Essex is a coastal town in Essex County, Massachusetts , United States, 26 miles (42 km) north of Boston and 13 miles (21 km) southeast of Newburyport. It is known for its former role as a center of shipbuilding. The population was 3,675 at the 2020 census .
131-478: The central village areas of Essex and South Essex make up the census-designated place of Essex . Essex was incorporated as a town in 1819. It was previously a part of the town of Ipswich and was then called Chebacco Parish. The first European settlers arrived in 1634. At that time, the land formed part of an area inhabited by Native Americans of the Agawam tribe . The name Chebacco is Agawam in origin and refers to
262-424: A CDP name "be one that is recognized and used in daily communication by the residents of the community" (not "a name developed solely for planning or other purposes") and recommend that a CDP's boundaries be mapped based on the geographic extent associated with inhabitants' regular use of the named place. There is no provision, however, that this name recognition be unanimous for all residents, or that all residents use
393-618: A cost of $ 203 million, with deliveries to begin in mid-2026. An $ 165 million option for 39 additional coaches (29 trailers and 10 cab cars), which would allow the retirement of all remaining single-level equipment, was exercised in November 2024 with deliveries to begin in 2027. As the MBTA assumed control of the commuter rail during the 1970s, it inherited various equipment from predecessor railroads. The 1976 purchase of B&M and Penn Central equipment included 94 Budd Rail Diesel Cars (RDCs) – 86 from
524-850: A freight-only track between Providence and Central Falls. No freight operates on the Needham Line, the Northeast Corridor between Readville and Back Bay, the Old Colony mainline between Boston and the Greenbush Line junction in Braintree, the Plymouth/Kingston Line, and most of the Greenbush Line. CSX also operates on most northside lines; prior to its 2022 purchase by CSX, Pan Am Railways operated over these lines. The Berkshire and Eastern Railroad (formerly Pan Am Southern ) operates over
655-416: A habitat for the clams that are an important and famous staple of the local cuisine . The Essex River feeds Essex Bay, along with Castle Neck River (which provides most of the town's border with Ipswich) and several creeks, including Walker Creek, Hardys Creek and Soginese Creek. The land that makes up the limits of the town is close to sea level, with a few low hills dotting the landscape. Chebacco Lake and
786-415: A household in the town was $ 59,554, and the median income for a family was $ 70,152. Males had a median income of $ 48,036 versus $ 32,000 for females. The per capita income for the town was $ 31,613. 6.6% of the population and 4.3% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 6.1% are under the age of 18 and 10.8% are 65 or older. Essex's municipal offices are housed in
917-472: A large increase was expected. Since it owned the tracks and equipment, the MBTA bid out the operating contract, which was won by the B&;M. The B&M began operating the southside lines on March 15, 1977; for the first time, all Boston commuter service was operated by one entity. Although all operation was subsidized by this time, a small number of cuts took place. The lightly used Lexington Branch closed after
1048-560: A large lake whose waters extend into neighboring Hamilton. Conomo Point, the easternmost part of the town, is named for the Sagamore or Chief of the Agawams, Masconomo , the leader of the tribe in the late 17th century. Early on, Chebacco Parish lobbied for status as an independent town, asking for permission to build a meeting house. In colonial times, the existence of a meeting house in a settlement conferred de facto autonomy, so Chebacco Parish
1179-632: A local train in the same direction). Portions of the Fitchburg, Haverhill, and Newburyport/Rockport lines operate under NORAC rule 251, which allow trains to run only in a single direction on each track. Most lines are either double track , or single track with passing sidings; portions of the Northeast Corridor have three or four tracks. Freight service is operated over most of the MBTA Commuter Rail system by several private railroads. CSX Transportation operates freight on most southside lines, of which
1310-659: A major highway, Route 128 clips the corner of town, with exits located in neighboring Manchester-by-the-Sea and Gloucester. Route 133 passes from northwest to southeast through town, and the eastern end of Route 22 is at Route 133 in the center of town. The Ipswich Essex Explorer bus provides weekend service during the summer connecting with the MBTA Commuter Rail at Ipswich along the Newburyport/Rockport Line , as well as providing service to Crane Beach and other nearby attractions. The Rockport portion of
1441-430: A number of freight-only or abandoned lines. This also marked the start of a five-year contract for the B&M to operate the service, replacing a series of one-year contracts. After acquiring the B&M and Penn Central rolling stock, the MBTA painted it with purple, yellow, silver, and black to create a visual identity. Federal subsidies allowed MBTA subsidies to Penn Central to remain the same until March 1977, when
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#17328700631231572-455: A population of at least 10,000. For the 1970 Census , the population threshold for "unincorporated places" in urbanized areas was reduced to 5,000. For the 1980 Census , the designation was changed to "census designated places" and the designation was made available for places inside urbanized areas in New England. For the 1990 Census , the population threshold for CDPs in urbanized areas
1703-461: A regional school district with Manchester-by-the-Sea. Under the plan, the two towns are served by a consolidated school system, the "Manchester-Essex Schools", and a new high school. This marks the first time Essex did not have to send its students to another district to attend high school. In early 2006, the voters of both Essex and Manchester by the Sea approved a new $ 49 million regional school project for
1834-404: A renewal of the commuter rail operating contract, which expired at the end of 1986. Amtrak won the contract for commuter rail operations and took over the system on January 1, 1987. Gardner service was cut back to Fitchburg at that time due to a dispute between Amtrak, Guilford, and the MBTA. The late 1980s saw the beginning of substantial expansion of the system. The Southwest Corridor project
1965-643: A seasonal weekend-only service to Cape Cod , operates using MBTA equipment over the Middleborough/Lakeville Line plus the Cape Main Line (which is not otherwise used by the MBTA). Special express service to Foxboro station is operated during New England Patriots home games and some other events at Gillette Stadium . It runs from South Station via the Franklin/Foxboro Line, and from Providence via
2096-521: A series of experiments to determine how fares and service levels affected ridership. This included a trial on the MTA bus network, as well as a $ 4 million test from January 1963 to March 1964 on New Haven and B&M lines. (The NYC, uninterested in its commuter service, declined to participate.) The MTC found that higher frequency was most important to attract additional ridership; lower fares would attract additional riders, while even higher fares would not result in
