Waltham (MBTA station)

WALTHAM
Outbound platform viewed from Moody Street
Station statistics
Address	75 Carter Street Waltham, MA 02453-5312
Coordinates	42°22′27.11″N 71°14′10.72″W / 42.3741972°N 71.2363111°W / 42.3741972; -71.2363111Coordinates: 42°22′27.11″N 71°14′10.72″W / 42.3741972°N 71.2363111°W / 42.3741972; -71.2363111
Line(s)	Fitchburg Line
Platforms	1 side platform
Tracks	2
Parking	50 spaces, $1.00 each
Bicycle facilities	8 spaces
Other information
Accessible
Fare zone	2
Traffic
Passengers (2009)	545 (weekday inbound average)[1]
Services
Preceding station   MBTA   Following station Brandeis/Roberts toward Fitchburg Fitchburg Line Waverley toward North Station

Waltham is a passenger rail station on MBTA Commuter Rail's Fitchburg Line.It is located in downtown Waltham, Massachusetts adjacent to Central Square (Waltham Common). With 545 inbound boardings on an average weekday, it has the fourth highest ridership on the line behind South Acton, Brandeis/Roberts and Concord.^[1]

History and Operations

Old Waltham depot with large clocktower on a 1915 postcard

The station has an unusual configuration, similar to Lincoln. There are 2 side platforms separated by Moody Street: the eastern platform is used for inbound passengers, and the western platform is used for outbound passengers. Most of the station is located on a short single-track section; after double tracking is completed from South Acton to Willows in 2014, it will be the only single-track section of the Fitchburg Line.

Commuter rail service to Waltham station has remained relatively constant since the MBTA was formed in 1964. However, several nearby stops on the Fitchburg Line and the Central Mass Branch were closed in the early years of the MBTA.^[2] The 1881-built Central Mass station building at Waltham Highlands, located at Hammond Street and Elson Road, still stands.^[3]

The former depot building, which included a large clocktower, was torn down in the 1960s. The current building adjacent to the inbound platform is of modern construction. The Waltham Interlocking Tower is located next to Elm Street; it controlled the junction with the Watertown Branch Railroad which operated passenger service until 1938.

Bus connections

• 70 Cedarwood or Central Square, Waltham - University Park via Watertown Square, Arsenal Street & Western Avenue
• 70A North Waltham - University Park via Watertown Square and Central Square, Cambridge
• 170 Central Square, Waltham - Dudley Square
• 505 Central Square, Waltham - Downtown via Moody Street & Massachusetts Turnpike
• 553 Roberts - Downtown Boston via Newton Corner & Central Square, Waltham
• 554 Waverly Square - Downtown Boston via Newton Corner, Central Square, Waltham & Bentley College
• 556 Waltham Highlands - Downtown Boston via Newton Corner & Central Square, Waltham & Newtonville
• 558 Riverside - Downtown Boston via Newton Corner & Turnpike

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Waltham (MBTA station).

• MBTA - Waltham
• Fitchburg Line schedule
• Station from Moody Street from Google Maps Street View