Lansdowne station (MBTA)

Lansdowne station

Company type	MBTA Commuter Rail station
Industry	Public transportation
Founded	1988
Headquarters	Boston, Massachusetts , United States
Area served	Boston, Massachusetts
Products	Commuter rail services

Lansdowne station—previously known as Yawkey station—is a stop on the MBTA Commuter Rail network located in Boston, Massachusetts, serving the Framingham/Worcester Line. Positioned adjacent to the Massachusetts Turnpike within the Fenway–Kenmore district near Kenmore Square, the station lies below street level between Beacon Street and Brookline Avenue.

Originally inaugurated in 1988 as an infill station to provide limited service for games at Fenway Park, it transitioned to full commuter rail operations in 2001. The station primarily serves passengers traveling to destinations such as Boston University, Kenmore Square, and the Longwood Medical and Academic Area. At first, inbound and outbound trains used a single two-car platform on the inbound track, necessitating that riders board or exit from specific train cars.

In 2012, a project commenced to build a fully accessible facility featuring two extended high-level platforms and an overhead pedestrian bridge. Partial boarding was introduced in June 2013, with complete service beginning on March 10, 2014. This enhanced station accommodates all Worcester Line trains and increased projected daily ridership from 585 to 937 boardings and alightings combined. By 2018, average daily usage had risen to 2,491 passengers (1,195 boarding and 1,296 alighting). The Fenway Center development above the station includes a pedestrian deck that connects the station to Beacon Street.

Following the renaming of Yawkey Way back to Jersey Street in May 2018, the station itself was officially renamed Lansdowne on April 8, 2019.

Station design

The station is completely accessible, equipped with two full-length high-level platforms. Due to a sharp curve at the site, the outbound side platform is uniquely situated between the tracks to avoid gaps at train doors that would occur on a convex platform.

An overhead footbridge with stairs and elevators provides access between the platforms and Overland Street. Additionally, the Fenway Center’s pedestrian deck extends along the west side of the platforms, linking Beacon Street with the footbridge. Stairways also grant access to Beacon Street from both ends of the platforms.

Four MBTA bus routes — — serve Brookline Avenue at Jersey Street. Approximately 0.25 miles northeast lies Kenmore station, offering transfers to the B, C, and D branches of the MBTA Green Line, as well as bus route .

Former stations

The Boston and Worcester Railroad (B&W) reached West Newton on April 16, 1834, soon extending further west. Around 1844, an early commuter stop was established near what is now Kenmore Square. This stop was known by various names including Beacon Street, Mill Dam, Brookline, and Brookline Junction—the latter reflecting its connection to the 1848 Brookline branch (later known as the Highland branch)—and functioned as an important commuter hub. By 1857, passenger services moved to Cottage Farm station (later called University station) on Commonwealth Avenue. Mill Dam continued serving Brookline branch trains for some time afterward. The successor company, Boston and Albany Railroad, operated a freight yard at Brookline Junction well into the twentieth century.

Service on the Highland branch ceased on May 31, 1958, when it was converted into what is now the Riverside Line; however, a freight spur at Brookline Junction remained active until the 1970s. In February 1958, the B&A attempted to discontinue stops at University, Brighton, and Faneuil but maintained minimal service until completely ending commuter operations east of in April 1959. Remaining commuter routes were brought under MBTA subsidy in 1973 and eventually evolved into today’s publicly operated Framingham/Worcester Line.

Game-day service

The station, originally named after Boston Red Sox owner Tom Yawkey, commenced operations on April 29, 1988, primarily to accommodate special baseball trains serving Fenway Park. It functioned for Framingham Line trains as well as weekend-exclusive "Fenway Flyer" services originating from the Attleboro (now Providence/Stoughton), Fairmount, and Franklin routes. Service expansions included the Attleboro and Fairmount lines starting July 12, 1988, followed by the Franklin line on July 27. In 1990, the "Fenway Flyer" attracted approximately 58,000 riders annually. The station’s growing usage eventually led to the introduction of standard commuter services, which diminished reliance on the "Fenway Flyer" specials; however, some weekend Providence line trains continued stopping there until 2007. Comparable special event train services remain operational at Foxboro station for events held at Gillette Stadium.

Constructed initially with a low-level asphalt platform and lacking accessibility features, the station was later modified in response to the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. On March 14, 1990, construction began on a mini-high platform, though it only served one of the two tracks, which restricted the number of trains able to stop at the station.

