what are the commuter rail zones

Full Answer

What are the fare zones for the commuter rail?

The Commuter Rail is divided into 11 fare zones, from Zone 1A to Zone 10. Stations in metro Boston are in Zone 1A, and every Zone beyond that indicates each station's distance from Boston. Your Commuter Rail fare depends on which Zones your boarding and exiting stations are located in. Learn more about Commuter Rail tickets and passes

How much is a commuter rail ticket?

Commuter Rail stations are located within Zones, numbered 1A – 10, based on how far they are from Boston. Commuter Rail fares are determined by the Zones you are traveling to and from. A one-way ticket costs between $2.40 – $13.25. Round trip, 10-ride, and monthly passes are also available. Reduced fares are available for eligible riders.

How do I plan a trip on the commuter rail?

The easiest way to plan a trip on the Commuter Rail is to use our trip planner. If you have questions about a route or schedule, call Customer Service at 617-222-3200. Commuter Rail stations are located within Zones, numbered 1A – 10, based on how far they are from Boston.

Is there a commuter train in San Diego County?

Coaster short commuter train in San Diego County, California Commuter rail, or suburban rail, is a passenger rail transport service that primarily operates within a metropolitan area, connecting commuters to a central city from adjacent suburbs or commuter towns.

Does MBTA commuter rail pass work on subway?

Can I use my monthly pass on the subway and bus? Yes, unless your pass is on mTicket. mTicket passes are only valid for travel on the Commuter Rail. All Commuter Rail passes above Zone 1A can be used on Express Buses as well.

Is the MBTA commuter rail free?

Commuter Rail fares are determined by the Zones you are traveling to and from. A one-way ticket costs between $2.40 – $13.25. Round trip, 10-ride, and monthly passes are also available. Reduced fares are available for eligible riders.

How many MBTA commuter rail stations are there?

As of September 2022, there are 133 active stations on twelve lines, two of which have branches. 107 active stations are accessible; 26 are not.

Does the commuter rail go to Cape Cod?

From Memorial Day to Labor Day, you can take the Commuter Rail from South Station to Hyannis on Cape Cod.

Whats the difference between the subway and the Commuter Rail in Boston?

Metro rail and rapid transit usually cover smaller inner-urban areas within 12 to 20 km (7 to 12 mi) of city centers, run more frequently, and use dedicated tracks (underground or elevated), whereas commuter rail often shares tracks, technology and the legal framework within mainline railway systems.

What is the difference between subway and Commuter Rail in Boston?

Utilizing Commuter Rail over the T usually helps cut down on the length of the trip, however the Commuter Rail trains run more sparsely. The Commuter rail schedule is more restrictive than the T, especially on weekends when some lines only have trains running every 2-3 hours.

What is the busiest commuter railroad in the US?

MTA Long Island Rail RoadListRankSystemRidership per mile (Q4 2019)1MTA Long Island Rail Road1,2012NJ Transit Rail4573MTA Metro-North Railroad8104Metra56229 more rows

What is the most used MBTA line?

Red Line. The T's workhorse, the Red Line moves more commuters per weekday than any other route.

What is the largest train station in Boston?

South StationSouth Station, officially The Governor Michael S. Dukakis Transportation Center at South Station—is the largest railroad station and intercity bus terminal in Greater Boston and New England's second-largest transportation center after Logan International Airport.

What is halfway between Boston and Cape Cod?

Halfway between Boston, MA and Cape Cod The town that marks the exact halfway point is actually Kingston, Massachusetts. The closest zip code to the midpoint is 02364. The exact latitude and longitude coordinates are 41° 59' 43" N and 70° 43' 12" W.

Is there a train from Boston to Martha's Vineyard?

While there's no year-round train service between Boston and Martha's Vineyard, CapeFLYER provides a seasonal service that runs on weekends between Labour Day and Memorial Day weekend. Passengers can board the train at Boston South Station and alight in Hyannis, where they can get on a ferry to Martha's Vineyard.

Does the commuter rail go to Connecticut?

Amtrak and commuter trains provide service through eastern Connecticut. The shoreline of Connecticut is well-served by local commuter trains and Amtrak trains traveling from Washington, D.C., to Maine.

Is MRT fare still free?

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) has extended the free rides on the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) Line 3 until June 30, 2022 throughout the railway's operating hours from 4:40AM to 10:10PM.

Is Boston public transportation free?

MBTA offers discounted fares for seniors, people with disabilities, middle and high school students, and low-income adults. Some customers, such as people who are blind or have low vision and children 11 and under, ride for free.

Is the subway in Boston free?

How much does the subway cost? A one-way fare on the subway is $2.40 with a CharlieCard, CharlieTicket, or cash. Reduced fares are available for eligible riders.