2227-476: A single weekend. As with other MBTA services, discounted fares and passes are available for several groups including disabled passengers, passengers over age 65, and students attending certain schools. Foxboro special event services and the CapeFlyer have separate fares; regular MBTA fares and passes are not valid. Fares are collected by train conductors; while fare evasion is explicitly illegal under state law, it
2358-428: A single zone to $ 7.25 for travel between Zone 1 and Zone 10. Fares can be purchased on the MBTA mTicket app, at automatic vending machines located at major stations, from businesses near some stations, or from conductors on board trains. Discounted passes include monthly passes (with or without free transfer to other MBTA services), "flex passes" valid for five 24-hour periods, and $ 10 passes offering unlimited travel on
2489-520: A small scale as a tourist attraction and they have met with some success. The Essex Shipbuilding Museum stands as a living testament to the wooden shipbuilding industry and the neighboring boat yard owned by generations of the Story Family still constructs and launches classic wooden ships built in the Essex tradition. There are several active youth sports teams, as well as other youth organizations, such as
2620-534: A snowstorm on January 10, 1977. Declining subsidies from Rhode Island resulted in off-peak Providence service being cut back to Attleboro in April 1979, with peak service cut on February 20, 1981. Woburn Branch service ended on January 30, 1981, amid state budget cuts. However, the energy crises of the 1970s and the formation of regional transit authorities prompted some expansions and improvements. $ 70 million in reconstruction work (equivalent to 582 million in 2023) on
2751-472: A summer colony on town-leased land. In 1819, Essex separated from the town of Ipswich on the condition that Essex would take care of their poor. To fulfill this agreement, the town of Essex found four properties ideal for a Poor Farm or Alms House in 1825. Since these waterfront properties were not good for shipyards, dry fishing, and farming, these properties had very little value. From the time from 1850 to 1900, attitudes toward waterfront property changed. This
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#17328700631232882-739: Is signalled and operates with Positive Train Control using the Advanced Civil Speed Enforcement System . The southside lines have cab signals for automatic train control ; cab signals will be placed in service on the northside lines in 2023. The MBTA is a member of the Northeast Operating Rules Advisory Committee (NORAC) and uses its operating rules. Most portions of the system operate under NORAC rules 261 and 562, which allow bidirectional train movements on every track (such as an express train passing
3013-485: Is standard in the northeastern United States . Some accessible stations have full-length high platforms for accessible boarding on all cars; others only have "mini-high" platforms about 40 feet (12 m) long – which allow for level boarding on two cars – with the rest of the platform length not accessible. As of December 2022 , the MBTA is designing a temporary accessible platform that can be added to stations pending full reconstructions. The MBTA Commuter Rail system
3144-532: Is a concentration of population defined by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes only. CDPs have been used in each decennial census since 1980 as the counterparts of incorporated places , such as self-governing cities , towns , and villages , for the purposes of gathering and correlating statistical data. CDPs are populated areas that generally include one officially designated but currently unincorporated community, for which
3275-675: Is about 5 miles, with most outer terminals in zones 6 through 8. Only two stations use further zones: T.F. Green Airport in Zone 9, and Wickford Junction in Zone 10. Zone 1A fares are identical to MBTA subway fares (though subway passes on CharlieCards are not accepted, except for Fairmount Line stations that have CharlieCard validator machines). As of 2024 , one-way fares within Zone 1A are $ 2.40, while fares between further zones and Zone 1A range from $ 6.50 for Zone 1 to $ 13.25 for Zone 10. Trips that do not enter Zone 1A have less expensive interzone fares; as of 2024 , these range from $ 2.75 for travel within
3406-949: Is not criminal. Faregates have also been installed at North Station, with plans for installation at Back Bay and South Station. The second-generation MBTA fare collection system, planned for completion in 2025, will standardize fare media across modes and allow uses of CharlieCards for all commuter rail trips. Eight intercity mainlines radiating from Boston opened between 1834 and 1855: the Boston and Worcester Railroad (B&W) in 1834–35, Boston and Providence Railroad (B&P) in 1834–35, Boston and Lowell Railroad (B&L) in 1835, Eastern Railroad in 1838–1840, Fitchburg Railroad in 1843–45, Boston and Maine Railroad (B&M) in 1845, Old Colony Railroad and Fall River Railroad in 1845–46, and Norfolk County Railroad in 1849–55. Commuter rail service allowing suburban residents to work in Boston began with
3537-568: Is operated by Keolis Commuter Services – a subsidiary of French company Keolis – under contract to the MBTA. The MBTA owns all passenger equipment and most stations. Most trackage is also owned by the MBTA. The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (parent agency of the MBTA) owns several portions of the Framingham/Worcester Line as well as the Grand Junction Branch , which is used for non-revenue equipment moves between
3668-478: Is provided by push-pull trains powered by diesel locomotives with a cab car on the opposite end. The locomotive is usually on the end facing away from Boston so that diesel exhaust does not enter the passenger concourses at North Station and South Station. Trains typically have four to eight coaches (with six the most common) and seat between 400 and 1,400 passengers. Approximately 62 trainsets are needed for weekday service. The primary heavy maintenance facility
3799-429: Is that its only beach is not easily accessible by land and, as such, is not a major draw for tourists, as are the beaches of neighboring Gloucester, Ipswich and Manchester-by-the-Sea. Essex also competes with nearby Rockport for tourists in search of "New England charm". In the last few decades, there has also emerged an antiques trade in Essex. The town now claims one of the highest density of antique shops of any town in
3930-667: Is the MBTA Commuter Rail Maintenance Facility , located in the Inner Belt District in Somerville . It is also used for midday and overnight storage of trains on the northside lines. Southampton Street Yard and the Readville Interim Layover facility are used for light maintenance and layover service. Various other layover facilities are used for midday and overnight storage; most are located near
4061-643: The 1890 Census , in which the Census mixed unincorporated places with incorporated places in its products with "town" or "village" as its label. This made it confusing to determine which of the "towns" were or were not incorporated. The 1900 through 1930 Censuses did not report data for unincorporated places. For the 1940 Census , the Census Bureau compiled a separate report of unofficial, unincorporated communities of 500 or more people. The Census Bureau officially defined this category as "unincorporated places" in
