On New Year’s Eve, Commuter Rail will run on a Regular Weekday Schedule*
On New Years Day, Commuter Rail will run on a Regular Weekend Schedule
*On Friday, December 31, fares will be free after 8pm across all MBTA modes. Commuter Rail will run on a regular weekday schedule with the last trains being held until after 12 AM on all lines excluding Needham and Stoughton. For updated departure times, visit your line’s schedule at MBTA.com/cr or visit MBTA.com/holidays.
Bikes, including folding bikes, are not allowed on all inbound trains between 10 AM and 6 PM and on all outbound trains from 4 PM until the end of service.
As you plan your holiday travel, we want to offer some #TravelTips if you’re planning on taking the train home this holiday season. If you’re headed out on Christmas Day, remember to use $10 weekend tickets!
BePrepared
Face coverings on board
Masks are still required on all MBTA property even if you’re fully vaccinated. Visit MBTA.com/RideSafer to learn about our covid response.
Christmas Eve & Christmas Day Service:
On Christmas Eve, Commuter Rail will run on a Regular Weekday Schedule
On Christmas Day, Commuter Rail will run on a Regular Weekend Schedule
New Year’s Eve & New Year’s Day Service
On New Year’s Eve, Commuter Rail will run on a Regular Weekday Schedule*
On New Years Day, Commuter Rail will run on a Regular Weekend Schedule
*On Friday, December 31, fares will be free after 8pm across all MBTA modes. Commuter Rail will run on a regular weekday schedule with the last trains being held until after 12 AM on all lines excluding Needham and Stoughton. For updated departure times, visit your line’s schedule at MBTA.com/cr or visit MBTA.com/holidays.
Bikes, including folding bikes, are not allowed on all inbound trains between 10 AM and 6 PM and on all outbound trains from 4 PM until the end of service.
Enter your origin and destination in the MBTA trip planner at MBTA.com/cr
This will create trip itineraries with the station and line information as well as give you an estimated fare. For full timetables and fare information, visit MBTA.com/cr
The trip planner will help navigate you if you’re traveling to/from Logan Airport.
If you don’t have a station close to your final destination look at our system map to find the furthest station (from all the city traffic) that is on your way and use that as your destination.
Getting tickets
To take Commuter Rail, you do not need to book your ticket in advance in order to secure your seat. Please be mindful of the space you’re using and give priority seating to those who need it.
We do suggest you buy your tickets prior to boarding. Here are all the ways you can buy Commuter Rail tickets:
The mTicket app for mobile tickets
MBTA Fare Vending Machines
Ticket windows at North, South, or Back Bay stations
On board from a conductor with cash or credit card
Stay alert throughout your trip and look and listen for your stop. Always wait for the conductor to open and close all doors.
Listen for your stop
Arrive at the platform 5-10 minutes prior to the scheduled departure time and make sure you know if you’re traveling inbound or outbound.
BeRespectful
Since our trains run 365 days a year that means our in-station staff, customer service, and train crews work on holidays. Please treat them as well as other riders with respect if you’re riding with us on Christmas Day.
Storage
If you’re bringing bags or luggage, use the dedicated storage onboard and keep large personal items on the floor and out of the way or on overhead racks.
Enjoy the ride!
Commuter Rail services over 400 cities and towns, so some trips may be longer than others. To help pass the time, do what drivers can’t. Watch TV, read a book, catch up on “me” time. If you’re listening to something on your phone, tablet, computer, etc. please be courteous of others and use headphones.
Thanksgiving is around the corner which is typically the biggest travel day of the year in the region. Plus, Boston traffic is back to pre-pandemic numbers, so we encourage you to swap all or part of your drive home for the holidays for a Commuter Rail ride if you can.
If your end destination isn’t that close to your Thanksgiving plans, see if you can get picked up at a station to avoid traffic on all or even just part of your drive out of Boston.
On Thanksgiving Day, Commuter Rail will run on a Regular Weekend Schedule. Visit MBTA.com/holidays for more information.
Remember, masks are still required on all MBTA property even if you’re fully vaccinated. Visit MBTA.com/RideSafer to learn about our covid response.
A few tips to ensure that your Thanksgiving travel experience is stress-free:
MBTA Trip Planner
Enter your origin and destination in the MBTA trip planner at MBTA.com/cr
This will create trip itineraries with the station and line information as well as give you an estimated fare. For full timetables and fare information, visit MBTA.com/cr
If you don’t have a station close to your final destination look at our system map to find the furthest station (from all the city traffic) that is on your way and use that as your destination.
2. Getting tickets
To take Commuter Rail, you do not need to book your ticket in advance in order to secure your seat. Please be mindful of the space you’re using and give priority seating to those who need it.
We do suggest you buy your tickets prior to boarding. Here are all the ways you can buy Commuter Rail tickets:
The mTicket app for mobile tickets
MBTA Fare Vending Machines
Ticket windows at North, South, or Back Bay stations
On board from a conductor with cash or credit card
Arrive at the platform 5-10 minutes prior to the scheduled departure time and make sure you know if you’re traveling inbound or outbound.
4. Storage
If you’re bringing bags or luggage, use the dedicated storage onboard and keep large personal items on the floor and out of the way or on overhead racks.
Commuter Rail services over 400 cities and towns, so some trips may be longer than others. To help pass the time, do what drivers can’t. Watch TV, read a book, catch up on “me” time. If you’re listening to something on your phone, tablet, computer, etc. please be courteous of others and use headphones.
6. Listen for your stop
Stay alert throughout your trip and look and listen for your stop. Always wait for the conductor to open and close all doors.