Is the Red Line in Boston free?

Boston, USA The Silver Line from Boston's Logan Airport to downtown is free, heading in to the city. This connects to the Red Line at South Station, which then provides free access to the entire T subway system.

What is the zone of commuter rail?

Each Commuter Rail station is in a “Zone,” determined by its location. Stations in Boston and nearby communities are in Zone 1A, while stations at the end of each line are in Zones 8, 9, or 10. Your fare will depend on how far you’re traveling, between $2.40 – $13.25 each way.

How many stops does the commuter rail make in Massachusetts?

With 130 stops in Massachusetts and Rhode Island, the Commuter Rail is a great way to see some of the most beautiful parts of New England—without worrying about traffic or parking. Here are some of the most popular destinations for day trips on the Commuter Rail. Please note that some of these routes are seasonal.

How many stops does the MBTA have?

The MBTA Commuter Rail connects communities in eastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island to downtown Boston, with 137 stops throughout the region. The service area includes 12 routes that run 7 days a week, plus special service to Gillette Stadium from Boston and Providence for sporting events and concerts. In Boston, all trains originate ...

Where are commuter rail stations located?

Commuter Rail stations are located within Zones, numbered 1A – 10, based on how far they are from Boston. Commuter Rail fares are determined by the Zones you are traveling to and from.

Where do trains go in Boston?

In Boston, all trains originate at North Station or South Station, where it’s easy to make connections to or from the MBTA subway and bus, Amtrak, and regional bus services. There are also 20 Commuter Rail stations in Boston with connections to subway and bus service. See all Commuter Rail routes.

Where does the Commuter Rail stop in Providence?

At Providence Station, customers can easily connect to Amtrak and local bus service. Additionally, the Commuter Rail also stops at TF Green Airport in Rhode Island. See Providence/Stoughton schedules. Salem, Massachusetts, is about 30 minutes from North Station on the Newburyport/Rockport Line .

Where are ticket windows for commuter rail?

Ticket Windows. Tickets and passes for all Commuter Rail Zones are available at ticket windows located in North, South, and Back Bay stations. This is especially helpful if you aren’t sure which Zone you’re traveling to—simply tell the agent where you’re headed and whether you’re going one-way or round trip.

What is the S-Bahn system?

Most S-Bahns typically behave like commuter rail with most trackage not separated from other trains, and long lines with trains running between cities and suburbs rather than within a city. The distances between stations however, are usually short. In larger systems there is usually a high frequency metro-like central corridor in the city center into which all the lines converge. Typical examples of large city S-Bahns include Munich and Frankfurt. S-Bahns also exist in some mid-size cities like Rostock and Magdeburg but behave more like typical commuter rail with lower frequencies and very little exclusive trackage. In Berlin, the S-Bahn systems arguably fulfill all considerations of a true metro system (despite the existence of U-Bahns as well) – the trains run on tracks that are entirely separated from other trains, there are short distances between stations, the trains are high frequency, and use tunnels but do run a bit further out from the city centre compared with U-Bahn. In Hamburg and Copenhagen, other, diesel driven trains, do continue where the S-Bahn ends (" A-Bahn " in Hamburg area, and "L-tog" in Copenhagen).

What is NJ Transit?

NJ Transit has an extensive commuter rail system connecting New Jersey to New York City and Philadelphia.

Why do trains have longitudinal seating?

In Japan, South Korea and Indonesia, longitudinal (sideways window-lining) seating is widely used in many commuter rail trains to increase capacity in rush hours. Carriages are usually not organized to increase seating capacity (although in some trains at least one carriage would feature more doors to facilitate easier boarding and alighting and bench seats so that they can be folded up during rush hour to provide more standing room) even in the case of commuting longer than 50 km and commuters in the Greater Tokyo Area, Seoul metropolitan area, and Jabodetabek area have to stand in the train for more than an hour.

How far is a metro train?

Metro rail or rapid transit usually covers a smaller inner-urban area ranging outwards to between 12 km to 20 km (or 8 to 14 miles), has a higher train frequency and runs on separate tracks (underground or elevated), whereas commuter rail often shares tracks, technology and the legal framework within mainline railway systems.

How far can a train travel?

The general range of commuter trains' travel distance varies between 15 and 200 km (10 and 125 miles), but longer distances can be covered when the trains run between two or several cities (e.g. S-Bahn in the Ruhr area of Germany). Distances between stations may vary, but are usually much longer than those of urban rail systems. In city centers the train either has a terminal station or passes through the city centre with notably fewer station stops than those of urban rail systems. Toilets are often available on-board trains and in stations.

What is an S train?

