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Winchester Center station

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Coordinates: 42°27′06″N 71°08′16″W / 42.4516°N 71.1378°W / 42.4516; -71.1378
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Winchester Center
An outbound train at Winchester Center station in August 2015
General information
Location29 Waterfield Road
Winchester, Massachusetts
Coordinates42°27′06″N 71°08′16″W / 42.4516°N 71.1378°W / 42.4516; -71.1378
Line(s)New Hampshire Main Line
Platforms2 side platforms
Tracks2
ConnectionsBus transport MBTA bus: 134
Construction
Parking237 spaces (town permit required)
Bicycle facilities27 spaces
Other information
Fare zone1
History
ClosedJanuary 8, 2021
RebuiltDecember 2021–November 2024
Passengers
2018456 (weekday average boardings)[1]
Services
Preceding station MBTA Following station
Mishawum
toward Lowell
 Lowell Line Wedgemere
toward North Station
Former services
Preceding station MBTA Following station
Anderson/​Woburn
toward Haverhill
 Haverhill Line
limited service
 Wedgemere
toward North Station
Cross Street
toward Woburn
 Lowell Line
Woburn Branch
Preceding station Boston and Maine Railroad Following station
Winchester Highlands
via mainline
toward Concord, NH
 Boston – Concord, NH Wedgemere
toward Boston
Cross Street
via Woburn Loop
toward Concord, NH

Winchester Center station is a temporarily closed MBTA Commuter Rail station in Winchester, Massachusetts, normally served by the Lowell Line. The station, located on a viaduct in downtown Winchester, was closed effective January 8, 2021 due to structural deterioration. Winchester Center station was not accessible prior to the closure, but accessible high-level platforms are being added during renovations taking place from December 2021 to November 2024.

History

Early history

The 1957-built station building, as seen in 2013

The Boston and Lowell Railroad opened between its namesake cities in 1835; local stops were added soon after.[2][3] Woburn Gates station – later Winchester – was open by 1838.[4] By the 1840s, service on the line was suitable for commuting to Boston.[2] Elimination of the grade crossing at Winchester was considered in 1903 and 1906, and again in 1915.[5][6][7] The 1915 proposal called for the tracks to be lowered by 4 feet (1.2 m) and the streets to be raised by 17 feet (5.2 m).[8] The B&M installed bike racks at the station in 1942 in an effort to reduce parking needs.[9]

In the early 1950s, the B&M began planning a project to raise the tracks of the New Hampshire Main Line and the southern end of the Woburn Branch for a mile through Winchester, eliminating troublesome grade crossings downtown.[10] Construction began in 1955; boxy two-story brick stations opened at Wedgemere and Winchester Center in 1957.[3][11]

Until 1981, the Woburn Branch diverged from the main line just north of the Winchester Center platforms. A short stub is still in place.[12]

Repair work

One of the ramps to the inbound platform in January 2013, showing water damage to concrete and metal structures

Winchester Center station had not been substantially renovated since the viaduct was completed in 1957. In September 2008, the MBTA approved $1.4 million in platform and ramps repairs, as well as electrical and lighting work, at the station.[13] The work was completed in 2010; the MBTA intended to renovate the station before the 5-year life of the platform patches was reached.[14]

On July 7, 2015, the Winchester Department of Public Works discovered a hole in the inbound platform, which prompted the closure of the northern 500 feet (150 m) of the platform and one ramp due to concrete deterioration. One ramp and the remaining section of the platform remained open for service. The MBTA planned to make temporary repairs before the end of the year.[14] Further repairs were made in 2017 to support the platforms and ramps.[15]

Until December 2020, a small number of Haverhill Line trains ran via the Wildcat Branch and the inner Lowell Line, making stops including Winchester Center.[16][17]

Reconstruction

The MBTA is making renovations to the station which will repair water damage and make it fully accessible. The station design was advanced to 15% in December 2011; Jacobs Engineering was then chosen as the contractor for final design in June 2012.[18] Funding issues prevented this design work from beginning until 2013.[18] It was later determined that the mini-high platforms of the 15% design were not sufficient for state accessibility requirements, and that full-length high-level platforms would be required. The town objected to simply changing the design to accommodate these platforms.[18]

