Malden Center station
| Company type | Transit station |
|---|---|
| Industry | Public transportation |
| Founded | 1845 |
| Headquarters | Malden, Massachusetts , United States |
Area served | Malden and surrounding areas |
| Owner | City of Malden (air rights), Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (station operations) |
Malden Center station functions as an intermodal transit facility operated by the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) in Malden, Massachusetts. Positioned on an elevated platform above Pleasant Street in Malden's downtown area, it accommodates the Orange Line rapid transit and the MBTA Commuter Rail Haverhill Line. The station layout includes a single island platform serving Orange Line trains and one side platform dedicated to commuter rail. Additionally, two busways provide space for several MBTA bus routes.
Rail service through Malden was initiated by the Boston and Maine Railroad in 1845. The initial station was replaced in 1871, followed by a brick structure built in 1892. Although the original station building was sold for private use in 1958, commuter rail trains continued to stop at the site until the current station opened in December 1975. Commuter rail operations at this location were active from 1977 to 1979 and resumed again in 1985. A renovation project between 2003 and 2005 introduced two elevators, improving station accessibility.
Station layout
Located on an embankment just west of downtown Malden, Malden Center station features two tracks and an island platform for the Orange Line on its west side. The Haverhill Line, utilizing the Western Route, runs on a single track with a side platform on the east side. The fare control area is situated beneath the platforms and can be accessed from both sides of the station. Malden Center also serves as a significant terminal for MBTA bus services, with a two-lane busway on the east side and a one-lane busway on the west.
History
The Boston and Maine Railroad (B&M) commenced rail operations through Malden in July 1845. The original two-story wooden depot was replaced in 1871 by a smaller facility located west of the tracks. Construction of a new station began in May 1891 as part of efforts to eliminate grade crossings; this new station opened in 1892. In 1958, the building was sold for $1,000 and was subsequently converted into a restaurant and banquet hall by 1962.
Malden Center station officially opened on December 27, 1975, as part of the MBTA’s Haymarket North Extension of the Orange Line. Expansion to Malden had been pursued for many years by the Boston Elevated Railway, though earlier proposals for an elevated extension were halted due to local opposition. The extension completed in 1975 utilized the existing Western Route embankment instead of extending along Main Street.
When the Orange Line station commenced operations, the former commuter rail platform was closed. A high-level platform was constructed on the Reading Line track but remained unused initially; it began service on May 1, 1977, before closing again on September 1, 1979. Following fire damage to trestles near North Station in January 1984, Malden Center temporarily served as the inbound terminus for the Haverhill Line until service shifted elsewhere in February. North Station reopened in April 1985; while Oak Grove’s platform closed, Malden’s platform reopened—likely influenced by nearby development led by John A. Brennan Jr.
Because of its connection to the Orange Line, Malden Center can function as a temporary inbound terminus for Haverhill Line trains during disruptions between Malden and North Station. It fulfilled this role during reconstruction work on the Woods Memorial Bridge in 2016. Typically, Oak Grove is preferred during weekday service interruptions due to its closer location to double-track segments in Melrose.
Renovations
Distinct from the majority of MBTA stations, the city holds ownership of the air rights above Malden Center rather than the MBTA. By 1983, city officials had proposed constructing a pedestrian bridge to link the station with adjacent developments. In 1989, the MBTA evaluated an accessible footbridge project with an estimated cost of $2.8 million, aiming for completion by 1991.
Although the station was originally built without full accessibility, it included structural accommodations for a future elevator installation. Renovations initiated by the MBTA in 2003 were initially projected to cost $6 million but encountered delays due to updated building codes, ultimately concluding in 2005 at a total expense of $10 million. This refurbishment introduced a second exit stairwell and installed two elevators, thereby achieving full accessible status. Additionally, in 2002, under the public art program, the MBTA placed art panels created by local students at Malden Center and Sullivan Square stations, complemented by painted benches in the lobby area.
By May 2021, enhancements including improved wayfinding signage, upgraded lighting, and other station amenities were finalized. The entire Orange Line, encompassing Malden Center’s platform, was closed from August 19 to September 18, 2022, for maintenance activities; during this timeframe, Haverhill Line service continued uninterrupted at the station. Furthermore, rail operations on the inner portion of the Haverhill Line were suspended between September 9 and November 5, 2023, to facilitate signal system upgrades.
From its inauguration in June 2019 until mid-2023, shuttle transportation provided by Encore Boston Harbor casino connected patrons directly to Malden Center.