604:
624:
completion would be delayed to early 2024 due to supply chain issues and soil conditions requiring modification of a retaining wall design. By
December 2022, construction was 45% complete, with the east ramps nearly finished. By that time, expected completion was further delayed to fall 2024. The east ramps were put into service on February 13, 2023, to access temporary platforms east of Washington Street, allowing the old platforms to be demolished and the new permanent platforms built. The Walnut Street footbridge was closed on March 2, 2023. By November 2023, construction was 70% complete and expected to finish in September 2024. By June 2024, work was still 70% complete, with completion expected in December 2024.
521:
489:
576:
46:
587:; the low platforms do not support level boarding, and passage to street level is via staircases only. Inbound ridership in 2018 was 736 passengers, making Natick Center the second-busiest non-accessible station on the MBTA Commuter Rail system. Flooding of the inbound track and platform during heavy rains is a recurrent problem. In January 2013, the Town of Natick formed a formal committee to advise the town on developing plans for a rebuilt station.
144:
500:, extending outwards from Boston, was completed Natick in August 1834. The line was double tracked through Natick in 1839, by which time a station had been established. Two other stations were located in Natick: Lake Crossing (at Bacon Street on the border with Wellesley to the east) and Walkerville (at Speen Street to the west). Neither lasted long into the 20th century.
265:
599:
for cost and operational reasons, with a third track (to allow freight trains and express passenger trains to pass stopped local trains) able to fit into the wide existing trench as well. The proposal would provide better integration of the station with the surrounding streets, including a deck over
561:
The line was reduced to two tracks through Natick in 1962. Around that time, a large building was built over the 1897 station, with the old station becoming the wine cellar of a liquor store. The original inbound canopy remained for use by the public, though the only station facilities were two bare
619:
After further MBTA review, the island platform design was replaced with two side platforms in 2017. The third center track will not be added as part of initial construction, but space will be left between the two main tracks to add it in the future. The estimated $ 36.5 million contract was put out
623:
In July 2020, the state awarded $ 125,000 for design of the final 1,300-foot (400 m) segment of the
Cochituate Rail Trail, including the connection with the new station. Construction in 2021 included platform supports, drainage, and a retaining wall. In February 2022, the MBTA indicated that
532:
to Lake
Crossing in 1894, and through Natick in 1896. During that construction, the line was realigned north (primarily to eliminate a sharp curve west of downtown) and lowered into a wide cut through downtown Natick to eliminate grade crossings with a number of streets. (Middlesex Avenue and the
566:
in 1982 to provide additional parking. In
October 1997, Natick was identified as a possible site for a parking garage. The MBTA planned a three-story, 300-space garage on town-owned land. The plan was cancelled because of concerns over the financial viability of the garage.
553:
The lightly used
Saxonville Branch never saw more than three daily round trips; passenger service was discontinued effective February 17, 1936. A "bus" – the Saxonville station agent's car – ran to Saxonville until 1943. Freight service continued until the 1980s; the
507:
section of
Framingham on July 4, 1846, with through trains to Boston. Although branch ridership was never high, these trains were timed to allow commuting from Natick for the first time. Stations on the branch included Felchville (at Fisher Street), Cochituate (at
620:
to bid in August 2019. A $ 36.1 million contract was awarded on
November 4, 2019. The 30-month construction period began in March 2020. Demolition of the canopy took place in May 2020. A temporary platform on the south side was installed later in the year.
611:
In July 2014, the MBTA agreed to the town's request to change the station's name as part of a larger rebranding of the Natick Center area. Online maps were changed shortly thereafter, and on
January 12, 2015, the station was officially renamed as
600:
parts of the trench between
Washington Street and Main Street. One option with the new station and a pedestrian-only deck was projected to cost $ 26.0 million, while a deck incorporating a bus loop would add $ 17 million more.
590:
In June 2014, conceptual plans were unveiled for upgrades to make the station fully handicapped accessible with high-level platforms and accessible routes from street level. The rebuilt station was to replace the existing
1455:
562:
platforms. The inbound side of the station is supported by the rear wall of the liquor store, decorated with a colorful mural of the
Downtown Natick area. A second station serving the town opened at
1460:
627:
In June 2021, the MBTA issued a $ 28 million design contract for a project to add a third track from Weston to Framingham, including through Natick Center, with projected completion in 2030.
1465:
1209:
1450:
1241:
1430:
1135:
1004:
1259:
78:
603:
1023:
268:
264:
1400:
283:
1202:
1330:
949:"Independent State Auditor's Report on Certain Activities of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority: July 1, 1996 to July 31, 2001"
147:
948:
1045:
534:
503:
Improvements to the station building were made around 1845. The 3.87-mile (6.23 km) Saxonville Branch opened from Natick to the
931:
907:
861:
676:
1226:
1158:
1112:
1093:
1401:"MBTA Contract No. C72PS01: Worcester Line Track and Stations Accessibility Improvements (P0261) Design and Engineering Services"
1184:
356:
1347:
1143:
710:
1365:
497:
1382:
616:. In March 2016, $ 4 million for completing design of the station was included in a draft 2017–2021 MBTA capital plan.
