Orange Line (MBTA)

The '''Orange Line''' is one of the four subway lines of the [[Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority]]. It extends from [[Forest Hills (MBTA station)|Forest Hills]] in [[Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts|Jamaica Plain]], [[Boston, Massachusetts|Boston]] in the south to [[Oak Grove (MBTA station)|Oak Grove]] in [[Malden, Massachusetts]] in the north. It meets the [[Red Line (MBTA)|Red Line]] at [[Downtown Crossing (MBTA station)|Downtown Crossing]], the [[Blue Line (MBTA)|Blue Line]] at [[State (MBTA station)|State]], and the [[Green Line (MBTA)|Green Line]] at [[Haymarket (MBTA station)|Haymarket]] and [[North Station]]. It connects with [[Amtrak]] and Commuter Rail service at [[Back Bay (MBTA station)|Back Bay]] and North Station, and just the commuter rail at [[Ruggles (MBTA station)|Ruggles]] station in Roxbury and at [[Forest Hills (MBTA station)|Forest Hills]]. From 1901 to 1987 it provided the first elevated rapid transit in Boston; the last elevated section was torn down in 1987 when the southern portion of the line was moved to the [[Southwest Corridor]]. ===Names=== The current name, assigned in the 1960s, is derived from Orange Street, an old name for the section of Washington Street immediately south of downtown under which the '''Washington Street Tunnel''', forming the center of the line, still runs. Cars throughout the Boston rapid transit network were formerly painted orange or with orange stripes by MBTA predecessors, and restored [[streetcar]]s on the [[Ashmont-Mattapan High Speed Line]] wear their historical orange livery, but this is largely coincidental. Several stations were renamed in 1967 and 1987 from the names of the nearest street intersections to those of local landmarks; for example, "Boylston-Essex" eventually was renamed "Chinatown". ===Construction=== [[File:Charlestown El on Charlestown Bridge.jpg|thumb|left|220px|The Charlestown El running over the old Charlestown Bridge]] The Main Line of the electric [[Boston Elevated Railway]] opened in segments in 1901. It proceeded from [[Everett, Massachusetts|Everett]] along the [[Charlestown Elevated]] to the [[Canal Street Incline]] near [[North Station]]. It was carried underground by the [[Tremont Street Subway]] (now the [[Green Line (MBTA)|Green Line]]) returning above ground at the [[Pleasant Street Incline]] (now closed, located just outbound of [[Boylston (MBTA station)|Boylston Station]]). A temporary link connected it to the [[Washington Street Elevated]], which in 1901 ran from this point via Washington Street to Dudley Square (which is most of what is now Phase 1 of the [[Silver Line (MBTA)|Silver Line]]). Also in 1901, the [[Atlantic Avenue Elevated]] opened, branching at Causeway Street to provide an alternate route through downtown Boston (along the shoreline, where today there is no rail transit) to the Washington Street Elevated. In 1908, the '''Washington Street Tunnel''' opened, allowing Main Line service to travel from the [[Charlestown Elevated]], underground via new portals at the [[Canal Street Incline]], under downtown, and back up again to meet the Washington Street Elevated and Atlantic Avenue Elevated near [[Chinatown, Boston|Chinatown]]. Use of the Tremont Street Subway was returned to [[streetcar]]s exclusively. By 1909, the Washington Street Elevated had been extended to [[Forest Hills (MBTA station)|Forest Hills]]. Trains from Washington Street were routed through the new subway, either all the way to Everett, or back around in a loop via both the subway and the Atlantic Avenue Elevated. ===Closure of Atlantic Elevated and ownership changes=== Following a 1928 accident at a tight curve on Beach Street, the southern connection between South Station and Washington Street was closed, breaking the loop. By 1938, the entire [[Atlantic Avenue Elevated]] had been closed, leaving the subway as the only route through downtown - what