Salem station (MBTA)
| Company type | MBTA Commuter Rail station |
|---|---|
| Industry | Public transportation |
| Founded | 1838 |
| Headquarters | Salem, Massachusetts , United States |
Area served | Salem and surrounding communities |
| Products | Commuter rail service |
| Website | www |
Salem station functions as an MBTA Commuter Rail stop along the Newburyport/Rockport Line, situated just off Bridge Street (Route 107) near its junction with North Street (Route 114) at the northern edge of downtown Salem, Massachusetts. The facility includes a single, fully accessible high-level platform that extends the full length of the track it serves on the Eastern Route. Immediately to the south lies the Salem Tunnel, which carries rail traffic beneath Washington Street. Salem operates as a significant park and ride center, featuring a parking garage with 700 spaces alongside an MBTA bus terminal. It ranks as the busiest commuter rail station outside Boston’s central area, with an average weekday boarding count of 2,326 in 2018.
The Eastern Railroad commenced service between Salem and East Boston in August 1838, initially providing passenger accommodations within a warehouse before erecting a wooden station building. By December 1839, the line had extended to Ipswich, including the construction of the Salem Tunnel, along with a branch line reaching Marblehead. In December 1847, a substantial stone station designed by Gridley James Fox Bryant replaced earlier facilities. The inauguration of the Essex Railroad in 1847, followed by the South Reading Branch Railroad and Salem and Lowell Railroad in 1850, established Salem as a prominent railroad interchange. A rail yard equipped with a roundhouse and coaling tower was constructed within the wye formed by the Eastern and Essex lines. By 1887, control of these railroads had consolidated under the Boston and Maine Railroad (B&M).
During the late 1940s, B&M partnered with state authorities to execute a tripartite project aimed at removing grade crossings in downtown Salem. Overpasses at Bridge Street and North Street were finalized in the early 1950s, with an extension of the tunnel beneath Bridge Street. To facilitate tunnel expansion southward and eliminate remaining crossings, B&M demolished the previous station in October 1954. The newly extended tunnel and station—featuring platforms situated in a trench south of the tunnel and a brick street-level building—opened in August 1958. Over time, branch line services diminished, with Marblehead service ending in 1959. Beginning January 1965, the newly established Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) started subsidizing select B&M suburban routes, including those on the Eastern Route.
Following a fire that destroyed the Beverly bridge in November 1984, a temporary station north of the tunnel was set up to connect passengers to replacement bus services for northern branches until December 1985. In August 1987, as part of broader line enhancements, the MBTA inaugurated an accessible permanent station at this northern location to replace the non-accessible southern facility. Construction for a new parking garage and platform began in June 2013; partial operations started by October 2014 with full completion extending into 2015. Proposals from both MBTA and city officials have explored reinstating passenger rail service from Salem to Peabody and Danvers.
Station layout
Positioned on a triangular parcel at Salem’s northern downtown area—bounded by Bridge Street (Route 107), MBTA tracks, and the North River—the station is fully accessible. It features an approximately 800ft curved high-level side platform serving one track on the Eastern Route utilized by the Newburyport/Rockport Line. Just beyond this point to the south, trains enter the Salem Tunnel—a 0.4mi passage running beneath Washington Street. Nearby stands a preserved interlocking tower adjacent to the tunnel entrance.
On its eastern side, there is a five-story parking garage accommodating 700 vehicles; this structure also includes a bicycle cage and passenger waiting area on its ground floor. A pedestrian bridge links both the garage and platform directly to Bridge Street. The western portion contains surface parking spaces, a designated kiss-and-ride lane, bus bays, taxi stands, and an access road connecting to Bridge Street. Alongside the river on the northwest side runs a single freight-only track belonging to the Peabody Branch.
Salem operates as an endpoint for several MBTA bus routes—–providing transit connections between Salem and neighboring communities such as Danvers, Peabody, and Beverly.
Initial station
After early rail charters aimed at Boston's suburbs in 1830–31, proposals emerged to establish connections to Newburyport and Portsmouth. The Eastern Railroad received its charter on April 14, 1836. Construction commenced late that year but was slowed by the Panic of 1837, with tracks reaching Salem by 1838. Passenger service between Salem and East Boston began on August 27, 1838, offering fares at half the cost of stagecoach travel. Early passenger amenities were minimal, limited to a ticket office and waiting area within a warehouse; shortly thereafter, a wooden station similar to those in Lynn and East Boston was erected near Norman Street, featuring bells imported from Spain. This two-story building incorporated Greek temple-style columns, a common architectural element among northeastern stations of the period. Salem rapidly evolved into a bustling commuter hub.
