Public transportation options into Boston from outside 95? (Worcester, Cambridge: transfer, to buy)

[FromEverywhereUSA]

Thank you to everyone who answered my question about walkable town centers in the suburbs around Boston. While that helped to create my short list for living areas to check out when we visit, I would feel remiss if I didn't at least explore the options outside the 95 loop, as well. So, while I won't be so insistent on a bustling downtown area, I'd still like to have some good public transportation options for my husband, who will need to get to South Station on a daily basis. Which towns sit on public transit lines that far out? I read somewhere that Lincoln has a rail line in town, for instance.

[CaseyB]

There are quite a few towns. Here's the map of the rail lines showing which trains go to South Station:

MBTA.com > Commuter Rail Maps and Schedules

[Amontillado]

Note that trains from Lincoln go to North Station.

Also, commuting by train is (relatively) fast and comfortable, but it costs a lot compared with riding the subway, and the frequency of service may make it inconvenient.

[Parsec]

After clicking on CaseyB's link, click on the tab that says "Interactive Street Map" to see all the stations relative to each other on a scaled map. All the lines terminating from Worcester down to Scituate (South of Boston) go to South Station.

[jayrandom]

Commuter rail mostly serves towns between 95 (128) and 495. Inside 95, except to the north, most of the service is subway, trolley, and bus.

The downside of the commuter rail is low frequency and cost, the upside is speed. I can go from Rt. 128 to South Station in as little as 20 minutes.

[mp775]

There are also commuter bus options - Concord Coach from Boxford, Georgetown, Groveland, Haverhill, Newburyport, Peabody, and Topsfield; C&J from Newburyport and New Hampshire; Merrimack Valley RTA from Methuen, Lawrence, Andover, and North Andover; Boston Express from Tyngsboro and New Hampshire; Yankee Line from Acton and Concord; Plymouth & Brockton from Plymouth, Kingston, Duxbury, Marshfield, and Rockland; Bloom from Easton, Raynham, Taunton, and West Bridgewater; Dattco from New Bedford, Fairhaven, Dartmouth, and Taunton; Peter Pan from Sturbridge, Worcester, Framingham, Fall River, and Providence; probably others I'm missing.

[Parsec]

Interesting that all these bus lines overlap with existing commuter rail service, except for ones originating in NH and Fall River. I hope they at least go to a different part of Boston, e.g. the bus lines North of Boston should go to the financial district and Back Bay, while the bus lines west and south of Boston should go to North Station and Cambridge.

Also, why is there no bus line in communities that aren't served by a train station such as Marlborough/Hudson/Sudbury, Westford/Chemlsford, or Milford/Holliston?

[FromEverywhereUSA]

You all are awesome, thank you so much! I'll spend some time looking into all these options.

And again, I'm used to absurdly expensive rail service. Caltrain is our transit of choice around here and it costs a ton. Not ideal, but if it means we don't have to buy a second car (we like being a one-car family) or have my husband spend half of his life in (much more dangerous) traffic, we'll take it.

[FromEverywhereUSA]

Originally Posted by Amontillado

Note that trains from Lincoln go to North Station.

Noted, but am I reading correctly that you can transfer from the commuter rail to the subway (Red Line) at Porter Square? Not that transferring is easy, but I just wanted to check.

[jayrandom]

Originally Posted by FromEverywhereUSA

Noted, but am I reading correctly that you can transfer from the commuter rail to the subway (Red Line) at Porter Square? Not that transferring is easy, but I just wanted to check.

Avoid transfers if you can. I say this as someone who couldn't really avoid transfers--they're frustrating. Going directly to South Station will save you lots of time over going to North Station and walking or going to Porter and transferring.

There are plenty of great cities and towns that have commuter rail service to South Station.