is now the Orange Line between [[Haymarket (MBTA station)|Haymarket]] and [[Chinatown (MBTA station)|Chinatown]] stations. Ownership of the railway was transferred from the private Boston Elevated Railway to the public Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) in 1947, reconstituted as the modern [[Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority]] in 1964. ===Rerouting of Charlestown and Everett service=== [[Image:Main Line Elevated.jpg|thumb|280px|The old Main Line Elevated and related lines]] The [[Boston Transportation Planning Review]] looked at the line in the 1970s, considering extensions to the [[beltway]] [[Massachusetts Route 128|Route 128]] with termini at [[Reading, Massachusetts|Reading]] in the north and [[Dedham, Massachusetts|Dedham]] in the south. As a result of this review, the [[Charlestown Elevated]] - which served the [[Charlestown, Boston, Massachusetts|Charlestown]] neighborhood north of downtown Boston and the suburb [[Everett, Massachusetts|Everett]] - was demolished in 1975. The '''Haymarket North Extension''' rerouted the Orange Line through an [[Haymarket North Extension|underwater crossing]] of the [[Charles River]]. Service in Charlestown was replaced with service along [[Boston and Albany]] tracks under [[Interstate 93]], ultimately to [[Wellington (MBTA station)|Wellington]] and [[Oak Grove (MBTA station)|Oak Grove]] in [[Malden, Massachusetts]] instead of Everett. The service to Everett was not replaced. ===Closure of Washington Street elevated=== Construction of [[Interstate 95 in Massachusetts|Interstate 95]] into downtown Boston was cancelled in 1972 after [[NIMBY|local protest]] over the necessary demolition. However, land for the [[Southwest Corridor (Boston)|Southwest Corridor]] through [[Roxbury, Massachusetts|Roxbury]] had already been cleared of buildings. Instead of a highway, the Orange Line subway would be re-routed into the corridor. In 1987, the Washington Street Elevated was torn down as part of this re-routing, the last of the original elevated portions to be demolished. Between April 30 and May 3, 1987, the [[Washington Street Elevated]] south of the [[Chinatown (MBTA station)|Chinatown station]] was closed to allow the Orange Line to be tied into the new Southwest Corridor. On May 4, 1987, the Orange Line was rerouted out of the southern end of the Washington Street Tunnel and onto the new Southwest Corridor. Instead of rising into elevated tracks, it instead veered west at the [[Massachusetts Turnpike]] and followed the Pike and the old [[Boston and Albany Railroad]] right-of-way to the existing [[MBTA Commuter Rail]] stop at [[Back Bay (MBTA station)|Back Bay]]. It then continued along new tracks, partially covered and partially open but depressed, to [[Forest Hills (MBTA station)|Forest Hills]]. This right-of-way is also shared by [[Amtrak]] as part of the national [[Northeast Corridor]]. While ending up more or less in the same place, the new routing bypassed Washington Street significantly to the west; local residents were promised replacement service. Originally, plans provided for [[light rail vehicle]] service on the streets, from Washington Street to Dudley Square, then diverting southeast-ward on Warren Street towards Dorchester. In 2002, Phase 1 of the [[Silver Line (MBTA)|Silver Line]] [[bus rapid transit]] was added to connect Washington Street to the downtown subways, attempting to address this. This was controversial, as many residents would prefer the return of rail transportation. ===Renovations during the Big Dig=== [[Haymarket (MBTA station)|Haymarket]] and [[North Station]] received major renovations during the [[Big Dig (Boston, Massachusetts)|Big Dig]] in the 1990s and first decade of the 21st century, as the [[Causeway Street Elevated]] portion of the [[Green Line (MBTA)|Green Line]] was buried, its physical connection to the Orange Line was improved to make transfers easier, the [[Canal