In response to growing ridership, a branch line from Salem to Marblehead commenced operations on December 10, 1839, effectively replacing stagecoach routes. Salem continued as the Eastern Railroad's terminus until December 18, 1839, when the line extended to Ipswich, progressing toward Portsmouth. This extension included a 718-foot tunnel beneath Washington Street in Salem—one of the earliest railroad tunnels in the United States and among the largest granite constructions in New England at that time. The unlit tunnel earned the nickname "Kissing-Bridge" among travelers along this corridor.
Replacement station
On June 16, 1846, shareholders of the Eastern Railroad approved an issuance of $450,000 in new stock to finance branch expansions and construct new stations at Salem and Lynn. Designed by Gridley James Fox Bryant, the substantial stone depot drew inspiration from European models, potentially the Leipzig Thüringer Bahnhof built in 1844. The Washington Street frontage showcased two castle-like towers flanking a granite archway spanning three tracks. A wooden trainshed extended southward, partially over the South River and shielded by a seawall. This station officially opened on December 1, 1847. Nathaniel Hawthorne depicted it in The House of the Seven Gables (1851) as a large gray stone edifice with spacious interiors filled with smoke and steam.
The Essex Railroad inaugurated its initial five-mile stretch from Salem to Danvers on January 19, 1847, connecting through a wye north of the tunnel to the Eastern Railroad; it was further extended to North Andover in 1848. In 1850, the South Reading Branch Railroad and Salem and Lowell Railroad (a subsidiary of the Lawrence and Lowell Railroad) began operations, sharing track segments between Peabody and Salem but utilizing a separate station north of the tunnel rather than Eastern’s facility. The Salem and Lowell line intermittently served a coal port located further north.
By mid-century, Salem had established direct rail links to major cities across northeastern Massachusetts, emerging as an important junction point. By the 1870s, infrastructure within the wye included facilities such as a roundhouse, coaling tower, and water tank supporting three western lines. A sizable freight yard was situated south of downtown Salem. Additional smaller passenger stops operated at Grove Street, Carltonville, North Street (Essex Railroad), Castle Hill (Atlantic), Pickman Park, Loring Avenue, and Forest River along various branch lines.
On April 7, 1882, an explosion destroyed the wooden trainshed while leaving the granite facade and towers intact; a wooden replacement was subsequently built around the damaged section. The Boston and Maine Railroad (B&M) acquired Eastern Railroad on December 2, 1884. When B&M also took control of the Boston and Lowell Railroad in 1887—which owned Salem and Lowell—it gained control over all rail lines serving Salem. In early twentieth-century operations, Salem functioned as a turnback location for certain short-turn train services. The tunnel experienced flooding multiple times due to high tides and storm surges in both 1898 and 1927.
In 1910, B&M proposed constructing an electrified four-track tunnel as part of broader plans to quadruple-track and separate grades along the Eastern Route from Boston to Beverly; however, only a segment at Lynn was completed following New Haven Railroad’s end of control in 1914. A subsequent proposal in 1921 recommended extending the tunnel southward beneath Washington Street with two levels while rebuilding the station.
Following World War I, railroad patronage declined amid competition from streetcars and automobiles. Passenger service on the South Reading Branch ceased on January 2, 1926; eastern segments of Salem and Lowell service ended by 1932. Essex Railroad operations were truncated to run only between Salem and Danvers starting in 1926 until significant B&M reductions occurred on May 18, 1958. Service to Marblehead was halved during these cuts before being discontinued entirely on June 14, 1959. For a short period afterward, Portsmouth-bound trains were combined with Rockport services at Salem.
New tunnel and station
By the 1940s, the grade crossings at Norman Street, Mill Street, Bridge Street (Route 107), and North Street (Route 114) near the depot had become major safety concerns in downtown Salem. Although a 1938 proposal to extend the tunnel and replace the station received funding from the Works Progress Administration, the plan was never implemented. In 1949, Mayor Joseph B. Harrington described these crossings as "the worst hazard in any city in the United States." Construction of a $2.5 million overpass on Bridge Street commenced in 1948 and was completed by 1951, extending the tunnel northward by approximately 350 feet with separate entrances for the Eastern Route mainline and Danvers Branch. Around 1953, a $1.35 million overpass was finished to carry North Street over the Danvers Branch.
