Riders on the MBTA’s Newburyport/Rockport commuter rail line will be forced to take buses for nine days between Swampscott and North Station during an equipment upgrade project.
“From Saturday, April 20, through Sunday, April 28, buses will replace regular train service between Swampscott and North Station on the Newburyport/Rockport Line to allow for signal improvement work,” the MBTA said in an alert. “No service at Chelsea and River Works.”
The signal improvement work being conducted on the line begins Saturday and is expected to be completed by Sunday, April 28, the MBTA said. The work involves the MBTA’s Positive Train Control (PTC) / Automatic Train Control (ATC) system. The federally mandated safety system sends signals to trains about potentially unsafe conditions, automatically slowing and stopping a train if needed.
Train service on the line will operate between the Newburyport and Rockport branches and Swampscott. In Swampscott, commuters will board buses that will shuttle them to North Station. Bicycles will not be allowed on board the buses.
While bus service will be free during the work, passengers will be expected to buy regular fares for travel between Swampscott and their station of origin and destination.
Also, the Swampscott parking lot will be partially closed during the project, from April 20-28. Additional parking is available at the Lynn garage.
Passengers should note that this service change overlaps with a planned shuttle bus diversion on the Blue Line.
“The MBTA understands how these changes affect riders’ daily travels during this period but we are committed to improving your travels long-term with more reliable, timely and safe service,” the MBTA said in a prepared statement. “We thank riders for their patience as we deliver this important work and for continuing to ride our system.”
The signal improvement work on the Newburyport/Rockport commuter rail line will require temporary changes to some bus pickup and drop-off locations:
North Station – Passengers will be dropped off and picked up on the busway on Nashua Street (west of the station).
Chelsea – No service. Riders are being asked to consider using Silver Line No 3. A “diversion schedule” that can be found at mbta.com will be in effect.
Lynn – Inbound and outbound passengers will board on the busway at the main station entrance, between Union Street and Market Street. There will be no service to or from the Lynn Interim Station.
Swampscott – Inbound and outbound passengers will board on the station side of Railroad Avenue. The last bus of the day (the 11:30 p.m. from North Station) will board on the opposite side of Railroad Avenue.
Salem – The stop will only be in used for the bus departing at 11:50 p.m. from North Station. Passengers will be picked up and dropped off at the regular MBTA bus stop location.
Beverly – The stop will be only in use for the bus departing at 11:50 p.m. from North Station. Passengers will be dropped off on the east side of the station on Park Street.
More information can be learned at https://www.mbta.com/schedules/CR-Newburyport/alerts.
Stephen Hagan can be reached at 978-675-2708 or at shagan@northofboston.com.
Stephen Hagan may be contacted at 978-675-2708, or shagan@gloucestertimes.com.