Operated by MBTA Architectural style Beaux-Arts architecture Architect Frank Rush Watson | Phone +1 800-872-7245 Rebuilt 2000 | |
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Location 34 Washington Square
Worcester, Massachusetts Owned by Worcester Redevelopment Authority Line(s) Boston and Albany Railroad
Worcester Branch Platforms 1 side platform (B&A main) Tracks 4 (B&A main)
2 (Worcester Branch) Address 2 Washington Square, Worcester, MA 01604, USA Similar South Station, Elm Park, EcoTarium, Worcester Historical Museum, Bancroft Tower | ||
Union Station is located at Washington Square in downtown Worcester, Massachusetts. It is the western terminus of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority's Framingham/Worcester commuter rail line, with inbound service to Boston, and a station along Amtrak's Lake Shore Limited passenger line. It also services Peter Pan, Greyhound, and MAX intercity bus routes, as well as local Worcester Regional Transit Authority (WRTA) bus service.
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History
The current station was built in 1911 by the New York Central Railroad along the Boston and Albany Railroad Main Line, during the heyday of railroading in the United States, replacing the previous 1875 station. As a union station, it also served the Providence and Worcester Railroad (which was acquired by the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad), the Norwich and Worcester Railroad (acquired by the New York and New England Railroad), the Worcester, Nashua and Rochester Railroad and the Boston, Barre and Gardner Railroad (which both became part of the Boston and Maine Railroad). Passenger service to Union Station ended by 1974, and the abandoned station fell into disrepair.
Subsequently, Union Station was acquired by the Worcester Redevelopment Authority and completely renovated at a cost of $32 million. The renovated station opened in July 2000. An intercity and local bus terminal, with five bus ports, was added at a cost of $5.2 million and opened in August 2006.
Union Station's facilities include the Grand Hall, with original elliptical stained-glass ceilings, interior marble columns and mahogany wood trim, Luciano's Cotton Club, a 1920s gangster-themed restaurant, and the Union Station Parking Garage, which has 500 spaces and direct access to the station. Union Station is wheelchair accessible and has a full length high level platform.
Proposed service
There are proposals to extend more frequent passenger service west to Springfield. The station is the planned northern terminus of the proposed Boston Surface Railroad, a commuter rail line between Worcester and Providence, Rhode Island planned to begin service in 2017.
Bus connections
Greyhound Bus Lines and Peter Pan Bus Lines operate intercity bus service from Worcester along major highways. MAX Express operates intercity bus service between Union Station and Northampton via Fitchburg and Amherst.
WRTA hub
In April 2012, the Worcester Regional Transit Authority broke ground on a new regional transit hub adjacent to historic Union Station:
When completed, the new 14,000 square foot facility will house the WRTA’s administrative offices and its customer service center. Included in the design are a new bus pavilion with an enclosed public waiting area, restroom facilities, ticket vending machines and eight bus slips.
The cost was $14 million, with $10 million coming from the Federal Government and the rest coming from the state. The new hub opened in May, 2013.