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4192-455: The 1950 Census and used that term through the 1970 Census. For the 1950 Census, these types of places were identified only outside " urbanized areas ". In 1960 , the Census Bureau also identified unincorporated places inside urbanized areas (except in New England , whose political geography is based on the New England town , and is distinctly different from other areas of the U.S.), but with
4323-641: The Atlantic Ocean , with Essex Bay providing access through the northeast corner of town (the eastern half of the bay lies within Ipswich and Gloucester, with all of the outlet nominally belonging to Gloucester). The central part of Essex lies on marshland surrounding the Essex River. This is a portion of the larger Great Marsh , a salt marsh that defines the geography of the coasts of much of northeastern Massachusetts and southern New Hampshire and which also provides
4454-589: The Boy Scouts of America and Girl Scouts of the USA . Since 1994 the Essex Music Festival, offering bluegrass, blues, folk, maritime, and Celtic music, had been held at Centennial Grove at Chebacco Lake in Essex. The festival was called off in 2009 due to Tropical Storm Danny , but it resumed the following year; another hurricane resulted in the cancellation of the 2011 festival, and it was never held again. Much of
4585-618: The CapeFLYER . The agency issued a $ 279 million contract (total project cost of $ 345 million) for 80 additional Rotem bilevel coaches in September 2019, with delivery expected from September 2022 to June 2024. The contract was later modified to 83 coaches, of which 43 are cab cars. The first four of the 83 bilevel cars arrived in June 2022 and entered service in 2023. In May 2024, the MBTA exercised an option order for 41 additional trailer coaches at
4716-464: The Essex Town Hall and TOHP Burnham Library , an exuberant Shingle Style building erected in 1893–1894. Essex's small size makes New England 's traditional direct-democracy style of government practical. The residents of Essex elect a board of three selectmen to carry out the routine business of local government while relying on the town meeting system to decide major issues. In recent years,
4847-644: The Manchester Essex Regional School District . Essex has one public school, Essex Elementary School, that offers instruction to children from pre-kindergarten to grade 5. The Essex Middle School had previously functioned to educate students to grade 8. But recent regionalization has brought the Essex Middle School children into the Manchester Essex Regional Middle School, located in the same building as both
4978-514: The Old Colony Lines and Greenbush Line , which have full-length high-level platforms at all stops. All BTC-3, CTC-3, BTC-4C, and BTC-4D coaches have restrooms. During winter months, a Ski Train serving Wachusett Mountain runs on the Fitchburg Line , using a coach car which is equipped for carrying bicycles or skis. Three converted coaches – a bike car and two cafe cars – are reserved for
5109-791: The Riverside –Framingham portion of the Worcester Main Line. (The inner section of that line was already owned by the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority .) The purchase also included several freight-only or abandoned lines, including the Old Colony mainline between Braintree and Brockton. Subsidies began for the Framingham Line in January 1973, for Canton Junction and Sharon stations in June 1973, and all Providence/Stoughton Line service on September 28, 1976. The MBTA purchased
5240-683: The commuter rail arm of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority 's (MBTA's) transportation coverage of Greater Boston in the United States . Trains run over 394 mi (634 km) of track to 135 stations. It is operated under contract by Keolis , which took over operations on July 1, 2014, from the Massachusetts Bay Commuter Railroad Company (MBCR). In 2023, the system had a ridership of 26,190,500, or about 109,300 per weekday as of
5371-636: The 1920s. Service levels declined more significantly during the 1930s; the 88 stations case resulted in the New Haven closing dozens of suburban stations and several lines in 1938. The BRB&L ceased all operations in 1940. Ridership increased during World War II but decreased soon afterwards, prompting further cuts. The railroads converted from steam to diesel in the 1950s. All three purchased substantial fleets of Budd Rail Diesel Cars , which lowered operating costs – but not enough to save most branch lines. A 1945–47 state report proposed suburban extensions of
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5502-408: The 1980s, but several infill stations were opened, including Shirley in 1981, West Natick in 1982, Mishawum in 1984, and Chelsea in 1985. The MBTA also began replacing the aging Rail Diesel Cars and other equipment; 18 EMD F40PH diesel locomotives and 60 passenger cars arrived between 1978 and 1980. Several major disruptions occurred in the mid-1980s. On January 20, 1984, a fire destroyed
5633-511: The 2008-built network. The MBTA would not pay for the new network; the company would have a two-tier model with a fee for higher bandwidth. The MBTA canceled the plan in August 2017 due to local opposition to the erection of 320 monopoles , each 70-foot (21 m) tall, as well as the need to focus on more critical projects like the Green Line Extension . By that time, the 2008-built system
5764-440: The 2020s. A new midday layover yard at the former Beacon Park Yard is planned to be constructed by 2032 as part of the realignment of I-90. A large midday and overnight layover yard, which would support expanded service including regional rail and electrification , is planned at Widett Circle near South Station. The MBTA also plans to construct a southside maintenance and layover facility at Readville in 2023–2028, replacing
5895-565: The B&A was reduced from four to two tracks in 1959 for construction of the Massachusetts Turnpike , with several inner stations closed; all local stops west of Framingham were closed in 1960. The New Haven filed for bankruptcy for the last time in 1961. Faced with the imminent threat of losing what service remained, public opinion began to support subsidies for commuter rail. The state Mass Transportation Commission (MTC), formed in 1959 to coordinate transportation and land use, held
6026-468: The B&M Western Route between Somerville and Wilmington Junction in September 1973 for construction of the Haymarket North Extension . From 1967 to 1973, a series of state appropriations covered 90–100% of outside-of-district subsidy. This was reduced to 50% in January 1974, substantially increasing the cost of these municipalities. This resulted in several cuts as municipalities refused
6157-434: The B&M and eight from Penn Central – plus 116 Penn Central coaches and 25 Penn Central E8 and GP9 diesel locomotives. Although the MBTA purchased some new equipment in 1978–1980, large locomotive and coach fleets were not purchased until the late 1980s, so the first decade of combined operations used a variety of secondhand equipment in addition to that acquired in 1976: Most of the secondhand and inherited equipment
6288-651: The B&M discontinued the Concord trip; the Dover trip was cut back to Haverhill with local subsidies. In 1969, the B&M averaged 24,000 weekday passengers, with a yearly deficit of $ 3.2 million (equivalent to 27 million in 2023). The single daily trip on the Central Mass Branch ended on January 26, 1971. On July 28, 1965, the MBTA signed an agreement with the New Haven Railroad to purchase 11 miles (18 km) of