Construction of the new station in September 2022

After several iterations, a new 15% design was reached in December 2015. The rebuilt station will have 724-foot (221 m)-long high-level platforms; although shorter than the 800-foot (240 m) MBTA standard, they will still be able to platform 9 cars. A gauntlet track may be installed to allow CSX Transportation freight trains to pass.[18] A new interlocking may be built south of the station, which will allow greater flexibility during construction and allow the retirement of the former Woburn Branch interlocking north of the station after completion.[18] Although early designs called for replacement of existing ramps, the new 15% design added two redundant elevators at the southern end of each platform. The 1957-built station was originally to be demolished to make room for the elevators and staircases.[18] The northern ramp to the outbound platform will be moved north of the adjacent rotary; the northern inbound ramp will be rebuilt at its present location south of the rotary, with the possibility of an additional ramp north of the rotary in the future.[18]

Design of the station was then expected to be completed by the end of 2016, with the $25.8 million construction beginning in 2017.[19][18] By October 2016, bidding was expected to begin that December.[20] The MBTA designated $34 million in funding in 2016, but the projected cost rose to $54 million by 2018.[21] By late 2019, the total project budget was $49.9 million: $7.3 million for design and $42.5 million for construction.[22] By May 2020, the MBTA expected to begin construction in fall 2020, with completion in spring 2023.[23] However, the project was put on hold in 2020 due to budgetary issues caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.[24]

The station was closed effective January 8, 2021 due to deterioration.[25][26] On January 11, the MBTA reinstated funding for the project due to the closure.[27] The MBTA received a demolition permit on January 25.[28] Demolition of the ramps was completed in June 2021.[29][30] A $47.6 million construction contract was approved on October 27, 2021.[31] The 28-month construction phase began in December 2021.[32] Site preparation began in March 2022.[33] Demolition of the remaining platforms and ramps took place in May and June 2022. Some demolition and utility work lasted through the remainder of 2022.[34]

A formal groundbreaking ceremony was held on June 30, 2022.[35] Construction was 25% complete by December 2022 and 30% complete by June 2023, with completion expected in April 2024.[36][37] Work was delayed by plumbing code compliance issues, supply chain issues, and reduced work windows due to a September–November 2023 diversion of Haverhill Line service over the Lowell Line.[38] As of October 2023, the southern portion of the new station is expected to open in July 2024, with the remaining portion open later that year.[39]

