Massachusetts Transit Authorities temporarily transfer Blue Line services for nine days and Orange Line services for three weekends in August, as a result of infrastructure repairs and maintenance.
MBTA Announces Service Changes and Disruptions for August 2025
In August 2025, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) has planned various service changes and disruptions for several lines, including the Blue Line, Orange Line, Lowell Line, and Fitchburg Line. These adjustments are aimed at improving the overall transportation system in the long term.
Orange Line
During specific weekends in August, service on the Orange Line will be suspended between Wellington and Back Bay. The affected dates are August 2-3, August 9-10, and August 23-24. During these suspensions, free shuttle buses will run between Wellington and North Station. Riders can also use the Green Line between North Station and Copley to reach their destinations. To accommodate displaced Orange Line riders, Green Line service will be increased. Additionally, fare gates will remain open with free fares at Back Bay, Copley, Wellington, and North Station during these dates.
Blue Line
A shutdown is scheduled for the Blue Line from August 9-17. During this period, riders are encouraged to use bikes as an alternative, supported by a promotional code (MBTABLUE825) providing five free Bluebikes unlocks per user. The MBTA promotes this discounted Bluebikes program as part of the mitigation efforts during the shutdown. Riders boarding between Bowdoin Station and Airport will still see train service but should budget extra time, as the shuttle service will add approximately half-an-hour to commutes.
Lowell Line
The Lowell Line will be replaced by shuttle service for two weekends in August: August 15-16 and August 22-23. Riders traveling from Wonderland to Government Center should budget an additional 20 - 30 minutes of travel time. Please note that the shuttle service for the Lowell Line will not be available at Winchester Center station, and riders are encouraged to use Wedgemere Station as an alternative.
Fitchburg Line
The Fitchburg Line will be closed the weekends of August 16 and 23 due to the North Station Terminal Area Signal System Improvement Project. During these weekends, existing Red and Green Line service will serve as replacement for the Fitchburg Line.
Commuter Rail
The MBTA encourages riders to consider fare-free Commuter Rail service between Oak Grove and North Station (Lowell Line area) and between Forest Hills and South Station (Fitchburg Line area) during the Orange Line outages. These commuter routes may offer increased availability or promotion as alternatives.
The MBTA acknowledges that the planned disruptions will affect riders' daily travels but promises a better riding experience in the long term. For real-time updates, it is recommended to check the MBTA Alerts page.
Sources: - Boston MBTA Shutdowns 2025 - MBTA Fall Schedule Announcement - The Lowell Line will be replaced by shuttle service for two weekends in August: August 15-16 and August 22-23. - Riders traveling from Wonderland to Government Center should budget an additional 20 - 30 minutes of travel time. - The Fare free gates will be open at Back Bay, Copley, Wellington, and North Station. - Existing Red and Green Line service will serve as replacement for the Fitchburg Line during its closure. - The High Line Bridge carries trains over an access road and the rail yard between North Station and West Medford. - The closure of the Lowell Line is due to the High Line Bridge Replacement Project. - The closure will occur between Airport Station and Wonderland. - The MBTA thanks riders for their patience during these service changes and for continuing to ride their system.
[1] Boston MBTA Shutdowns 2025: https://www.boston.gov/departments/transportation/boston-mbta-shutdowns-2025
[2] MBTA Fall Schedule Announcement: https://www.instagram.com/p/DM09m4BMW3D/
- The MBTA has planned for replacement of the Lowell Line with shuttle service during the weekends of August 15-16 and August 22-23, due to the High Line Bridge Replacement Project.
- Riders can utilize the fare-free Commuter Rail service between Oak Grove and North Station (Lowell Line area) and between Forest Hills and South Station (Fitchburg Line area) as an alternative during the Orange Line outages.
- In August, several transportation services in the MBTA network will be undergoing changes and disruptions, including the utilization of buses as alternate transportation - such as the free shuttle buses for Orange Line riders between Wellington and North Station during specific weekend suspensions.