6419-415: The B&M in 1983. This did not initially affect commuter rail operations. Guilford's attempts to regain profitability, which included reducing employee headcount and pay, soon soured labor relations. This resulted in two strikes by Guilford employees; the first shut down the commuter rail system from March 21 to May 12, 1986. Local media was critical of Guilford during the strike; the company did not bid for
6550-604: The B&W in 1834; by the 1860s, commuting was possible on the eight mainlines and a number of branch lines. Mergers prior to the 1880s were primarily acquisitions of branch lines and consolidations with connecting lines: the B&A merged with the Western Railroad in 1874 to become the Boston and Albany Railroad (B&A), the Fall River Railroad and several other lines merged into the Old Colony Railroad, and
6681-600: The Boston terminal areas, with several exceptions. The Providence/Stoughton Line and Franklin/Foxboro Line both use the Northeast Corridor between Readville and South Station, with the Needham Line also sharing the tracks between Forest Hills and South Station. The Old Colony Lines and the Greenbush Line all use the Old Colony mainline between South Station and Braintree . The Haverhill Line and Newburyport/Rockport Line share tracks between North Station and near Sullivan Square . A small number of Haverhill Line trains use
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#17328700631236812-510: The CDP is named, plus surrounding inhabited countryside of varying dimensions and, occasionally, other, smaller unincorporated communities as well. CDPs include small rural communities, edge cities , colonias located along the Mexico–United States border , and unincorporated resort and retirement communities and their environs. The boundaries of any CDP may change from decade to decade, and
6943-509: The COVID-19 pandemic. Six additional stations are under construction as part of the South Coast Rail project; several other stations are planned. South Station, North Station, and Back Bay all have MBTA subway and Amtrak connections; nine other stations have subway connections, and six others have Amtrak connections. Stations range in size from small platforms like North Wilmington to
7074-502: The Census Bureau considers some towns in New England states, New Jersey and New York as well as townships in some other states as MCDs, even though they are incorporated municipalities in those states. In such states, CDPs may be defined within such towns or spanning the boundaries of multiple towns. There are a number of reasons for the CDP designation: MBTA Commuter Rail [REDACTED] [REDACTED] The MBTA Commuter Rail ( reporting mark MBTX ) system serves as
7205-478: The Census Bureau may de-establish a CDP after a period of study, then re-establish it some decades later. Most unincorporated areas within the United States are not and have not been included in any CDP. The boundaries of a CDP have no legal status and may not always correspond with the local understanding of the area or community with the same name. However, criteria established for the 2010 census require that
7336-501: The December 14 vote went into place, with no weekend service on seven lines. Service changes on April 5, 2021, increased midday service on most lines as part of a transition to a regional rail model. Weekend service on the seven lines resumed on July 3, 2021. Ridership dropped substantially during the COVID-19 pandemic, with daily boardings just 12,800 during the first quarter of 2021. Ridership rose to 47,100 average weekday boardings in
7467-555: The Eastern in 1883, the B&L in 1887, and the Fitchburg in 1900, giving it a near-monopoly on rail service north of Boston. North Union Station was built in 1893 to provide a union station for northside service; it was replaced by North Station in 1928. The Old Colony obtained control of the B&P in 1888; the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad acquired the Old Colony in 1893 to obtain access to Boston. The New Haven also acquired
7598-651: The Fitchburg Line west of Ayer. Their combined Freight Main Line between Mechanicville, New York , and Mattawamkeag, Maine , shares tracks with sections of the Fitchburg, Lowell, and Haverhill lines. No freight service is operated over the Newburyport/Rockport Line north of Salem . Weight limits and loading gauge vary across the system. The full Framingham/Worcester line is rated for car weights of 315,000 pounds (143,000 kg), sections of lines that are part of
7729-682: The Franklin Line and several northside lines, partially funded by the Urban Mass Transportation Administration , began in 1977 under the Commuter Rail Improvement Program. Service to Haverhill resumed on December 17, 1979, and to Fitchburg and Gardner on January 13, 1980. Federally-funded experimental service to Nashua , Manchester , and Concord, New Hampshire ran from January 28, 1980, to March 1, 1981. Little-used stations continued to be closed until
7860-553: The Freight Main Line for 286,000 pounds (130,000 kg), and other lines for lower weights. The western portion of the Framingham/Worcester Line and the southern section of the Providence/Stoughton line can accommodate cars up to 20 feet 8 inches (6.30 m) ( AAR Plate H or Plate K ). The Fitchburg Line west of Ayer can accommodate cars up to 19 feet 0 inches (5.79 m) (AAR Plate J), while most of
7991-530: The Lowell and Haverhill lines. Private companies also operate freight service over much of the system (see § Freight service ). As of November 2024 , there are 137 active stations – 55 northside and 82 southside. One additional station, Haverhill , is temporarily closed due to reconstruction of an adjacent bridge. Five additional stations ( Prides Crossing , Mishawum , Hastings , Plimptonville , and Plymouth ) are indefinitely closed due to service cuts during
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#17328700631238122-411: The MBTA awarded Keolis the contract for $ 2.68 billion over eight years, with the possibility of two two-year extensions that could bring the total price to $ 4.3 billion. Keolis took over the operations on July 1, 2014. Keolis lost $ 29.3 million in its first year of operation. In June 2020, the MBTA extended the contract through at least 2025. Free Wi-Fi internet service was piloted in January 2008 on
8253-555: The MBTA clashed with state regulators: several stations including West Natick and Chelsea were built without accessible platforms despite state rules; the latter resulted in fines from the Massachusetts Architectural Access Board (MAAB). The opening of South Attleboro was delayed by the MAAB because of the MBTA's refusal to build full-length high-level platforms. However, the MBTA did slowly increase accessibility of
8384-493: The MBTA owned 552 coaches. Of these, 448 were in active service, three being repaired or overhauled, and 101 stored pending disposition or reuse. Coaches whose designations start with BTC (Blind Trailer Coach) are conventional coaches, while those starting with CTC (Control Trailer Coach) are cab cars . Coaches acquired before 1990 were single-level cars with 88 to 127 seats; those since are bilevel cars with 173 to 185 seats. Some coaches are equipped with electronic doors for use on
8515-457: The MBTA proposed to close six low-ridership stations. On December 14, the MBTA Board voted to enact a more limited set of cuts, including indefinitely closing five stations. That day, temporary reduced schedules were again put into place, with four of the five stations ( Hastings , Silver Hill , Prides Crossing , and Plimptonville ) not served. On January 23, 2021, reduced schedules based on
