Commuter Rail or Green Line? (Westborough: home, neighborhood, garages)

[Louisville Slugger]

So I am going to be doing spring bowling while the Red Sox play. The bowling alley is right by Fenway. I'll be coming from Westborough. Should I (1) drive into Riverside and take the Green Line to Fenway or (2) take the commuter rail from Westborough to Yawkey? The commuter rail obviously requires the least amount of driving but I'd be tied to the schedules of the trains.

I could take the 5:37 PM train from Westborough, get at Yawkey Station at around 6:35 PM, walk to bowling alley for game around 7:00 to 7:15 PM depending on when my other teammates arrive.

There's 7 bowling games in the league I am in. The Red Sox don't play the first two weeks of the league, then they are home 4 of the last five weeks. So I'd only be choosing either option 4 out of the 7 total weeks of the league anyhow. Parking by Fenway is probably a nightmare during games and the garages probably want $40 to $50.

I guess one week I could try the Green Line and see how it is, then try the commuter rail the next and see which one I prefer. I figure I'd at least ask though because I don't know the trains as well as some people who post here.

[rethcir]

Are the games on sundays? If so, just drive and park in the neighborhood.

Otherwise, I'd probably do the green line so I don't end up waiting for a train forever.

[Louisville Slugger]

Originally Posted by rethcir

Are the games on sundays? If so, just drive and park in the neighborhood.

Otherwise, I'd probably do the green line so I don't end up waiting for a train forever.

Games are Wednesday nights.

[scorpio516]

Green can take forever (officially 45 minutes, only 15 minutes less than what the train is supposed to do, google says 32min). Or seem like it (and Riverside isn't the slow line either!). Eliot has some parking too, but MUCH less than Riverside, and I've never checked on a Wednesday evening.

But, the train leaves Yawkey once an hour from 8:40 to 11:40...

I guess the big variable would be traffic - especially going from the Pike to 95, but that's the end of the drive anyway. I'd drive to Riverside the first week, and adjust as necessary

[chicagoliz]

Ugh, that's a tough choice. You're right it is at least $50 to park so that's just not worth it. Do you know if your bowling games would end consistently at a time when you wouldn't have to wait long for a train? Or could they vary a lot. It certainly wouldn't be much fun to have to wait 55 minutes for a train if you just miss one, and typically they run extra T-cars on the green line after the game. If the times work out, the commuter rail is probably going to be less crowded and more reliable, BUT if that end time is dicey, then the green line may be better.

[Louisville Slugger]

Originally Posted by chicagoliz

Ugh, that's a tough choice. You're right it is at least $50 to park so that's just not worth it. Do you know if your bowling games would end consistently at a time when you wouldn't have to wait long for a train? Or could they vary a lot. It certainly wouldn't be much fun to have to wait 55 minutes for a train if you just miss one, and typically they run extra T-cars on the green line after the game. If the times work out, the commuter rail is probably going to be less crowded and more reliable, BUT if that end time is dicey, then the green line may be better.

It depends on how many people show up on my team. I have had games that ended at 8:30 PM because only four people showed up. If the entire team shows up (around 8 people), we get out close to 10 PM.

[GeoffD]

Originally Posted by chicagoliz

Ugh, that's a tough choice. You're right it is at least $50 to park so that's just not worth it.

Sure, it's $50 to park right next to Fenway. Doesn't anyone walk any more? Park at BU West Campus by the hockey rink or New Balance Field for $2.00/hour and walk or hop on the Green Line from there.

[chicagoliz]

Originally Posted by GeoffD

Sure, it's $50 to park right next to Fenway. Doesn't anyone walk any more? Park at BU West Campus by the hockey rink or New Balance Field for $2.00/hour and walk or hop on the Green Line from there.

That's certainly an option, too -- but it's just a variation of one of OP's original choices. Instead of driving to Riverside (D line) and taking the T in, drive to BU West (B line) or another stop nearby on the green line and T or walk to Fenway.

I'm not sure which parking situation is better.

[Louisville Slugger]

Appreciate the suggestions/responses so far guys.

[Louisville Slugger]

I ended up driving to Riverside. Plenty of parking. I got there right before the train was about to leave as well.

Left my place around 5:30 PM, got to Riverside around 6:05 PM, got to the Fenway T stop around 6:45 PM, walked to Jillian's & Lucky Strike, and ended up getting there 5 minutes before game time. We sometimes start around 7:15 PM so I have plenty of time.

I'll probably continue doing this for now. At least when the Sox are playing.