Line(s) Green Line "D" branch Bicycle facilities 15 spaces Platforms in use 2 | Tracks 2 Disabled access Yes | |
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Location 70 Union Street
Newton Centre, Massachusetts Owned by Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority Address Newton, MA 02459, United States Owner Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority Similar Newton Highlands, Riverside, Government Center, Ken, Haymarket | ||
Newton Centre is a light rail station on the MBTA Green Line "D" Branch, located in the Newton Centre village of Newton, Massachusetts. A former regional rail station, it was converted for light rail use and reopened on July 4, 1959, along with the rest of the line. The 1891-built station and express office are part of the Newton Railroad Stations Historic District, which was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976.
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History
The first station at this site opened in 1852 on Langley Road as a part of the Charles River Railroad. The Boston and Albany Railroad commissioned Shepley, Rutan, and Coolidge to design a new station in 1890. The new station, built by the Norcross Brothers firm of Worcester, opened in 1891. The station was heavily modified in 1907 when the line was sunk below grade to eliminate street crossings.
The Highland Branch was closed in 1958 and quickly converted for light rail use. The station building was rented out as commercial space. Until 2008, it housed a Starbucks coffee shop containing a sign that indicated when a Boston-bound train arrived. However, the shop was closed in October 2008 as part of Starbucks' restructuring campaign due to the Great Recession. The Deluxe Station Diner, a satellite restaurant of the Deluxe Town Diner in Watertown, opened in the newly renovated building in December 2010.
The City of Newton spells the name of the village as "Newton Centre", with English spelling, while the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority spelled its station "Newton Center", with American spelling. In 2012, the station's signs were covered with new labels reading "Newton Centre".
Bus connections
Newton Centre is served by one MBTA Bus route, the 52 Dedham Mall or Charles River Loop - Watertown Yard via Oak Hill & Newton Center. It runs on Parker Street, one block to the west of the station.