8646-497: The MTA service area were closed; three more branches closed in 1959. The New Haven experimentally increased Old Colony Division service for several years in the 1950s, but new management soon sought to reduce costs. Service to Fall River and New Bedford was cut in 1958; a one-year state subsidy was given for the remaining Old Colony service, which ended in 1959 after the Southeast Expressway opened. The inner portion of
8777-415: The Manchester Essex Regional High School and the previous Manchester Middle School. The town of Essex does not include a high school, and in years past has had to send its grade 9 through 12 students to neighboring districts. Arrangements in the past have included sending high school students to Manchester-by-the-Sea, Gloucester and Hamilton- Wenham public schools. In 2000, the town approved a plan to create
8908-481: The New England Railroad (successor to the NY&NE) in 1898. South Station opened in 1899 as a union station for the southside lines (New Haven and B&A). The New York Central and Hudson River Railroad – which later became the New York Central) (NYC) – leased the B&A in 1900; this brought all Boston commuter service save the BRB&L under the control of three large multi-state railroads. The three railroads all planned electrification of some suburban lines in
9039-483: The New Haven had Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) permission to discontinue them otherwise. Three out-of-district stations were cut, while Franklin subsidized its station. The Millis and Dedham lines were discontinued on April 21, 1967. The NYC and the Pennsylvania Railroad merged to form Penn Central on February 1, 1968; the New Haven joined at the end of the year. Penn Central declared bankruptcy in 1970. Amtrak took over most intercity passenger service in
9170-414: The Norfolk County Railroad eventually became part of the New York and New England Railroad (NY&NE). The narrow gauge Boston, Revere Beach and Lynn Railroad (BRB&L) opened in 1875, competing with the inner portion of the Eastern Railroad. Unlike the other lines, it never built rails into downtown Boston, and instead relied on a ferry connection from East Boston . The B&M obtained control of
9301-402: The Old Colony Lines. The lines vary in length from the 9.2-mile (14.8 km) Fairmount Line to the 62.9-mile (101.2 km) Providence/Stoughton Line, with typical lengths in the 25–40-mile (40–64 km) range. The system has 394 miles (630 km) of revenue trackage and covers roughly the eastern third of Massachusetts plus central Rhode Island. Most lines do not share trackage outside
9432-527: The Providence/Stoughton Line has 37. Running times vary from 30 minutes on the Fairmount Line to nearly 120 minutes for some Providence/Stoughton Line trips, with 60–75 minutes typical. Most trains stop at all stations on the line; some stations have limited service, and peak-hour express trains operate on several lines. Several lines additionally have some short turn service. The CapeFlyer ,
9563-456: The Providence/Stoughton Line. During the winter, one "ski train" round trip of the Fitchburg Line operates with a bicycle car on weekends and Wednesday evenings, with a shuttle bus to Wachusett Mountain . All MBTA commuter rail service is provided by push-pull trains powered by diesel locomotives (see § Rolling stock ). Maximum speed for trains is 79 miles per hour (127 km/h), though some lines have lower limits. The entire system
9694-709: The Southwest Corridor, a shuttle service was retained as the Fairmount Line . Peak-hour service to Providence resumed in 1988 (with off-peak and weekend service later added); South Attleboro was added in 1990 as a park-and-ride station to replace Pawtucket–Central Falls . The Franklin Line was extended to Forge Park/495 in 1988; infill stations in that era included Yawkey in 1988 to serve Boston Red Sox games at Fenway Park , and Dedham Corporate Center in 1990. Massachusetts had state accessibility laws since 1977 – prior to 1990 federal legislation . At times,
9825-555: The US on May 1, 1971, including New York–Boston trains. The state agreed in December 1971 to purchase 145 miles (233 km) of Penn Central rights of way to prevent them being sold off in bankruptcy. The MBTA purchased the lines effective January 27, 1973. They included almost all the lines with passenger service: the Attleboro Line and Stoughton Branch , Franklin Branch , Needham Branch , and
9956-554: The United States. The town of Essex was once home to a prosperous shipbuilding trade. This industry accounted for most of the revenue of the town from the days of its settlement as Chebacco Parish until the early part of the 20th century. Once a leading supplier of schooners for Gloucester and other Atlantic fishing communities, Essex did not adapt to the transition from sail-powered wooden ships to engine-powered metal vessels, and this activity disappeared around World War II . There have been recent attempts to return to shipbuilding on
10087-487: The Worcester Line, where 45 coaches were fitted with routers which connected to cellular data networks. This was the first Wi-Fi available on a commuter rail service in the United States. The program was considered successful; in December 2008, the MBTA announced that Wi-Fi would be available on all trains by mid-2009. In July 2014, the MBTA announced that a private company would be building a new network by 2016 to replace
10218-433: The beginning, Conomo Point residents had paid real estate taxes on the land they rented, as well as personal taxes on their cottages. The town of Essex expected to profit from its land. The rents were increased by 25% in 1927 by vote in a town meeting. In 1951, rents were increased another 5%. Then in 1961, rents were raised even higher by 25%. From 1950 to 1970, the town of Essex sought to maximize its rental income, while at
10349-484: The boundaries for CDPs. The PSAP was to be offered to county and municipal planning agencies during 2008. The boundaries of such places may be defined in cooperation with local or tribal officials, but are not fixed, and do not affect the status of local government or incorporation; the territories thus defined are strictly statistical entities. CDP boundaries may change from one census to the next to reflect changes in settlement patterns. Further, as statistical entities,
10480-419: The boundaries of the CDP may not correspond with local understanding of the area with the same name. Recognized communities may be divided into two or more CDPs while on the other hand, two or more communities may be combined into one CDP. A CDP may also cover the unincorporated part of a named community, where the rest lies within an incorporated place. By defining an area as a CDP, that locality then appears in
10611-588: The community for which the CDP is named for services provided therein. There is no mandatory correlation between CDP names or boundaries and those established for other human purposes, such as post office names or zones, political precincts, or school districts. The Census Bureau states that census-designated places are not considered incorporated places and that it includes only census-designated places in its city population list for Hawaii because that state has no incorporated cities. In addition, census city lists from 2007 included Arlington County, Virginia 's CDP in