Regular service

At the start of the 2000s, the MBTA conducted a study exploring full-time commuter rail service to what was then called Yawkey station. This aimed to better serve employees commuting to nearby locations such as Boston University, Kenmore Square, and the Longwood Medical and Academic Area. An August 2000 supplementary report evaluated options for enhancing game day service, including running trains from the Plymouth/Kingston Line, establishing a shuttle between South Station and Yawkey, improving Green Line frequency, and providing bus connections to both the Red Line and Ruggles station. Consideration was also given to constructing a dedicated terminal spur along the former Highland branch.

Full weekday commuter rail service was launched on January 2, 2001, with four round trips daily; weekend service remained limited to game days initially. Regular weekend operations commenced on April 30, 2001. Between 2001 and 2014, most trains traveling in peak directions included stops at the station, whereas many off-peak trains bypassed it. Prior to renovations in 2012, certain trains only stopped during Red Sox games.

New station

In August 2007, the MBTA released a feasibility report advocating for the reconstruction of a fully equipped station featuring a footbridge and elevators connecting to Beacon Street. The analysis anticipated a 60% increase in ridership, projecting daily boardings to rise from 585 to 937. On November 15, 2010, Governor Deval Patrick and other officials initiated construction on a $13.5 million redevelopment scheduled for completion by spring 2012.

This modernized station includes two extended high-level platforms designed for accessible boarding, linked by an overhead pedestrian bridge that removes the need for passengers to cross tracks when boarding outbound trains. The station’s design was integrated with Fenway Center, a predominantly private development planned above the adjacent Massachusetts Turnpike (I-90), which was intended to utilize solar power following its opening. Although developers requested temporary closure during construction, the MBTA maintained continuous station operation. Fenway Center incorporates pedestrian pathways providing direct access to Beacon Street and Brookline Avenue; an air-rights agreement was finalized in May 2013.

Construction commenced in June 2012, with single-tracking through the station beginning in August. Platform installation took place in late November, followed by the start of elevator shaft construction in February 2013. A temporary ramp opened in June 2013, after which the old platforms were removed. The pedestrian bridge was installed in August 2013, and track and platform work concluded by September.

The fully rebuilt station opened on March 10, 2014, coinciding with increased Framingham/Worcester Line service—previously, 17 trains stopped daily; after reopening, all 48 daily trains made stops. The opening was postponed from January due to elevator complications and timetable adjustments. The walkway connecting the station to Fenway Park is adorned with illuminated statues featuring retired Boston Red Sox uniform numbers.

In July 2017, the developer paid $21 million to postpone constructing the deck over the station; lease agreements were finalized in December. The initial phase of the project introduced a pedestrian deck linking Beacon Street with the footbridge. On December 1, 2018, staircases from Beacon Street were closed due to Fenway Center construction; their reopening was delayed from March 2020 into 2021. Following special events at Fenway Park, the MBTA occasionally operates commuter rail shuttle services between Lansdowne and South Station.

Lansdowne is also proposed as an intermediate stop on East-West Rail, which aims to provide intercity rail service connecting Boston and Pittsfield.

Cancelled plans

The station was once considered as a stop on the Urban Ring, a proposed circumferential bus rapid transit (BRT) route designed to link existing radial MBTA rail lines and alleviate downtown congestion. Preliminary plans from 2008 indicated access via Mountfort Street and a new tunnel running parallel to the Green Line D branch, with a surface-level station at Overland Street. However, this project was discontinued in 2010.

In 2014, state planners included this stop in the proposed Indigo Line system, which would have operated frequent DMU service; this initiative was also cancelled in 2015.

Renaming

In December 2015, The Boston Globe columnist Adrian Walker advocated for renaming both Yawkey Way and Yawkey station due to Tom Yawkey’s controversial legacy related to racial integration—the Red Sox being the last major league team to integrate. By August 2017, amid national discussions on removing Confederate monuments, the Red Sox organization expressed support for changing the street’s name. Subsequently, legislation was introduced in the state legislature to rename the station.

The street name change received approval in April 2018 and was implemented in May of that year. While the MBTA announced intentions to rename the station, no new name was initially selected. On March 28, 2019, the MBTA confirmed that the station would be renamed Lansdowne, after nearby Lansdowne Street, effective April 8.

External links

• MBTA – Lansdowne Station
• Google Maps Street View: View from I-90, David Ortiz Drive perspective, Beacon Street angle
• Fenway Center official site