Mishawum station
| Company type | MBTA Commuter Rail station (closed) |
|---|---|
| Industry | Public transportation |
| Founded | 1984 |
| Defunct | 2020-12-14 |
| Headquarters | Woburn, Massachusetts , United States |
Area served | Northern Woburn, Massachusetts |
| Products | Commuter rail service (Lowell Line) |
Mishawum station is a permanently closed MBTA Commuter Rail stop on the Lowell Line situated in the northern part of Woburn, Massachusetts, just beyond the Route 128/I-95 highway loop. The station consists of two side platforms that serve a pair of tracks. Mishawum functioned as a limited-service flag stop, mainly catering to reverse commuting traffic destined for a nearby office complex, with no operations during weekends. In 2018, it recorded an average of only 32 boardings on weekdays, placing it among the MBTA's stations with the lowest ridership.
The Boston and Lowell Railroad commenced operations in 1835, establishing a North Woburn station by the mid-1800s. Around 1885, following the inauguration of the Woburn Loop, which introduced a separate North Woburn station, the original station was renamed Mishawum. Throughout the 20th century, service remained minimal until the station's closure around 1950. When the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) took over Boston area commuter rail services in the 1960s, Mishawum was reopened in 1984 as a park-and-ride location. Accessibility improvements took place between 1989 and 1991, and Logan Express bus service began in 1992 but was discontinued in favor of the nearby Anderson Regional Transportation Center in 2001. Subsequently, Mishawum's train service was cut back to three round trips daily and lost its accessible features around 2007. Transit-oriented development included construction of an adjacent office building completed around 2010; however, plans for an accompanying apartment complex never materialized. Since December 14, 2020, the station has remained closed due to schedule reductions linked to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Station design
Situated in northern Woburn just north of the Route 128/I-95 beltway, Mishawum station comprises two side platforms alongside the two tracks of the New Hampshire Main Line. These platforms are located within a cutting that stretches northward from near the Route 128/95 overpass and continues beneath Mishawum Road. Although mini-high platforms are present at the northern ends, they lack platform edges, resulting in non-compliance with accessibility standards. The platforms are connected by a pedestrian level crossing, while a switchback ramp links the westbound (inbound) platform to an at-grade parking area serving adjacent commercial properties.
Former station
Service on the Boston and Lowell Railroad (B&L) began in 1835 featuring express runs between termini; over time, local stops such as North Woburn station were introduced by the 1850s at Middle Street within New Boston village. On November 30, 1885, the Woburn Branch extended northward to rejoin the mainline at North Woburn Junction, forming what became known as the Woburn Loop and establishing a new North Woburn station centrally located in the village. Consequently, the original Middle Street station on the mainline was renamed Mishawum—a name derived from the indigenous term for present-day Charlestown.
Following its acquisition by Boston and Maine Railroad (B&M) in 1887, most local trains were rerouted via the Woburn Loop; by 1917, Mishawum operated as a flag stop with limited service frequency. By 1929, passenger amenities were reduced to a modest shelter as ridership declined further. Service dwindled to a single trip each way by 1946, and by approximately 1952, Mishawum station was fully abandoned.
MBTA station
The northern segment of the Woburn Loop, which included North Woburn station, ceased operations on June 14, 1959. When the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) was established in 1964 to provide subsidies for suburban commuter rail services, it designated the former B&L route as the Lowell Line. Service on the remaining Woburn Branch ended on January 30, 1981, leaving Woburn without any commuter rail stations except for the privately operated Lechmere Warehouse station that served an industrial complex.
In July 1978, the MBTA acquired an industrial property south of Mishawum Road for $560,000 with the intention of developing a park and ride facility. During construction, hazardous contamination from improperly disposed industrial waste was discovered, including 187 drums containing polyurethane resin. Early maps identified the station as "Mishawum Park" (1978) and later as "Mishawum Park-128" (1980).
