Ashmont-Mattapan High Speed Line

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The Ashmont-Mattapan High Speed Line in Boston and Milton, Massachusetts is considered to be part of the MBTA's Red Line, even though it uses different equipment (trolleys) and passengers have to change at Ashmont. The only MBTA line to run through a cemetery, the line opened on August 26, 1929.

It follows the original right-of-way of the passenger and freight steam railway line that opened in December 1847 as the Dorchester and Milton Branch Railroad. That line later became the Old Colony Railroad and then the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad after 1893. The old steam locomotives were discontinued in 1927 and the line was closed for two years while it was being modified for trolley service. There was a debate at that time whether or not to continue the same subway trains from Boston to Ashmont and on to Mattapan without a need for passengers to switch to trolleys at Ashmont. Apparently, the added cost of full-scale subway service along the remainder of the route was considered to be too high.

The portion of the line from Ashmont to Cedar Grove and through the cemetery follows the path of the original Shawmut Branch of the Old Colony Railroad, which opened in 1872. The cemetery is the point where the Shawmut Branch intersects with the original Dorchester and Milton Branch.

The line has been shut down since June 24, 2006 while the Ashmont and Mattapan stations are being renovated. Service is scheduled to be restored in summer of 2007.

The rolling stock of the Mattapan-Ashmont Line consists of refurbished, historic PCC streetcars that formerly ran on the Green Line.

  • Mattapan
  • Capen Street
  • Valley Road
  • Central Avenue
  • Milton
  • Butler
  • Cedar Grove
  • Ashmont (transfer to Dorchester branch of the Red Line)

Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (official site)
Red Line AlewifeAshmont / Braintree ––– Ashmont-Mattapan High Speed Line: AshmontMattapan
Green Line LechmereBoston College ("B") / Cleveland Circle ("C") / Riverside ("D") / Arborway (Heath Street) ("E") ––– Watertown ("A")
Orange Line Oak GroveForest Hills ––– Charlestown ElevatedAtlantic Avenue ElevatedWashington Street Elevated
Blue Line WonderlandBowdoin
Silver Line Dudley SquareDowntown Crossing; South Station – various points
Buses List - Crosstown Buses - Former Streetcars - Trackless Trolleys - Key Routes - East Boston Area - South Boston - Urban Ring
Commuter Rail GreenbushOld Colony Lines (MBTA) FairmountProvidence/StoughtonFranklinNeedhamFramingham/WorcesterFitchburgLowellHaverhill/ReadingNewburyport/Rockport - North-South Rail Link
Miscellaneous AccessibilityBoat serviceCharlieCardNomenclature
Predecessors Boston Elevated RailwayEastern Massachusetts Street RailwayMiddlesex and Boston Street Railway


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