Melrose/Cedar Park station
| Company type | MBTA Commuter Rail station |
|---|---|
| Industry | Transportation |
| Founded | July 1, 1845 |
| Headquarters | Melrose , United States |
Melrose/Cedar Park station serves as a stop on the MBTA Commuter Rail network located in downtown Melrose, Massachusetts. It accommodates two tracks of the Haverhill Line with two low-level platforms; however, it does not offer accessible facilities.
History
The Boston and Maine Railroad (B&M) inaugurated the rail line from Wilmington Junction to Boston on July 1, 1845, shortly thereafter establishing a station at Emerson Street in North Malden.[1][2] Initially situated in a sparsely inhabited region, the station building also served as a post office and was occasionally used as a space for church services.[2] In 1850, North Malden separated from Malden to become Melrose, prompting the station’s renaming to Melrose.[2][3]
As Melrose’s main station historically, it was supported by nearby stops including Wyoming Hill station and Melrose Highlands station.[1] The original station on the east side was later replaced by a building on the west side, which was subsequently converted for freight purposes.[2][4][5] Neither of these structures remains today; however, portions of the platform canopies still exist as shelters.[6]
Following the creation of the MBTA in 1964 to subsidize commuter rail operations, funding for service on this route (then known as the Reading Line) commenced on January 18, 1965.[7][1] Although an extension of the Orange Line to Reading was planned and would have included Melrose, it was ultimately canceled due to financial constraints. Around 1978, the MBTA updated the station’s name to Melrose–Cedar Park.[8] By this time, the original station building had been torn down.[9]
By 2018, Melrose/Cedar Park ranked near the bottom in terms of ridership—128th out of 139 stations—with an average weekday boarding count of 99.[10] In November 2020, the MBTA proposed closing this station along with five others with low patronage and no accessibility features.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name Nevertheless, in December 2020, the MBTA Board opted to keep Melrose/Cedar Park operational due to its position within a densely populated, walkable neighborhood where many residents do not own vehicles.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad nameCite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name
From September through November 2023, rail service on the inner segment of the Haverhill Line was suspended for signal system upgrades; during that period, all stops including Melrose/Cedar Park were served by substitute bus service.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name
In 2024, as a cost-saving temporary measure ahead of full renovations, the MBTA trialed freestanding accessible platforms at Beverly Depot. In May 2024, Melrose/Cedar Park was listed among potential stations for similar accessibility improvements in the future.[11]
External links
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Cite error: Invalid
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<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedgoss - ↑ Barrett, Richard C. (1996). Boston's Depots and Terminals. Railroad Research Publications. pp. 137–147. ISBN 1884650031.
- ↑ . 1889. pp. 62–63.
{{cite book}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ . 1904. pp. 84–85.
{{cite book}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ . 1979. p. 28.
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