Northampton station (MBTA)
| Company type | Rapid transit station (former) |
|---|---|
| Industry | Public transportation |
| Founded | 1901 |
| Defunct | 1987 |
| Headquarters | Boston , United States |
Northampton station was an elevated rapid transit stop situated above Washington Street at the intersection with Massachusetts Avenue in Boston's South End neighborhood. It operated on the Washington Street Elevated, a segment of the MBTA's Orange Line, from 1901 until its closure in 1987.
In 2002, Massachusetts Avenue station, a street-level bus stop on the Washington Street corridor of the MBTA Silver Line bus rapid transit, was inaugurated at this location. This stop is served by the SL4 and SL5 Silver Line routes alongside multiple local MBTA bus lines. Consistent with all Silver Line stations, it offers full accessibility features.
History
The Washington Street Elevated, which included Northampton station, commenced operations on June 10, 1901, as part of the Main Line Elevated. Initially, it featured a brief central island platform and was crafted in the Beaux-Arts architectural style by Alexander Wadsworth Longfellow Jr. Shortly after opening, platforms were lengthened to fit four-car trains and extended once more in 1908 to accommodate six-car trains. Unlike the nearby Dover station, Northampton did not undergo significant structural renovations beyond these platform expansions.
On December 5, 1960, the Massachusetts Transit Authority implemented skip-stop express service during morning peak hours; Northampton was skipped exclusively by northbound trains. This service pattern was discontinued in September 1961 to minimize waiting periods at outdoor stations.
With the renaming of the Main Line Elevated to the Orange Line in 1965, the original elevated line ceased operations on April 30, 1987, as the Orange Line was rerouted through the Southwest Corridor. The original Northampton station structure was preserved and transferred to the Seashore Trolley Museum in Maine in 1988. Around 1989, a gas station near Massachusetts and Columbus Avenues was constructed with design elements reminiscent of the former station.
Silver Line service along Washington Street launched on July 20, 2002, replacing the previous route 49 bus service. The frequency of service increased on October 15, 2009, with the addition of the SL4 route.
External links
- MBTA: Washington St @ Massachusetts Ave northbound and southbound