Street Incline]] was finally closed, and the Green Line was re-rerouted through a new portal closer to the river, near the [[Zakim Bunker Hill Bridge]]. ===Historical routes=== {| style="border: 1px solid darkgray;" |-align="center" |scope="col" width="400" |'''1901-1908''' |scope="col" width="300" |'''1908-1938''' |scope="col" width="300" |'''1938-1975''' |-align="center" |{{MBTA Orange Line 1901-1908}} |{{MBTA Orange Line 1908-1938}} |{{MBTA Orange Line 1938-1975}} |-align="center" |'''1975-1987''' |'''1987-present''' |'''Notes''' |- |align="center"|{{MBTA Orange Line 1975-1987}} |align="center"|{{MBTA Orange Line 1987-present}} |valign="top"| *The Forest Hills extension of the Washington Street Elevated opened in 1909; the infill station at Green Street opened in 1912. *The section of the Atlantic Avenue elevated between South Station and the junction near Dover was closed in 1928 after an accident. *Haymarket and State got their modern names in 1967. Downtown Crossing and Chinatown also changed names in 1967, but changed again in 1987. *Oak Grove opened in 1977, two years after the rest of the Haymarket North Extension. *Tufts Medical Center was New England Medical Center until 2010. |} ===Assembly Square=== {{main|Assembly Square (MBTA station)}} An infill station, [[Assembly Square (MBTA station)|Assembly Square]], at [[Assembly Square]] in Somerville is presently expected to open in 2014. The new station, located on the bank of the Mystic River between Wellington and Sullivan Square stations, will serve a new development at Assembly Square. ==Station listing== {| class="wikitable" !Station !Time to
Downtown Crossing
(min) !Opened !Transfers and notes |- |{{access icon}} [[Oak Grove (MBTA station)|Oak Grove]] | 15 |March 20, 1977 | |- |{{access icon}} [[Malden Center (MBTA station)|Malden Center]] | 13 |December 27, 1975 |[[MBTA Commuter Rail|Commuter Rail]]: [[Haverhill/Reading Line]] |- |{{access icon}} [[Wellington (MBTA station)|Wellington]] | 10 |September 6, 1975 | |- |{{access icon}} [[Assembly Square (MBTA station)|Assembly Square]] | 9 | |Expected to open in 2013 |- |{{access icon}} [[Sullivan Square (MBTA station)|Sullivan Square]] | 7 |April 7, 1975 |Separate station from one on the [[Charlestown Elevated]] closed April 4, 1975 |- |{{access icon}} [[Community College (MBTA station)|Community College]] | 5 |April 7, 1975 |Serves [[Bunker Hill Community College]] |- |{{access icon}} [[North Station]] | 3 |April 7, 1975 |[[Green Line (MBTA)|Green Line]] and [[MBTA Commuter Rail|Commuter Rail]] north side lines |- |{{access icon}} [[Haymarket (MBTA station)|Haymarket]] | 2 |November 30, 1908 |[[Green Line (MBTA)|Green Line]]
Originally Friend-Union until January 25, 1967 |- |{{access icon}} [[State (MBTA station)|State]] | 1 |November 30, 1908 |[[Blue Line (MBTA)|Blue Line]]
Originally Milk-State until January 24, 1967 |- |{{access icon}} [[Downtown Crossing (MBTA station)|Downtown Crossing]] | 0 |November 30, 1908 |[[Red Line (MBTA)|Red Line]], [[Green Line (MBTA)|Green Line]] and [[Silver Line (MBTA)|Silver Line]]
Originally Winter-Summer until January 22, 1967, then Washington until May 3, 1987 |- |{{access icon}} [[Chinatown (MBTA station)|Chinatown]] | 2 |November 30, 1908 |[[Silver Line (MBTA)|Silver Line]]
Originally Boylston-Essex until February 10, 1967, then Essex until May 3, 1987 |- |{{access icon}} [[Tufts Medical Center (MBTA station)|Tufts Medical Center]] | 3 |May 4, 1987 |[[Silver Line (MBTA)|Silver Line]]
Originally New England Medical Center until April 2010 |- |{{access icon}} [[Back Bay (MBTA station)|Back Bay]] | 6 |May 4, 1987 |[[Amtrak]] station
[[MBTA Commuter Rail|Commuter Rail]]: [[Providence/Stoughton Line]], [[Framingham/Worcester Line]], [[Franklin Line]] and [[Needham Line]]
