated at Haymarket Square in the heart of Boston, Massachusetts. It acts as a pivotal interchange connecting the Green Line and Orange Line within the MBTA subway network and also serves as a terminus for several MBTA bus routes heading towards northern and northeastern suburban areas. The station is equipped with two side platforms designated for the Orange Line and one island platform for the Green Line, all of which are fully accessible.

The origins of the station trace back to the opening of the Tremont Street subway, the forerunner to today's Green Line, in 1898, which featured a four-track streetcar facility at Haymarket. Between 1901 and 1908, it additionally accommodated the Main Line, which later evolved into the Orange Line. In 1908, the Main Line was diverted through the Washington Street tunnel, introducing Union and Friend stations at Haymarket Square; these were consolidated and renamed Haymarket in 1967. The MBTA constructed a new station slightly south of the original site in 1971 to replace the old Haymarket station. More recently, closures between 2021 and 2023 occurred due to demolition activities involving a nearby parking structure.

Station layout

The Washington Street Tunnel superseded the Tremont Street subway for use by the Main Line Elevated trains and shares access via the Canal Street incline, resulting in parallel alignment of the Green and Orange Lines at comparable depths beneath Haymarket. Positioned westward, the Green Line consists of two tracks served by an island platform split by a dividing wall. Conversely, the Orange Line operates on two tracks with separate side platforms flanking each track. A connecting sub-passage located at the northern end facilitates transfers between these lines.

Distinct primary entrances exist for each line, although both can be reached through the sub-passage. The Green Line entrance is located just north of Sudbury Street beneath the Government Center Garage, featuring a fare lobby level that leads down to its platform. The Orange Line entrance lies within the Boston Public Market building on the south side of Sudbury Street and includes a mezzanine level situated between street-level fare control and platforms. Elevators provide accessible connections among entrances, platforms, and the inter-line passageway.

Haymarket functions as an important bus transfer point with a currently inactive two-lane busway accessible from Surface Road near the Green Line headhouse. It accommodates numerous MBTA bus routes serving Charlestown, Chelsea, northern suburbs, and regions along the North Shore. Additionally, it serves as a terminus for several early morning bus trips that extend beyond typical subway terminal points; these trips primarily cater to MBTA station personnel but remain available to public riders.

Tremont Street subway

Construction on the Tremont Street subway, destined to become part of the Green Line and including Haymarket station, began in 1894 with its inauguration on September 3, 1898. The initial trolley station featured a more expansive layout than exists today, comprising four tracks with two island platforms. The inner pair of tracks was designated for streetcars from northern suburbs terminating at Brattle Loop near Government Center, while outer tracks were utilized by streetcars continuing through the subway system to portals at Public Gardens and Pleasant Street. All vehicles accessed this subway section via the Canal Street incline, located just north of Haymarket.

Main Line Elevated

The Boston Elevated Railway inaugurated the Main Line on June 10, 1901, operating between and . To accommodate Main Line elevated trains, modifications were made to the Tremont Street subway. Trains originating from the Charlestown Elevated entered through the Canal Street portal and exited via the Pleasant Street portal to connect with the Washington Street Elevated. At Haymarket, elevated trains utilized the outer tracks equipped with temporary raised platforms, while streetcars operated on the inner tracks, which linked to a turnback loop located at Adams Square.

On November 30, 1908, Main Line trains began using the newly opened Washington Street Tunnel, returning the Tremont Street subway exclusively to streetcar operations. Although the Washington Street Tunnel was separate, it shared the Canal Street incline with the Tremont Street subway, situating Main Line platforms at Haymarket adjacent to those of the streetcar subway. These platforms were designated as Union for northbound trains and Friend for southbound services; together they were known as Union–Friend.

Following 1908, streetcars used the outer tracks through the subway, while center tracks served vehicles turning at Brattle Loop near Scollay Square. The final streetcar trips on the inner tracks occurred on July 2, 1949; a shuttle service continued until September 1952. Afterward, these inner tracks were reserved solely for emergency or special transit operations.

MBTA era

On October 28, 1963, a realignment of the tunnel segment between Haymarket and Government Center resulted in the closure of Adams Square station. The outer tracks at Haymarket were reconfigured to provide direct connections to Government Center, while center tracks remained linked to Brattle Loop. Subsequently, on January 26, 1967, the Union and Friend platforms were renamed collectively as Haymarket.

The MBTA introduced a new Green Line platform at Haymarket on May 10, 1971, positioned south of the original station. This island platform occupies space previously held by center tracks; remnants of the original 1898 platforms are still visible within the tunnel. The vacated areas now serve as locations for electrical equipment and storage. Additionally, a new entrance and busway beneath Government Center Garage opened on December 20, 1971. In August 1975, plans were announced to upgrade downtown stations including modernization of Haymarket’s Orange Line platforms.

The Haymarket North Extension, which replaced the Charlestown Elevated, commenced service on April 7, 1975. Beyond Haymarket, Orange Line tracks shifted from using the Canal Street incline to a newly constructed tunnel beneath the Charles River that connects through North Station. In June 2004, Green Line service was rerouted via a new tunnel leading to a renovated "superstation" at North Station. This arrangement facilitates convenient cross-platform transfers for inbound Green and Orange Lines and provides full outbound connections, thereby reducing Haymarket’s function as a primary rail transfer point. Nevertheless, Haymarket continues to serve as an important bus transfer hub with numerous routes converging there.

Renovations

Between 2000 and 2001, renovations linked to the Parcel 7 project introduced elevators at Haymarket station, enhancing accessibility for Orange Line riders. A $15 million initiative from 2001 to 2003 implemented raised platforms at both and Haymarket stations. On June 24, 2019, the MBTA awarded a $29.7 million contract aimed at cleaning efforts, replacing wayfinding signage, and making improvements at North Station, Haymarket, State, and Downtown Crossing stations. Most cosmetic enhancements at Haymarket were completed by September 2019 with final work concluding in June 2021.

The Bulfinch Crossing development is planned over the busway during the early 2020s and includes upgrades to both the Green Line entrance and busway facilities. Though temporary station closures were initially considered during construction phases, they were ultimately avoided; however, some temporary closures of the north headhouse remain possible. Demolition of the garage above the station was slated for December 2020 but was postponed due to COVID-19 impacts. The busway closed on June 28, 2021; buses were rerouted onto adjacent streets during this period. Weekend closures of Green and Orange lines along with station shutdowns occurred in early 2022 to facilitate demolition work. The entire development project including new busway construction is expected to span approximately three years.

Following a garage collapse on March 26, 2022, both Orange and Green Line services were suspended pending thorough tunnel inspections. Orange Line service resumed on March 29 with trains bypassing Haymarket; Green Line operations restarted April 9 after debris clearance and inspections but with Haymarket station remaining closed for standpipe repairs until reopening April 10. Service disruptions recurred from June 23 to June 26 due to deterioration of a garage support column.

Haymarket underwent closure during August through September 2022 coinciding with overlapping Orange Line (August 19–September 18) and northern Green Line (August 22–September 18) shutdowns for maintenance activities and garage demolition. Weekend closures of both lines persisted into early 2023 for continued garage construction efforts. Additionally, Green Line service was suspended again from September 18 to October 12, 2023; during this interval Orange Line trains did not stop at Haymarket.

External links

• MBTA – Haymarket Station
• Google Maps Street View: Congress Street entrance, Surface Road entrance