References

  1. ^ Central Transportation Planning Staff (2019). "2018 Commuter Rail Counts". Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority.
  2. ^ a b Karr, Ronald Dale (1995). The Rail Lines of Southern New England. Branch Line Press. pp. 229–231. ISBN 0942147022.
  3. ^ a b Humphrey, Thomas J. & Clark, Norton D. (1985). Boston's Commuter Rail: The First 150 Years. Boston Street Railway Association. pp. 55–57. ISBN 9780685412947.
  4. ^ Dickinson, S.N. (1838). The Boston Almanac for the Year 1838. p. 49.
  5. ^ "Grade Crossing Hearing Postponed". Boston Globe. March 17, 1906. p. 9 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "On Grade Crossings". Boston Globe. March 17, 1903. p. 7 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "Winchester Grade Crossing Hearing". Boston Globe. June 30, 1915. p. 3 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "Exhibit of Work by Winchester". Boston Globe. November 11, 1915. p. 2 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "Bicycle Racks at Winchester for B.& M. Patrons". Boston Globe. January 21, 1942. p. 7 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "Winchester Overpass Cost Boosted to $6,000,000". Boston Globe. October 21, 1953. p. 14 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  11. ^ Roy, John H. Jr. (2007). A Field Guide to Southern New England Railroad Depots and Freight Houses. Branch Line Press. p. 260. ISBN 9780942147087.
  12. ^ Belcher, Jonathan. "Changes to Transit Service in the MBTA district" (PDF). Boston Street Railway Association.
  13. ^ "Agenda for September 11, 2008 Board Meeting". Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. 11 September 2008. Retrieved 3 August 2008.
  14. ^ a b Berkowitz, Bram (15 July 2015). "Winchester Center MBTA stop partially closed". Wicked Local Winchester.
  15. ^ "Train station temp repairs". Daily Times Chronicle. July 28, 2017.
  16. ^ "Lowell Line: Fall/Winter Schedule" (PDF). Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. November 2, 2020. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 30, 2020.
  17. ^ "2020/2021 Reduced Service Schedule: Lowell Line" (PDF). Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. December 14, 2020.
  18. ^ a b c d e f g h Jacobs Engineering (December 2015). "MBTA Winchester Center Station Renovation Project: 15% Design Report". Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority.
  19. ^ LaRoche, Ryan (29 January 2016). "MBTA commuter rail project ongoing". Daily Times Chronicle. Retrieved 24 February 2016.
  20. ^ "Future Construction Contract Bid Solicitations". Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. October 2016. Archived from the original on October 14, 2016.
  21. ^ Manzhos, Mariya (June 7, 2018). "Winchester Commuter Rail station is falling apart, but MBTA funding is still up in the air". Wicked Local Winchester.
  22. ^ "Winchester Center Station Improvements Public Meeting" (PDF). Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. November 21, 2019.
  23. ^ Brelsford, Laura (May 26, 2020). "SWA Initiatives—May 2020" (PDF). pp. 7–8.
  24. ^ Brelsford, Laura (November 30, 2020). "System-Wide Accessibility Initiatives—November 2020" (PDF). Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority Department of System-Wide Accessibility. p. 7.
  25. ^ "Lowell Line Alerts". Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. January 7, 2021. Archived from the original on January 8, 2021.
  26. ^ Ellement, John R.; Sennott, Adam (January 8, 2021). "Winchester Center commuter rail closed due to structural problems". Boston Globe. Retrieved January 9, 2021.
  27. ^ "Winchester Center station project gets green light". Daily Times Chronicle. January 12, 2021. Retrieved January 13, 2021.
  28. ^ "MBTA gets demo permit for Winchester Center Commuter Rail Station". Daily Times Chronicle. January 26, 2021. Retrieved February 3, 2021.
  29. ^ Rae, Nathan (February 23, 2021). "Winchester Center Station Demolition Work & Accessibility Improvements" (PDF). Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. p. 28.
  30. ^ "Demolition Work Complete at Winchester Station" (Press release). Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. June 11, 2021.
  31. ^ Rae, Nathan (October 27, 2021). "MBTA Construction Services Contract No. J66CN01: Winchester Center Station Accessibility Improvements: Construction Contract Award" (PDF). Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority.
  32. ^ "System-Wide Accessibility Initiatives—December 2021" (PDF). Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority Department of System-Wide Accessibility. December 2021. p. 7.
  33. ^ "Winchester Center Station Construction Prep Begins March 28" (Press release). Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. March 22, 2022.
  34. ^ "Winchester Center Station Accessibility Improvements: Construction Update" (PDF). Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. June 14, 2022. pp. 10–14.
  35. ^ "MBTA Celebrates Winchester Center Commuter Rail Station Groundbreaking" (Press release). Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. June 30, 2022.
  36. ^ "System-Wide Accessibility Initiatives—December 2022" (PDF). Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority Department of System-Wide Accessibility. December 6, 2022. pp. 6–7.
  37. ^ "System-Wide Accessibility Initiatives—June 2023" (PDF). Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority Department of System-Wide Accessibility. June 5, 2023. p. 6.
  38. ^ "Delays hurt, but MBTA hopes to keep Winchester Center Commuter Rail Station project on schedule". Daily Times Chronicle. September 28, 2023. Archived from the original on October 2, 2023.
  39. ^ Rae, Nathan (October 4, 2023). "Winchester Center Station Accessibility Improvements: Construction Update" (PDF). Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority.
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