Also called Back Bay/South End |- |{{access icon}} [[Massachusetts Avenue (MBTA Orange Line station)|Massachusetts Avenue]] | 8 |May 4, 1987 | |- |{{access icon}} [[Ruggles (MBTA station)|Ruggles]] | 9 |May 4, 1987 |[[MBTA Commuter Rail|Commuter Rail]]: [[Providence/Stoughton Line]], [[Franklin Line]] and [[Needham Line]] |- |{{access icon}} [[Roxbury Crossing (MBTA station)|Roxbury Crossing]] | 10 |May 4, 1987 | |- |{{access icon}} [[Jackson Square (MBTA station)|Jackson Square]] | 12 |May 4, 1987 | |- |{{access icon}} [[Stony Brook (MBTA station)|Stony Brook]] | 14 |May 4, 1987 | |- |{{access icon}} [[Green Street (MBTA station)|Green Street]] | 16 |May 4, 1987 |Separate station from one on the former [[Washington Street Elevated]] closed April 30, 1987 |- |{{access icon}} [[Forest Hills (MBTA station)|Forest Hills]] | 18 |May 4, 1987 |[[Commuter Rail (MBTA)|Commuter Rail]]: [[Needham Line]]
Separate station from one on the former [[Washington Street Elevated]] closed April 30, 1987
Former terminus of Green Line E branch |} ==Equipment== [[Image:NorthStationOrangeOutbound.jpg|thumb|250px|''Outbound Train at North Station'']] The Orange Line is [[standard gauge]] [[heavy rail]], and uses [[third rail]] for power. The current fleet is the 01200 series, built 1980-1981 by [[Hawker Siddeley Canada]] Car and Foundry (now [[Bombardier Transportation]]) of [[Thunder Bay]], [[Ontario]], [[Canada]]. They are 65 feet (20 m) long and 111 inches (2.8 m) wide, with three pairs of doors on each side. They are based on the PA3 model used by [[Port Authority Trans-Hudson|PATH]] in [[New Jersey]]. There are 120 cars, numbered 01200-01319. All in-service Orange Line trains run in six-car configurations. {| class="wikitable" border="1" |- !Year Built !Make !Model !Length ft ( mm) !Width in ( mm) !Gauge !Road Numbers |- | 1980–1981 | [[Hawker Siddeley Canada]] | PA3 | {{convert|65|ft|mm|sigfig=5|abbr=on}} | {{convert|111|in|mm|sigfig=4|abbr=on}} | {{RailGauge|ussg}} | 1200–1319 |- |} ===New trains=== It was announced in the Spring of 2009 that the planning process for new Orange and Red Line vehicles had begun. The simultaneous order calls for 146 Orange Line cars (to replace the whole fleet) and 74 Red Line cars (presumably to replace the 1500s and 1600s, of which there were 76, with 72 still in service). This order would be similar to the current Orange Line cars and the old Blue Line cars, ordered at the same time and largely identical except for size. The new cars would enter service between 2013 and 2017. The announcement also suggested that new Green Line cars will be planned at about the same time, although these cars would not be similar to the Orange and Red Line cars due to the differing natures of the lines. ==Facilities== The Orange Line has two tracks (one in each direction) except for a third track between Wellington and the Charles River portal. This track can be used to bypass construction on the other two, or for testing newly delivered cars for the Orange and Blue lines. The primary maintenance and storage facility is at Wellington Station. Had the Orange Line been extended to Reading, the third track would have become an express track. ==Accessibility== {{see also|MBTA accessibility}} All stations on the Orange Line are [[handicapped accessible]]. Work on [[State (MBTA station)|State]] to make it fully accessible from the [[Blue Line (MBTA)|Blue Line]] was completed in Spring 2011 and officially announced on May 26th, 2011. ==External links== *[http://www.mbta.com/schedules_and_maps/subway/lines/?route=ORANGE MBTA - Orange Line] *[http://world.nycsubway.org/us/boston/orange.html Orange Line] from nycsubway.org - Includes detailed description and photos *[http://www.jphs.org/transportation/orange-line-memories.html Jamaica Plain Historical Society - Orange Line Memories] *[http://www.jphs.org/transportation/orange-line-replaced-old-railroad-embankment.html Jamaica Plain Historical Society - Orange Line Replaced Old Railroad Embankment] {{MBTA}} {{USSubway}} {{coord missing|United States}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Orange Line (Mbta)}}