Mishawum station officially opened on September 24, 1984, marking the MBTA’s first new station since West Natick in 1982. It featured a parking lot with a capacity of 250 vehicles designed to serve commuters from Woburn and those traveling via Route 128/I-95 and I-93 highways. Although initial proposals called for a 500-space lot, the plan was scaled down to 250 spaces. The station lacked accessible features at launch; however, a $1.1 million upgrade announced in 1989 introduced mini-high platforms and expanded parking facilities, completed by May 1991.
Starting November 16, 1992, Peter Pan Bus Lines began operating Logan Express bus service between Mishawum and Logan Airport via I-93 under contract with Massport, following successful operations from Braintree and Framingham. To accommodate Logan Express riders, a waiting area and additional parking were constructed. In November 1995, Paul Revere Transportation assumed operation of this route. The MBTA launched route 355 bus service in September 1998, providing two daily round trips linking Mishawum with downtown Boston.
Replacement and continued usage
During the late 1990s, Woburn transformed the Industri-Plex Superfund site north of Mishawum Road into an office park complemented by an I-93 interchange and a regional transportation hub. The resulting Anderson Regional Transportation Center (RTC) was designed to accommodate MBTA Commuter Rail, Logan Express, and Amtrak Downeaster services. With approximately 2,400 parking spaces—substantially exceeding Mishawum’s capacity of 600—and direct access to I-93, Anderson RTC is situated roughly north of Mishawum and includes a larger station building catering to both bus and train passengers. Logan Express operations relocated to Anderson RTC on April 8, 2001; full commuter rail service followed on April 28.
Although the MBTA initially intended to close Mishawum upon Anderson RTC’s opening, local officials and businesses advocated for its continued operation due to Anderson RTC’s greater distance from Woburn’s commercial and residential areas. As a result, Mishawum remained open as a limited-service reverse commute stop primarily serving Boston-based employees. Legislative attempts in 2002 and 2003 aimed at reinstating Mishawum as a full-time stop did not succeed.
During the week of the 2004 Democratic National Convention at Boston’s Fleet Center, commuter rail service to North Station was suspended for security purposes. Lowell Line trains terminated at , with shuttle buses providing connections between several stations and downtown Boston. For this period, Mishawum’s parking lot was reopened to support express buses (route 53) operating directly to South Station.
Development and Renovations
Prior to Mishawum station's inauguration in 1984, the MBTA envisioned transit-oriented development surrounding the site. In 2004, a mixed-use plan featuring a fire station, residential units, and a hotel was proposed but ultimately declined by the Woburn City Council due to concerns about density. Subsequently, in July 2005, two developers acquired the 7-acre property from the MBTA for $7.2 million. By August 2006, the City Council endorsed the creation of a "transit oriented development overlay district," allowing for apartment buildings up to seven stories tall alongside other permitted uses.
In January 2007, approval was granted for constructing a 210-unit apartment complex along with a 50,000-square-foot office building that included underground parking facilities. The scale of the residential project was considered essential to support reinstating Mishawum as a full-time station. Environmental clearance was secured in March 2007.
The construction phase encompassed the office building, parking garage, and a new ramp leading to the inbound platform, which were completed around 2010. Nevertheless, the apartment development faced delays and was ultimately never realized. Additionally, the outbound stairs and southern ends of the platform remained closed, and the removed mini-high platform edges were not replaced, resulting in accessibility issues at the station. In July 2012, bus route 355 was discontinued due to MBTA budget reductions, leaving Mishawum without bus service connections. The former Logan Express facility was demolished in 2014 to make room for a Dave & Buster’s establishment that opened in 2015.
With an average of only 32 weekday boardings recorded in 2018, Mishawum ranks among the commuter rail stations with the lowest ridership. Before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, weekday service comprised three outbound trains during morning peak hours and three inbound trains during evening rush hours, with no weekend operations—a service pattern unchanged since 2001. During temporary schedule reductions amid the pandemic, Mishawum and several other stations with limited service were excluded from operations.