10742-401: The commuter rail line passes through neighboring Manchester-by-the-Sea and Gloucester . As of the census of 2000, there were 3,267 people, 1,313 households, and 887 families residing in the town. The population density was 230.7 inhabitants per square mile (89.1/km). There were 1,446 housing units at an average density of 39.4 persons/km (102.1 persons/sq mi). The racial makeup of
10873-498: The early 20th century. The New Haven tested electrification on small parts of the Old Colony system, but never followed through on its plans to electrify South Station and the inner section of the ex-B&P. Despite a study to electrify the mainline to Framingham plus the Highland branch , the NYC only electrified the short Lower Falls Branch. Quadruple-tracking and electrification of part of
11004-545: The ex-Eastern Railroad was planned by the B&M around 1910 when it was briefly under control of the New Haven, but this fell through when they separated. Service levels on the three major railroads peaked around 1910 and began to decline from streetcar and later auto competition in the 1910s. The independent BRB&L electrified its mainline and single branch line in 1928 and increased service to near- rapid transit levels. Two Old Colony branches were converted to an extension of Boston Elevated Railway (BERy) rapid transit in
11135-632: The existing layover yard there, as the Grand Junction Branch will be closed for several years during the I-90 project. As of October 2024 , the MBTA owned 109 locomotives. Of these, 87 were in active passenger service. Eleven were undergoing rebuild, six awaiting repairs, and five retired or out of service. All passenger locomotives are equipped with head end power . Rebuilding of 37 F40PH-2C and F40PHM-2C locomotives to F40PH-3C class by MotivePower (MPI) began in 2017; other older locomotives are also being rebuilt by MPI or in-house. As of October 2024 ,
11266-427: The film Grown Ups , filmed in the summer of 2009, used Centennial Grove at Chebacco Lake for filming. Essex has several churches of various Protestant Christian denominations ( Unitarian Universalist , Congregational , Evangelical , Bible church ) as well as a Roman Catholic parish. Conomo is a summer community that is over 100 years old. There are 104 seasonal cottages and year-round homes on Conomo Point,
11397-597: The first quarter of 2022, and 85,000 (69% of 2018 ridership) in October 2022. Limited Foxboro service resumed in May 2022; full pilot service began that September. The service was made permanent effective October 2, 2023. In April 2024, the MBTA extended the Keolis contract by one year to June 30, 2027, at which time a successor contract will take effect. Silver Hill station reopened on November 18, 2024. All MBTA commuter rail service
11528-528: The former Old Colony mainline from Fort Point Channel to South Braintree in order to construct a new rapid transit line along the corridor. The line was expected to be completed within two years. The agreement also provided for the MBTA to subsidize commuter service on the railroad's remaining commuter rail lines for $ 1.2 million (equivalent to 10 million in 2023) annually. Subsidies for the Needham , Millis , Dedham , and Franklin lines began on April 24, 1966, as
11659-418: The funding district; those outlying municipalities were expected to reach their own subsidy agreements with the railroads. On December 14, 1964, the MBTA reached a subsidy agreement with the B&M. The agreement only covered in-district services; on January 5, 1965, the B&M discontinued interstate service except for single commuter round trips from Dover and Concord, New Hampshire ; Portsmouth service
11790-632: The higher subsidies: Ayer service was cut to South Acton on March 1, 1975; the single Newburyport trip ended on April 1, 1976; and the single Haverhill trip ended on April 2, 1976 (North Andover and Andover having previously ended subsidies.) The single round trip to Worcester , never subsidized, was cut to Framingham on October 27, 1975. Amtrak began running the Lake Shore Limited over that route four days later, restoring rail service to Worcester. State subsidies were increased back to 75% in June 1976 to prevent further cuts. Rapid transit extension
11921-564: The inner Lowell Line and the Wildcat Branch , while some Franklin/Foxboro Line trains (including all weekend trains) use the Fairmount Line rather than the Northeast Corridor. Several Amtrak intercity routes run on MBTA tracks: the Acela and Northeast Regional over the Providence/Stoughton Line, the Lake Shore Limited over the Framingham/Worcester Line, and the Downeaster over portions of
12052-543: The list with the incorporated places, but since 2010, only the Urban Honolulu CDP, Hawaii, representing the historic core of Honolulu, Hawaii , is shown in the city and town estimates. The Census Bureau reported data for some unincorporated places as early as the first census in 1790 (for example, Louisville, Kentucky , which was not legally incorporated in Kentucky until 1828), though usage continued to develop through
12183-423: The most important of these issues has been the leasing of public lands at Conomo Point, a school regionalization plan with Manchester-by-the-Sea, and the construction of infrastructure for dealing with sewerage. In 2002 the town hired a Town Administrator to work for the board of selectmen and oversee day-to-day operations. Policy and major decisions are still verified by the town meeting. The community lies within
12314-615: The northside and southside lines. Pan Am Southern owns the section of the Fitchburg Line between Fitchburg and Wachusett, while Amtrak owns the section of the Northeast Corridor (used by the Providence/Stoughton Line) in Rhode Island. Most lines operate on regular headways , though some have additional service at peak hours. Service levels vary by lines: the Greenbush and Kingston lines have 13 round trips on weekdays, while
12445-557: The other northside lines can accommodate up to 17 feet 0 inches (5.18 m) (AAR Plate F). The inner Fitchburg and Newburyport/Rockport Lines, and the southside except for the outer Framingham/Worcester Line, have height restrictions smaller than Plate F. MBTA Commuter Rail uses a zone fare system , with fares increasing with distance. Zone 1A includes the downtown terminals and other inner core stations up to about 5 miles (8.0 km) from downtown. Ten additional zones, numbered 1 through 10, extend outwards from Boston. Each zone
12576-595: The outer ends of the lines. Some maintenance and storage of MBTA equipment is contracted out to the Seaview Transportation Company in North Kingstown, Rhode Island . Several additional yards are under construction or planned. Two layovers are under construction for South Coast Rail, with service planned for mid-2025, and the Haverhill Line layover at Bradford is proposed for relocation later in
12707-489: The outer portion of the Worcester Line has the most freight traffic. Massachusetts Coastal Railroad operates south of Middleborough on the Middleborough/Lakeville Line, as well as on future South Coast Rail trackage. The Fore River Railroad operates between Braintree Yard and East Braintree on the Old Colony mainline and the Greenbush Line. The Providence and Worcester Railroad shares tracks with Providence/Stoughton Line trains between Providence and Wickford Junction; it uses
12838-458: The purpose of building a new Middle School and High School. Both projects were approved at Town Meeting and then again at the ballot box for a debt-exclusion which will permit the towns to raise funds in excess of the 2.5% property tax cap mandated by Prop. 2.5. A similar $ 36 million plan three years earlier was defeated in Essex at the polls and approved in Manchester. Construction was completed in
