Wachusett station

Wachusett station

Company type	Commuter rail station
Industry	Transportation
Founded	1847
Headquarters	Fitchburg, Massachusetts , United States
Products	Commuter rail service

Wachusett station functions as a commuter rail stop on the MBTA Commuter Rail Fitchburg Line, positioned northwest of where Massachusetts Route 2 intersects with Route 31 in Fitchburg, Massachusetts. It serves as the northwestern endpoint for trains on the Fitchburg Line. The station marked an extension of service westward from Fitchburg along the Pan Am Southern main line, effectively lengthening the Fitchburg Line to . While initial forecasts anticipated around 400 daily riders, actual ridership reached only 132 by 2018.

Following extensive planning phases, site preparation commenced in December 2012, with construction activities starting in mid-2013. The station began limited weekday operations on September 30, 2016, meeting federal grant conditions; full service was launched on November 21, 2016. Located at a distance of from North Station, Wachusett stands as the furthest MBTA station within Massachusetts; only Wickford Junction in Rhode Island is situated farther from Boston.

Previous service

The initial portion of the Vermont and Massachusetts Railroad became operational on September 1, 1847, serving as an extension to the Fitchburg Railroad. Two former stations were located near where Wachusett station now exists:

Westminster station catered to Westminster, Massachusetts and was situated along Bartherick Road off State Road (Route 2A), roughly west of the current Wachusett location. This station was one of the original stops when the railroad opened. Its first building was destroyed by fire in 1908; a replacement structure suffered damage from a freight train derailment in April 1914.

Wachusett station was located south of Princeton Road (Route 31) within Fitchburg’s Crockerville neighborhood, approximately northeast of today’s station site. It had been operational since at least 1865. A fatal freight train accident occurred there in July 1905, resulting in two deaths.

The Boston and Maine Railroad (B&M) took over the Fitchburg Railroad in 1900. Westminster station ceased operations sometime between 1917 and 1929; by 1929 Wachusett had limited service and closed between 1942 and 1946. Passenger rail service west of Fitchburg ended entirely in 1960. In January 1980, MBTA Commuter Rail extended service westward from Fitchburg to Gardner without intermediate stops; a potential infill stop at Westminster appeared in a fare schedule published in 1981. Service was retracted back to Fitchburg by late 1986. By 2006, the deteriorated Wachusett freight depot near the station had been demolished.

Restoration planning

Efforts to restore commuter rail service beyond Fitchburg have been ongoing since 1987. In 2000, the Massachusetts Legislature instructed the MBTA to evaluate reinstating commuter rail service to Gardner and Athol along the existing Fitchburg/Gardner/Athol branch as part of expansion initiatives.

Nonetheless, restoring full service to Gardner or Athol presented challenges. Gardner lies approximately 64mi and Athol about 81mi from North Station—distances generally considered too long for daily commuting. Upgrading the track between Fitchburg and Gardner would require an investment of $104.2 million for double tracking, with speed constraints imposed by grades near Wachusett Mountain. Furthermore, travel via Route 2 expressway is faster along this corridor, limiting Gardner station’s anticipated daily ridership to only about 50 passengers. The Fitchburg Commuter Rail Line Service Expansion Study conducted in 2005 recommended a shorter-term extension terminating at a new park-and-ride facility adjacent to Route 2 in West Fitchburg, with potential future expansion toward Gardner.

Funding and design

On February 17, 2010, the US Department of Transportation granted $55.5 million through the TIGER program to support the development of West Fitchburg station and a layover facility located in Westminster. By June 2010, MBTA and Pan Am Railways reached an agreement on trackage rights and associated fees, granting MBTA access to Wachusett station and layover capabilities on the Pan Am Southern mainline, partially owned by Pan Am Railways. Groundbreaking for the project took place on October 18, 2010, with an initial completion goal set for early 2012. However, as of February 2012, the design phase had only progressed to 30%, resulting in a revised completion estimate of October 2013.

The station's design includes a single, gently curved high-level side platform approximately 800 feet in length situated on a siding. This configuration allows trains to clear the more sharply curved Pan Am Southern mainline. The facility also offers a parking lot with 359 spaces, a designated Montachusett Regional Transit Authority (MART) bus drop-off zone, and kiss-and-ride areas.

A "smart growth corridor" initiative was launched on March 16, 2012, covering 12,500 acres within a 2.5-mile radius accessible by bicycle from the station. In October 2012, an additional $3.6 million in federal funding was allocated to address budget deficits caused by design challenges and site complications, increasing the total project budget to $63 million. At that time, completion was anticipated by late 2013 with an opening planned for Spring 2014.

Layover yard controversy

While the station itself encountered minimal opposition, the proposed layover facility situated westward in Westminster faced resistance due to concerns about noise pollution. This layover yard, consisting of six tracks, replaced a smaller yard previously located in East Fitchburg. Construction commenced in late 2012 but was temporarily halted following a town-issued stop work order related to permit issues. In March 2013, Westminster filed a formal complaint with the US Department of Transportation Inspector General, accusing MBTA of misrepresentation that contributed to project delays and sought suspension of work pending investigation. Construction activities resumed by early 2014.

Construction

In June 2012, MBTA issued bids for site preparation work and awarded a contract worth $3.75 million in November of that year. The bidding process for the main station and layover yard began in February 2013; resulting contract bids were below initial estimates, leading to an award of $22.9 million in May with an expected completion date by the end of 2014. Contracts for track installation, signal upgrades, and bridge repairs were awarded separately.

Official construction kicked off on June 14, 2013, followed by a public groundbreaking ceremony in August. Initial service was forecasted for early 2015 but was postponed until late 2015 due to contractor bankruptcy and subsequent takeover by a bonding company. MART announced plans for dedicated bus service connecting Gardner to Wachusett upon station opening.

By late 2014, work on retaining walls and light pole foundations was progressing; track and signal improvements began in spring 2015. The anticipated opening was further delayed to fall 2016.

On July 11, 2016, MassDOT approved an additional $19 million budget increase to finalize the project by the end of September, bringing total expenditures to $93.3 million. This rise covered unforeseen bridge replacements and accelerated construction efforts necessary to meet federal funding deadlines totaling $59.2 million.

Limited train service started on September 30, 2016, offering two weekday round trips; full service commenced November 21, 2016.

Initial ridership forecasts projected approximately 400 daily passengers; early figures from 2017 showed averages between 45 and 75 riders per day but demonstrated upward trends reaching 132 daily users by 2018. Located at from North Station, Wachusett stands as MBTA’s furthest Massachusetts station from Boston; only Rhode Island’s Wickford Junction is situated farther away.

During winter months, a complimentary shuttle operates between the station and Wachusett Mountain Ski Area timed with an MBTA "ski train" equipped with ski rack cars.

External links

• MBTA – Wachusett Station