The final stage involved extending the tunnel southward to Mill Street at a cost of $6 million, reaching a total length of roughly 2,170 feet. The original tunnel remained the only single-track segment between Boston and Newburyport; despite pressure from city officials, B&M declined to upgrade it to two tracks. The railroad opted to demolish the old station despite opposition from local preservationists who wished to retain its facade. Demolition began on October 22, 1954, and continued for several months, with train service maintained via temporary platforms nearby.
To guard against flooding from the North River, a 1,500-foot dike was constructed along the northern waterfront; however, flooding still occurred in 1961 and 1976 due to ruptured water mains. The northern portion of the new tunnel was built just west of the southern section of the old tunnel; starting in May 1957, workers removed the roof of the old tunnel to connect both parts. Trains started operating through the new tunnel and station on August 1, 1958, prior to full completion of construction.
The new station was located south of Mill Street and featured two side platforms each measuring 800 feet in length within a trench at the southern portal of the tunnel. A one-story brick station building (36 by 136 feet) was erected on the west side of the tracks. Stairs linked the platforms to a pedestrian bridge behind the building as well as to Mill Street. The previous station site was transformed into Riley Plaza—named after Medal of Honor awardee John Phillip Riley—and included approximately 400 parking spaces. A three-day celebration in June 1959 commemorated the project's completion. Although extended construction hampered access to numerous businesses on Washington Street—resulting in at least seventeen bankruptcies—commercial activity saw significant growth following project completion.
MBTA era
The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA), founded in August 1964 to subsidize suburban commuter rail services, began funding operations on the Eastern Route through Salem extending to Hamilton/Wenham and Manchester on January 18, 1965, later expanding service to Ipswich and Rockport. On December 27, 1976, the MBTA purchased B&M’s commuter rail lines and rolling stock, including those on the Eastern Route. The line was renamed first as the Ipswich/Rockport Line and later as the Newburyport/Rockport Line after service resumed to Newburyport in 1998.
Following a fire on November 16, 1984, which destroyed the wooden railroad bridge over the Danvers River between Salem and Beverly, MBTA established a temporary station at North Street featuring 280 parking spaces. Shuttle buses connected Ipswich and Beverly train services at this interim facility. Rockport shuttle trains were discontinued on January 7, 1985, consolidating transfers at North Street. Passenger rail service resumed across the rebuilt bridge on December 1, 1985; however, freight operations did not return. Until 2023, Pan Am Railways provided limited local freight service through Salem via the tunnel to the Rousselot Plant in Peabody.
In 1984, MBTA initiated a $160 million rehabilitation project for both Rockport and Ipswich lines. A new Salem station was constructed at the northern end of the tunnel—the site previously occupied by the temporary station—and included a mini-high platform to ensure accessibility. The older trench-level station was deemed unsuitable for modernization efforts. This new facility opened on August 10, 1987, offering 235 dedicated parking spaces. Beginning that September, bus routes formerly terminating downtown were extended to serve this station. The original station building still stands; it was converted into a restaurant in 2003 before being repurposed as a private school in 2006.
Garage
Previously, parking was available in a 340-space surface lot next to the platform, which typically reached capacity before the end of the morning peak period. The MBTA first explored the idea of constructing a parking garage in August 1988 and began searching for design contractors by October 1995. Salem was again proposed as a site for a garage in 1997; however, the initiative was halted in 1998 due to concerns raised by the city regarding design aspects. Interest in the project was renewed in 2003, and by 2004 Salem was ranked among the top three priorities for expanding parking facilities. Financial support was secured in October 2009.
As part of environmental mitigation measures addressing increased traffic from the Big Dig, the state mandated an addition of 1,000 MBTA parking spaces by 2011. Initially, garages at Salem and Beverly Depot were intended to satisfy this requirement, but delays led to reliance on other stations and surface lots instead. Planning efforts for Salem’s garage and new platform continued, backed by combined federal, state, city, and MBTA funds exceeding $6 million, which included reserved parking for the Essex County Courthouse. The finalized plan called for a five-level garage accommodating 714 vehicles.
