Newburyport/Rockport Line
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Newburyport/Rockport Line is a branch of the MBTA Commuter Rail system, running northeast from downtown Boston, Massachusetts towards Cape Ann and the Merrimack Valley. The first leg runs through the towns of Chelsea, Lynn, Swampscott, Salem, to Beverly. From there, a northern branch of the line runs to the towns of Hamilton, Ipswich, Rowley and Newburyport. The line also branches east from Beverly, servicing the towns of Manchester, Gloucester and Rockport.
[edit] History
The line uses tracks owned in the 1800s by the Boston and Maine Railroad (B&M), which leased the tracks to companies such as Eastern Railroad until the MBTA subsidized, then acquired B&M in the 1970s.
[edit] Station Listing
Chelsea station connects to buses 112 and 114.
River Works station is accessible during weekdays to employees of the nearby General Electric plant, and connects to bus 111.
Central Square - Lynn is a rail and bus hub at the heart of downtown, near the Lynn campus of North Shore Community College. Buses routes include 425, 426, 429, 433, 436, 437, 439, 441, 442, 448, 449, 455, and 469.
Swampscott station services residential Swampscott; tickets can be purchased at Fiori's Variety, just down the street. The 441/448 bus to Marblehead, and the 455/459 bus to Salem leave here.
Salem station is near the Route 107 traffic circle, where bus lines 450, 451, 458/468, 455/459, and 718 are immediately available. A large proportion of commuters on the Newburyport/Rockport Line make use of Salem Station, and tickets may be purchased at Red Lion Smoke Shop. During the days leading up to Halloween, Salem Station is an especially popular destination, and the rail-cars are standing-room only on the night of the holiday.
Beverly Depot is across Rantoul Street from the town's residential downtown area. A large proportion of passengers also regularly come to and from Beverly.
Montserrat station is close to Beverly Hospital, and lies on Route 22 leading north to Essex. Tickets may be purchased at the nearby Li'l Peach convenience store. The closest stop servicing the Montserrat College of Art however, would be Beverly Depot.
Prides Crossing station services the villages from of eastern Beverly between Beverly Cove and Beverly Farms, and is local to Endicott College.
Beverly Farms station services its small residential village, and is the closest station to Gordon College.
Manchester-by-the-Sea tickets may be purchased at Richdale's.
West Gloucester station is close to Cape Ann Industrial Park, and is the closest station to the village of Magnolia, which can be reached by CATA bus.
Gloucester station is also near CATA buses that reach downtown Gloucester and Magnolia.
Rockport station is near CATA buses that reach downtown Rockport and Good Harbor Beach.
North Beverly station lies among the shops that line Enon Street. Bus 451 travels to Salem.
Hamilton/Wenham station lies between the two town centers, and tickets may be purchased at the Hamilton Convenience Store.
Ipswich station tickets can be purchased at Richdale's on Market Street.
Rowley station is on the eastern outskirts of town, with connections to MVRTA buses, servicing the Merrimack Valley.
Newburyport has connections with MVRTA buses.
