Revere Beach station
| Company type | Rapid transit station |
|---|---|
| Industry | Public transportation |
| Founded | January 1954 |
| Headquarters | Revere, Massachusetts , United States |
| Products | MBTA Blue Line service |
Revere Beach station is a rapid transit facility located in Revere, Massachusetts, operating on the MBTA Blue Line. Positioned between Beach Street and Shirley Avenue, it provides access to Revere Beach, a favored summer spot with a substantial permanent community. The station commenced operations in January 1954 on the grounds of a former Boston, Revere Beach and Lynn Railroad stop, as part of the extension toward Wonderland. It underwent closure and reconstruction during 1994–1995.
This station features two tracks and two side platforms, uniquely constructed below street level within a trench, while the fare lobby is situated at ground level. Entry points are accessible from both Beach Street and Shirley Avenue.
Boston, Revere Beach and Lynn
The narrow gauge Boston, Revere Beach and Lynn Railroad (BRB&L) began service between East Boston and Lynn on July 29, 1875. The railroad closely followed the beachfront along what is now Revere Beach Boulevard. One of its original stops was Revere station located at Beach Street.<ref name=BradleeBRB&L> It was renamed Pavilion in the late 1870s before adopting the name Crescent Beach in 1884.<ref name=stanley>
During 1884–85, the Eastern Railroad-supported Boston, Winthrop, and Shore Railroad (BW&S) operated slightly more inland with its own Crescent Beach station situated west of the BRB&L stop.[1]<ref> In 1887, a new BRB&L station opened on October 31 at Centennial Street, approximately south of the original site.<ref> This depot featured a polygonal tower facing the tracks, resembling the design of Chatham station.<ref name=depots>
In April 1897, BRB&L shifted its route inland onto the BW&S right-of-way, relocating Crescent Beach station accordingly.[2] By 1928, the line had been electrified with pre-payment stations installed, operating more like a rapid transit system than a traditional railroad.<ref> Nonetheless, financial difficulties during the Great Depression forced BRB&L to cease operations on January 27, 1940.<ref name=sne> Crescent Beach station was subsequently torn down in the early 1940s.[3]
Rapid transit
In 1941, the Boston Elevated Railway purchased the BRB&L right of way stretching from Day Square to Revere Beach with the intention of creating a high-speed trolley line akin to the Ashmont–Mattapan High-Speed Line. However, these plans were postponed due to the outbreak of World War II. The 1926 Report on Improved Transportation Facilities along with the 1945–47 Coolidge Commission Report advocated for extending the East Boston Tunnel rapid transit line to Lynn by utilizing the former BBRB&L corridor rather than implementing a trolley system.
By 1947, the Metropolitan Transit Authority (M.T.A.) decided to proceed with constructing a rapid transit extension reaching Lynn, commencing work in October 1948. The initial segment opened in January 1952 up to , followed by an extension in April 1952 to . Due to budget constraints, the second stage culminated at Wonderland on June 19, 1954, featuring intermediate stops at and Revere Beach.
Renovations
Revere Beach station was closed for approximately one year starting June 25, 1994, as part of a comprehensive rebuilding effort that also included Suffolk Downs, Beachmont, and Wonderland stations under the Blue Line Modernization Program. During this period, Blue Line service was cut back to Orient Heights, with buses substituting train service. The station underwent extensive reconstruction costing $9.8 million and resumed operations on June 24, 1995.
Further platform maintenance necessitated another closure between August 2 and August 29, 2008.