Comprehensive planning wrapped up in 2012, incorporating community feedback that introduced brick exterior finishes and an enclosed waiting area. The Massachusetts Executive Office of Environmental Affairs granted an exemption from a full Environmental Impact Assessment because construction took place over an existing parking lot. The project scope also included an extended high-level platform designed to facilitate quicker and accessible boarding, along with restoration of the historic interlocking tower. Initial budget estimates of $37 million increased to $44.5 million due to updated seismic regulations, architectural upgrades, and installation of a covered pedestrian walkway.
In early 2012, ground-penetrating radar revealed remnants of a historic roundhouse beneath the site. To comply with state historic preservation requirements, the MBTA temporarily closed part of the lot late that year for archaeological excavation. A construction contract valued at $32.5 million was awarded in December 2012. Following closure of the lot in July 2013, construction commenced with a temporary free parking area established nearby. A formal groundbreaking ceremony took place in September 2013.
After completing foundation work, vertical construction of the garage began in May 2014. The garage and the initial segment of the high-level platform opened on October 24, 2014, with a ribbon-cutting event held in November. Remaining elements—including final platform sections, bus loop, drop-off zones, traffic signals, and bicycle paths—were completed by mid-2015. In January 2015, Salem became the first MBTA station without rapid transit service to feature a secure "Pedal and Park" bike cage providing space for over 100 bicycles.
By September 2015, average weekday utilization of the garage reached 413 vehicles. The adjacent Bridge Street parking lot reopened in October 2015. Between May and June 2016, parts of the high-level platform were reconstructed at no cost to the MBTA after contractor errors led to non-compliance with ADA slope standards. Additionally, flooding occurred in the waiting room during heavy rain events; corrective measures were initiated later that year.
A ridership survey conducted in 2018 identified Salem as the busiest MBTA commuter rail station outside downtown Boston, averaging 2,326 boardings on weekdays. Despite strong demand for parking spaces, approximately half of passengers accessed the station by walking or cycling from nearby residential areas. Prior access routes involved hazardous crossings; following a city study in 2013 recommending pedestrian safety improvements, accessible track crossings were installed on North Street to enhance convenience and safety. However, plans to develop an official pedestrian pathway north of the platform were abandoned due to safety risks associated with crossing active mainline tracks.
Salem serves as a prominent tourist hub during October's Halloween season; consequently, the MBTA provides additional weekend train service to meet increased ridership demands. Extra service was suspended during 2020 amid COVID-19 restrictions aimed at reducing crowding but resumed in October 2021. Service on inner segments of the Newburyport/Rockport Line experienced intermittent suspensions throughout early to mid-2022 due to signal system upgrades.
Future
The MBTA has explored the possibility of extending a branch line from Salem through Peabody, terminating near either the Northshore Mall or Danversport in Danvers. The segment leading to Peabody would utilize existing freight corridors, while further extensions would necessitate the rehabilitation of long-abandoned tracks belonging to the Salem and Lawrence Railroad or Essex Railroad. In 2004, this branch was designated by the MBTA as a "Medium Term" initiative, with a projected timeline of 11 to 20 years for completion. In contrast, the newly constructed parking garage and station upgrades were categorized as "Short Term" projects and were finalized in 2014.
The original branch portal beneath the 1951 overpass is still present. Initial designs for the parking garage included an easement intended to maintain access to the Danvers Branch; however, this connection may have been obstructed by the final construction of the garage. A study conducted in 2018 suggested implementing a shuttle service between Salem and Peabody that would require passengers to transfer at Salem for travel toward Boston. As of 2024, plans are underway for a residential transit-oriented development to replace the existing surface parking lot along Bridge Street.
External links
- MBTA - Salem
- Google Maps Street View: Bridge Street and Washington Street entrance, Bridge Street and North Street entrance
- Articles with short description
- MBTA Commuter Rail stations in Essex County, Massachusetts
- Former Boston and Maine Railroad stations
- Railway stations in the United States opened in 1838
- Railway stations in the United States opened in 1847
- Railway stations in the United States opened in 1958
- Railway stations in the United States opened in 1987
- Railway stations in the United States opened in 2014
- Buildings and structures in Salem, Massachusetts
- Bus stations in Massachusetts