12969-467: The rapid transit lines. MBTA maps began showing the B&M and Penn Central lines as a single system. Penn Central became Conrail on April 1, 1976; the MBTA purchased most of their commuter rolling stock at that time. After delays due to the B&M bankruptcy, the MBTA purchased the B&M commuter equipment, maintenance facility , and 250 miles (400 km) of right of way on December 27, 1976. This included all lines with passenger service, as well as
13100-790: The rapid transit system, largely using railroad rights-of-way, with the expectation that most commuter rail service would be cut back to the rapid transit terminals or abandoned entirely. Prompted by the report, part of the BRB&;L was reactivated as rapid transit in 1952–54 by BERy successor Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA), and the Highland branch was converted to a rapid streetcar line in 1958–59. The three railroads all made major cuts to suburban service in 1958–1960 as commuters began using new expressways. The B&M became unprofitable in 1958 and moved to shed its money-losing passenger operations. Four branch lines were cut that May, and most stations in
13231-457: The same category of census data as incorporated places. This distinguishes CDPs from other census classifications, such as minor civil divisions (MCDs), which are in a separate category. The population and demographics of the CDP are included in the data of county subdivisions containing the CDP. Generally, a CDP shall not be defined within the boundaries of what the Census Bureau regards to be an incorporated city, village or borough. However,
13362-480: The same time avoided increasing rental rates, resulting in rapid growth of the Point. Over these years, the town of Essex approved new lots to be leased for the sake of cottage construction. By the late 1940s, the water supplied to Conomo Point from Essex began getting rusty and turbid due to aging pipelines. After years of suffering poor water quality, in the mid-1970s Conomo residents began drilling private wells. Because
13493-446: The services becoming profitable. At the recommendation of the MTC, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) was created on August 3, 1964, with a 78-municipality funding and service district. The MBTA was to build rapid transit extensions (as planned in 1947) along some lines, with the others to be subsidized or allowed to be discontinued. Most remaining lines ran to points outside
13624-556: The sprawling downtown terminals. Most stations outside downtown Boston have one or two side platforms or a single island platform . Standard MBTA platforms are about 800 feet (240 m) long – enough for a nine-car train – and a minimum of 12 feet (3.7 m) wide for side platforms and 22 feet (6.7 m) wide for island platforms. 110 active stations are accessible , including all terminals and all stations with rapid transit connections; 26 are not. The MBTA uses 48-inch (1,200 mm)-high platforms for accessible level boarding, as
13755-468: The state Wildlife Management Area. The Crane Wildlife Refuge covers several of the islands in Essex Bay, including Choate Island . Essex is bordered by Hamilton to the west, Manchester-by-the-Sea to the south, Gloucester to the east, and Ipswich to the north. Essex is located 11 miles (18 km) northeast of Salem and 33 miles (53 km) northeast of Boston . Though not accessible directly by
13886-677: The state agreed to build a set of transit projects as part of the settlement of a lawsuit by the Conservation Law Foundation (CLF) over auto emissions from the Central Artery/Tunnel Project ( Big Dig ). Among these project were extensions of the Framingham Line to Worcester and the Ipswich/Rockport Line to Newburyport, restoration of the Old Colony Lines , and addition of 20,000 park and ride spaces outside
14017-416: The summer of 2009, and students began attending the new middle-high school in the fall of 2009. The main sources of income for the town of Essex are the shellfish industry and tourism. The fried clam recipe was reportedly invented in Essex by clam shack owner Chubby Woodman during the summer of 1916 after a visiting friend suggested he dip a clam in a fryer. Due to the quality of the clams that reside in
14148-539: The surrounding wetlands make up most of the southwestern part of the town. Essex's population has increased at a sustainable rate over the last quarter century, so it still maintains a certain rural quality with abundant forested areas, wetlands and open spaces. There are several protected areas within town, including the Allyn-Cox Reservation, a portion of Crane Wildlife Refuge , the Stavros Reservation and
14279-508: The system to have Positive Train Control activated was the inner Worcester Line on August 15, 2020. Most of the southside lines already had cab signals for automatic train control (ATC) prior to PTC implementation, but the northside lines did not. Cab signals on the southside were completed in 2020; cab signals on the northside will be completed in 2023. Temporary bus replacements for several lines took place between 2017 and 2022 during PTC and ATC construction and testing. Weekday service
14410-407: The system. Most Ipswich/Rockport line stations were made accessible during the 1984–85 closure, and renovations followed at other stations. South Station was made accessible in the late 1980s, Back Bay during the Southwest Corridor project, and North Station in the early 1990s, providing accessibility at the main downtown Boston stations. By 1992, 44 commuter rail stations were accessible. In 1991,
14541-589: The third quarter of 2024, making it the fifth-busiest commuter rail system in the U.S. , behind the three New York-area systems and the Chicago-area system . The line's characteristic purple-trimmed coaches operate as far south as North Kingstown, Rhode Island , and as far north as Newburyport and as far west as Fitchburg , both in Massachusetts . Trains originate at two major terminals in Boston – South Station and North Station . The only connection between
14672-449: The tidal river in Essex, local restaurants thrive by preparing it along with other types of seafood. In Essex as well as other neighboring towns, clambakes have thus proved a well-liked summer feast for locals and visitors alike. Tourists are mainly drawn to Essex for its restaurants, but leisure activities, such as excursions down the Essex River in boats or self-guided kayak trips, have also become popular. One disadvantage that Essex has
14803-552: The town was 98.50% White, 0.15% African American, 0.12% Native American, 0.43% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.21% from other races, and 0.55% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.92% of the population. There were 1,313 households, out of which 31.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.1% were married couples living together, 7.8% have a woman whose husband does not live with her, and 32.4% were non-families. 26.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.4% had someone living alone who
14934-614: The two halves of the system is the non-revenue Grand Junction Branch . The North–South Rail Link is a proposed tunnel between North Station and South Station to allow through-running service. The system consists of twelve lines – four of which have branches – radiating from downtown Boston . Eight "southside" lines terminate at South Station , with four (Framingham/Worcester, Needham, Franklin/Foxboro, and Providence/Stoughton) also running through Back Bay station . Four "northside" lines terminate at North Station . The Kingston Line and Middleborough/Lakeville Line are often grouped together as
