Purple Line (Boston, Fitchburg: live in, buses, rail)

[yaeger07]

Who calls it that? I live in the city proper and don't know anyone who calls it the purple line, but I've seen it referenced that way. Do people who live in the suburbs call it that? Or old-timer/native Bostonians (I am not one)? Just curious. I know that's how it's represented on the T map. Maybe people in the 'burbs call it that because there's no confusion as to which line they're referring, as opposed to people in the city who might leave close enough to multiple lines.

[CaseyB]

Nobody I know has ever called it that. I think one of the posters here made a reference to the "purple line" once but they were tourists.

[tysmith95]

But can you take the Purple Line to SoBo?

[AtkinsonDan]

Originally Posted by yaeger07

Who calls it that? I live in the city proper and don't know anyone who calls it the purple line, but I've seen it referenced that way. Do people who live in the suburbs call it that? Or old-timer/native Bostonians (I am not one)? Just curious. I know that's how it's represented on the T map. Maybe people in the 'burbs call it that because there's no confusion as to which line they're referring, as opposed to people in the city who might leave close enough to multiple lines.

It is just shown as purple to differentiate the commuter rail from the rapid transit lines which are denoted by their colors. Although using that logic they could have used yellow, brown or pink. Makes one wonder who at the MBTA chose purple and why?

[massnative71]

It's been a commonly used nickname for as long as I can remember.

[brightdoglover]

I live near a commuter station on the purple line and people call it that, if not the "Fitchburg line." One woman I know calls it the "Pittsburgh line" but she's a new arrival in town. It's got a big purple stripe on it. What else would people call it?

[gf2020]

Originally Posted by brightdoglover

It's got a big purple stripe on it. What else would people call it?

"commuter rail"

[BOORGONG]

Originally Posted by gf2020

"commuter rail"

No. Commuter rail doesn't cut it. We are discussing a line here.

It will heretofore be known as the Lavender Line. Purple belongs in Minneapolis, not Boston.

[scorpio516]

Originally Posted by AtkinsonDan

It is just shown as purple to differentiate the commuter rail from the rapid transit lines which are denoted by their colors. Although using that logic they could have used yellow, brown or pink. Makes one wonder who at the MBTA chose purple and why?

That is a good question. All the livery is purple too.

No one calls buses "yellow" even though they have yellow livery, and are yellow on the site and signs.

[massnative71]

Originally Posted by gf2020

"commuter rail"

Maybe there is just something awkward about saying its official name in full like that, as people just as well say "Purple Line" or even more often just "the train".