Melrose Highlands station
| Company type | MBTA Commuter Rail station |
|---|---|
| Industry | Public transportation |
| Founded | 1845 |
| Headquarters | Melrose, Massachusetts , United States |
Area served | Melrose Highlands, Melrose, Massachusetts |
| Products | Commuter rail services on the Haverhill Line |
| Website | www |
Melrose Highlands station serves as an MBTA Commuter Rail stop on the Haverhill Line, situated within the Melrose Highlands area of Melrose, Massachusetts. Recognized as the most heavily trafficked station in the city, it was originally intended to be part of an Orange Line extension reaching Reading, a plan that was ultimately abandoned. The station is fully accessible.
History
The Boston and Maine Railroad (B&M) commenced operations on its route from Wilmington Junction to Boston on July 1, 1845. Shortly afterward, Stoneham station was established on Franklin Street in the eastern section of Stoneham.[1] In 1853, this district was incorporated into Melrose and renamed Melrose Highlands.[2]
For competitive purposes against the rival Boston and Lowell Railroad (B&L), which had more direct access to downtown Stoneham and inaugurated the Stoneham Branch in 1862,[1] B&M retained the Stoneham designation. After B&M leased B&L in 1887, eliminating competition, the station was renamed Melrose Highlands, although the former name continued to be used locally for some time.[3][4]
Initially positioned on the west side of the tracks just south of Franklin Street,[3] a larger facility was constructed north of Franklin Street in 1903.[5] This structure was demolished by the middle of the 20th century.
The MBTA, formed in 1964 to provide subsidies for suburban commuter rail operations, began supporting service on what is now called the Haverhill Line (formerly Reading Line) starting January 18, 1965.[6] Accessibility enhancements were made in January 2006 with the installation of mini-high platforms.[7] From September to November 2023, rail operations on the inner portion of the Haverhill Line were temporarily halted for signal system upgrades; during this period, bus replacements served all stations between Reading and Oak Grove.[8]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs named150years - ↑ The history of Melrose. 1902.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs named1889map - ↑ A Gazetteer of the State of Massachusetts. 1890.
- ↑ "Melrose Highlands station, Melrose, Mass". January 1903.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|url=(help) - ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namednetransit - ↑ "Improved Accessibility At Rockport CR Station" (Press release). June 28, 2006.
- ↑ (Press release). August 10, 2023.
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