North Leominster station
| Company type | MBTA Commuter Rail station |
|---|---|
| Industry | Public transportation |
| Founded | 1845 |
| Headquarters | Leominster, Massachusetts , United States |
| Products | Commuter rail services |
North Leominster station functions as a stop on the MBTA Commuter Rail network within Leominster, Massachusetts, serving passengers on the Fitchburg Line. Situated at 34 Nashua Street, just east of Main Street, this accessible facility includes two side platforms alongside its pair of tracks, with passengers reaching the outbound platform by crossing from the inbound side. Adjacent to the parking area and mainline tracks at the southern end of the inbound platform lies a modest freight yard. In 2014, a parking garage was inaugurated, nearly tripling available spaces to 436 and reinforcing the station’s role as a park-and-ride center for commuters traveling along Route 2 and I-190.
Early history
The Fitchburg Railroad extended its line through North Leominster in 1845. The station, originally named Leominster and later renamed North Leominster, was established by 1858 close to its present-day location just north of Main Street.
Passenger service persisted under the Fitchburg Railroad and subsequently the Boston and Maine Railroad for more than a century until January 18, 1965. At that time, Boston and Maine discontinued service beyond West Concord due to inadequate subsidies from the newly established Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. By 1968, the original station building had been converted into a foreign automobile dealership but was ultimately demolished.
Service restoration
On January 13, 1980, the MBTA reinstated rail service along a 37-mile stretch of the Fitchburg Line extending from West Concord to Gardner, which included North Leominster. At that time, short asphalt platforms were constructed behind a strip mall near the former depot site, with pedestrian access from Main Street and limited parking for only 30 vehicles.
In July 2003, the MBTA Board allocated $950,000 in MBTA funds toward a $3 million project to build a new station. The upgraded facility opened on October 4, 2004, approximately southeast of the previous location. It featured short high-level platforms designed for accessibility and a parking lot accommodating 150 vehicles off Nashua Street. The earlier platforms remain in place.
The initial parking capacity quickly became inadequate since North Leominster attracts park-and-ride commuters from distant towns such as Orange and Athol. Unlike Fitchburg, another key park-and-ride stop on the Fitchburg Line, North Leominster offers convenient access to both Route 2 and I-190.
Garage
Beginning in 2007, plans were developed by the Montachusett Regional Transit Authority and Montachusett Regional Planning Commission to expand parking facilities. Construction commenced in March 2012 on a three-level garage providing 340 parking spaces. This $7.7 million endeavor received funding from the FTA through earmarked grants and formula funds. The project also incorporated a covered busway and electric vehicle charging stations.
Although initially slated for completion in August 2013, concrete pouring was delayed due to heat-related issues. The garage was formally dedicated on November 1, 2013; however, it remained unfinished at that time. Further delays totaling five months resulted from contractor financial difficulties before the facility officially opened on May 20, 2014.
Consideration was given to installing full-length high-level accessible platforms; however, these plans were abandoned because of an estimated $18 million cost and clearance challenges posed by wider Pan Am freight trains that frequently affect mini-high platform operations.
On September 11, 2023, flash flooding in Leominster caused an embankment collapse at the site of the former North Leominster station. Consequently, rail service between Shirley and Wachusett was temporarily replaced by bus shuttles until September 19.
Other stations
Besides the Fitchburg Line stop, Leominster was once served by two additional stations. The Fitchburg and Worcester Railroad, established in 1850, featured stations at Leominster Center and West Leominster (Hamilton Avenue). Passenger rail service between Worcester and Fitchburg ceased in 1926, with the final passenger trains passing through Leominster Center until 1931. Today, freight operations continue on the line south of Mechanic Street, while the section to the north has been abandoned. The Leominster Center station building, constructed in 1878 and located at 24 Columbia Street, still stands.