An S-Train is a type of hybrid urban - suburban rail serving a metropolitan region, most often in the German-speaking countries. The most well-known S-train systems are the S-Bahn systems in Germany and Austria with other well-known examples being the S-tog in Copenhagen and S-Bahn/RER systems in Switzerland. In Germany, the S-Bahn is regarded as a train category of its own, and exists in many large cities and in some other areas, with differing service and technical standards from city to city. Most S-Bahns typically behave like commuter rail with most trackage not separated from other trains, and long lines with trains running between cities and suburbs rather than within a city. The distances between stations however, are usually short. In larger systems there is usually a high frequency metro-like central corridor in the city center into which all the lines converge. Typical examples of large city S-Bahns include Munich and Frankfurt. S-Bahns also exist in some mid-size cities like Rostock and Magdeburg but behave more like typical commuter rail with lower frequencies and very little exclusive trackage. In Berlin, the S-Bahn systems arguably fulfill all considerations of a true metro system (despite the existence of U-Bahns as well) – the trains run on tracks that are entirely separated from other trains, there are short distances between stations, the trains are high frequency, and use tunnels but do run a bit further out from the city centre compared with U-Bahn. In Hamburg and Copenhagen, other, diesel driven trains, do continue where the S-Bahn ends (" A-Bahn " in Hamburg area, and "L-tog" in Copenhagen).

How fast is a commuter rail?

Some services operate only during peak hours and others uses fewer departures during off peak hours and weekends. Average speeds are high, often 50 km/h (30 mph) or higher. These higher speeds better serve the longer distances involved. Some services include express services which skip some stations in order to run faster and separate longer distance riders from short-distance ones.

What is the MBTA?

MBTA Commuter Rail is the commuter rail system for the Greater Boston metropolitan area of Massachusetts. It is owned by the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) and operated under contract by Keolis. In 2019, it was the sixth-busiest commuter rail system in the United States with an average weekday ridership of 121,700. The system's routes span about 400 miles (640 km) and cover roughly the eastern third of Massachusetts and the northern half of Rhode Island. They stretch from Newburyport in the north to North Kingstown, Rhode Island, in the south, and reach as far west as Worcester and Fitchburg. The system is split into two parts, with lines north of Boston having a terminus at North Station and lines south of Boston having a terminus at South Station .

What is the busiest station in the MBTA?

Stations. South Station is the busiest MBTA Commuter Rail station and the terminal for the eight southside lines. North Station is the second-busiest station and the terminal for the four northside lines.

What does it mean when a bus is italicized?

Bus connections in italics indicate that the connecting service does not stop directly at the station, but rather a short distance away.

When was the MBTA formed?

The MBTA was formed in August 1964 to subsidize suburban commuter rail services. Subsidies for Boston and Maine Railroad (B&M) lines north of Boston began in 1965; subsidies for New York Central Railroad and New Haven Railroad lines west and south of Boston began later.

What is the difference between Stoughton and Islingaton?

Islingaton station, a typical non-accessible station with low-level platforms. Sto ughton station is one of a number of stations on the system with preserved historic depot buildings. River Works station, the only non-public station on the system, is for use only by employees of a General Electric plant .

What trains use Route 128?

Route 128 station, on the busy Northeast Corridor, is used by Providence/Stoughton Line trains (shown) as well as Amtrak trains.

How many stations are there in the Boston subway system?

, there are 132 active stations on twelve lines, two of which have branches.

What is the final rule for train horn noise?

The final rule also provides an opportunity for localities nationwide to mitigate the effects of train horn noise by establishing “new quiet zones.” “No horn” restriction which may have existed prior to the establishment of the rule may be qualified to be “pre-rule quiet zones”. In a quiet zone, railroads have been directed to cease ...

How many decibels are in a train horn?

The rule does not stipulate the durations of long and short blasts. The maximum volume level for the train horn is 110 decibels which is ...

What is the maximum volume of a train horn?

The rule does not stipulate the durations of long and short blasts. The maximum volume level for the train horn is 110 decibels which is a new requirement. The minimum sound level remains 96 decibels.

How long do you have to sound a train horn?

The Train Horn Rule and Quiet Zones. Under the Train Horn Rule (49 CFR Part 222), locomotive engineers must begin to sound train horns at least 15 seconds, and no more than 20 seconds, in advance of all public grade crossings.

How long does it take for a horn to sound before a crossing?

There is a "good faith" exception for locations where engineers can’t precisely estimate their arrival at a crossing and begin to sound the horn no more than 25 seconds before arriving at the crossing.

When do railroads stop sounding their horns?

In a quiet zone, railroads have been directed to cease the routine sounding their horns when approaching public highway-rail grade crossings. Train horns may still be used in emergency situations or to comply with other Federal regulations or railroad operating rules.

Overview

Characteristics

Train types

Commuter rail systems around the world

Hybrid urban-suburban rail systems

See also

External links