15065-469: The urban core. Peak-hour service to Worcester began in 1994, followed by off-peak and weekend service; four intermediate stations were added in 2000 and 2002. Service on the Old Colony Lines (Middleborough/Lakeville Line and Kingston/Plymouth Line) began in 1997. Newburyport and Rowley opened in 1998. The MBTA Commuter Rail Maintenance Facility , which replaced the ex-B&M Boston Engine Terminal,
15196-521: The water lines to the Point had until then been turned off in October for the duration of the winter, year-round living there had not been a consideration, and Conomo Point Commissioners were reluctant to grant permission to drill wells. In response, the Board of Health ruled that no more cottages at the Point could be converted from seasonal to year-round use after May 1982. In 1995, the feature film The Crucible , starring Winona Ryder and Daniel Day-Lewis ,
15327-604: The wooden approach trestles to the North Station drawbridges . The four northside lines used temporary terminals with rapid transit connections while the trestles were rebuilt. Another bridge fire between Beverly and Salem on November 16, 1984, isolated part of the Ipswich/Rockport Line from the rest of the system. Service to North Station resumed on April 20, 1985; service to Ipswich and Rockport resumed on December 1, 1985. Guilford Transportation Industries purchased
15458-452: Was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 3.03. In the town, the population was spread out, with 24.2% under the age of 18, 5.3% from 18 to 24, 30.1% from 25 to 44, 26.9% from 45 to 64, and 13.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.4 males. The median income for
15589-507: Was a minister at the church in Chebacco Parish from 1678 to 1680. He was succeeded by John Wise , who was pastor of Chebacco Parish from 1680 to his death in 1725. According to the United States Census Bureau , the town has a total area of 15.9 square miles (41.3 km), of which 14.0 square miles (36.2 km) is land and 2.0 square miles (5.1 km), or 12.41%, is water. The town does not have any direct access to Ipswich Bay and
15720-472: Was completed in 1987 with a new below-ground alignment for commuter rail, Amtrak, and Orange Line trains. Back Bay and Forest Hills stations were completely rebuilt as transfer stations, and Ruggles opened to serve the growing Longwood Medical Area . The Needham Line, closed since 1979 for construction, was reopened. The Attleboro and Franklin lines had been diverted over the previously freight-only Dorchester Branch during construction; after they returned to
15851-500: Was completed in 1998. Two tenders were submitted in 2003, one from GTI and another from the newly formed Massachusetts Bay Commuter Railroad Company (MBCR), a partnership between Connex (later Veolia), Bombardier Transportation and Alternate Concepts, Inc. MBCR won the contract, and took over the MBTA Commuter Rail operation from Amtrak in July 2003. The MBCR contract originally expired in July 2008 but had an additional five-year option; it
15982-491: Was cut back to a single Newburyport round trip. Subsidies began for six lines on January 18; all out-of-district service to Fitchburg , Lowell , Haverhill , Ipswich , and Rockport was discontinued except for three single round trips. Agreements were reached to restore most out-of-district service; after delays due to a lawsuit by the competing Eastern Massachusetts Street Railway , full service returned to Ayer , Lowell, Ipswich, and Rockport on June 28. On June 30, 1967,
16113-435: Was denied permission to build such a structure. Popular history tells that one written dictate was issued stating that "no man shall raise a meeting house", so the residents of the settlement interpreted it as to mean that women would be allowed to do so. It is reported that a local woman, Madam Varney, assembled the town's women and construction of a meeting house was carried out by them while the men looked on. Jeremiah Shepard
16244-435: Was due partly to the shortening of the work week and the expanding middle class. The town voted to allow "leasing of rights to build shanties on Town Farm Road." Then, another group of shanties were established on Robbin's Island. Conomo Point was no longer populated by only by Essex citizens by 1900. Due to the construction of the railroad in Essex in 1892, Conomo Point was far more accessible to people from nearby towns. Since
16375-547: Was filmed in Essex. Winona Ryder stayed in a private home on Western Avenue during the filming of The Crucible . Grown Ups , starring Adam Sandler , was filmed in Essex during the summer of 2009, primarily at Chebacco Lake . The movie also shot at Woodman's restaurant in Essex; in Southborough, Massachusetts ; and at Water Wizz in Wareham, Massachusetts . Census-designated place A census-designated place ( CDP )
16506-416: Was largely unusable to the decommissioning of 3G networks . Mobile ticketing was introduced on the northside lines on November 12, 2012, and on the southside lines on November 28. Positive Train Control was implemented on the entire system per a federal mandate, which required installation by the end of 2018 with the possibility of a two-year extension. Construction began in 2017. The final segment of
16637-418: Was later extended three years to July 2011 and then another two to July 2013. After concerns about on-time performance, the 2011 extension increased the fine for late trains from $ 100 to $ 300. The MBTA considered running the service directly rather than contracting it out, but this "public option" was rejected in 2012. In August 2012, MBCR and Keolis were the two bidders for the contract. On January 8, 2014,
16768-477: Was reduced to 2,500. From 1950 through 1990, the Census Bureau specified other population requirements for unincorporated places or CDPs in Alaska , Puerto Rico , island areas, and Native American reservations . Minimum population criteria for CDPs were dropped with the 2000 Census . The Census Bureau's Participant Statistical Areas Program (PSAP) allows designated participants to review and suggest modifications to
16899-411: Was retired between 1979 and 1989. 33 ex-B&M RDCs were converted to locomotive-hauled coaches (designated BTC-2 and CTC-2) in 1980 and 1982; they were retired by 1989. This left all MBTA service operated by locomotives and coaches purchased new by the MBTA. At several points since, the MBTA or its contract operator has temporarily leased locomotives when needed. Some passenger equipment acquired new by
17030-472: Was slower than expected; by 1971, the only extension in service was the first portion of the Red Line Braintree Branch on the Old Colony mainline. In 1972, as part of a funding shift from highways to transit, Governor Francis Sargent initiated a Commuter Rail Improvement Program. On October 8, 1974, the MBTA began using purple to represent the commuter rail system, as had been done in 1965 with
17161-458: Was substantially cut on March 17, 2020, due to reduced ridership during the COVID-19 pandemic . On June 22, service was increased to 85% of normal weekday levels. Changes effective November 2 reduced peak service and increased off-peak service, providing more consistent midday headways on some lines; Foxboro pilot service was suspended. In November 2020, as part of service cuts during the pandemic,
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