1371:. Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority Department of System-Wide Accessibility. November 27, 2023. p. 6.
1313:
364:
1336:. Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority Department of System-Wide Accessibility. December 6, 2022. p. 6.
1278:
1425:
1263:
542:
504:
460:
341:
291:
113:
828:
529:
374:
298:
1031:
475:
station on the system, it is undergoing a major accessibility renovation and modernization from 2020 to 2024.
727:
520:
509:
488:
464:
1094:"Natick Center MBTA Commuter Rail Station: Feasibility Study and Conceptual Design for Upgrades (Draft)"
555:
456:
392:
387:
66:
45:
575:
1067:
533:
Middlesex Path now lie on the original alignment.) A new granite and brownstone station designed by
563:
278:
1295:
1242:"Long-awaited $ 40 million reconstruction of the Natick Center commuter rail station is underway"
989:
981:
793:
777:
761:
452:
351:
1284:. Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority Department of System-Wide Accessibility. p. 7.
955:
1049:
903:
857:
706:
672:
877:
596:
538:
1120:
1097:
924:
648:
468:
1444:
1351:
592:
584:
379:
303:
124:
541:(who had designed nine stations for the B&A in the 1880s), opened in 1897. The
1117:
Natick Center MBTA Commuter Rail Station Improvements Implementation Plan (Draft)
809:
743:
463:. The station, located below grade in a wide cut adjacent to North Main Street (
1229:(Press release). Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. November 4, 2019.
472:
1420:
93:
80:
17:
1350:. Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. March 21, 2023. Archived from
151:
1227:"FMCB Approves Contract for Major Improvements at Natick Center Station"
854:
A Field Guide to Southern New England Railroad Depots and Freight Houses
1388:. Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. June 25, 2024. p. 6.
1262:. Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. June 2020. Archived from
492:
Early station and Saxonville Branch engine house on an 1877 aerial map
836:
HAER No. MA-108: Boston & Albany Railroad: Marion Street Bridge
1431:
Natick Center station from North Avenue on Google Maps Street View
602:
574:
519:
487:
1208:. Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. August 30, 2019.
1456:
MBTA Commuter Rail stations in Middlesex County, Massachusetts
838:. Historic American Engineering Record, National Park Service.
1426:
MBTA – Natick Center Accessibility Improvements Project Page
954:. Auditor of the Commonwealth. April 3, 2002. Archived from
795:
Report of the Directors of the Boston and Worcester Railroad
779:
Report of the Directors of the Boston and Worcester Railroad
763:
Report of the Directors of the Boston and Worcester Railroad
1435:
884:. February 15, 1936. p. 3 – via Newspapers.com.
798:. Boston and Worcester Railroad. June 7, 1847. p. 13.
782:. Boston and Worcester Railroad. June 1, 1846. p. 10.
766:. Boston and Worcester Railroad. June 2, 1845. p. 10.
1136:"MBTA Commuter Rail Station Now 'Natick Center Station'"
50:
Natick Center station in 2023 during reconstruction work
1005:"Heavy rains cause commuter rail delays, snarl commute"
1298:. Commonwealth of Massachusetts. July 2020. p. 6.
902:. Boston Street Railway Association. pp. 39, 61.
471:
serving the line's two tracks. The second-busiest non-
1366:"System-Wide Accessibility Initiatives—November 2023"
1331:"System-Wide Accessibility Initiatives—December 2022"
1279:"System-Wide Accessibility Initiatives—November 2020"
671:. Boston Street Railway Association. pp. 21–25.
340:
262:
1461:
Railway stations in the United States opened in 1834
1024:"Storm causes flooding on MBTA Commuter Rail tracks"
898:Humphrey, Thomas J. & Clark, Norton D. (1986).
667:Humphrey, Thomas J. & Clark, Norton D. (1985).
431:
250:
234:
225:
217:
202:
189:
184:
176:
171:
163:
158:
138:
130:
119:
109:
72:
60:
55:
32:
1314:"Natick Center Station Accessibility Improvements"
1260:"Natick Center Station Accessibility Improvements"
1159:"MBTA eyes money for Natick Center station design"
816:. F.W. Beers & Co. 1875 – via Ward Maps.
750:. F.W. Beers & Co. 1875 – via Ward Maps.
528:The B&A extended third and fourth tracks from
512:on the Natick/Framingham border), and Saxonville.
1466:Buildings and structures in Natick, Massachusetts
982:"Parking scarcity makes commuting by train tough"
925:"Changes to Transit Service in the MBTA district"
1185:"Natick Center train station design progressing"
893:
891:
1003:Rosen, Andy; Roberts, Sarah (August 21, 2015).
1068:"MBTA backs Natick Center station name change"
647:Central Transportation Planning Staff (2019).
1406:. Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority.
1319:. Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority.
651:. Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority.
8:
669:Boston's Commuter Rail: The First 150 Years
579:Natick Center station before reconstruction
1451:Former Boston and Albany Railroad stations
1307:
1305:
1061:
1059:
662:
660:
658:
642:
640:
428:
334:
323:
256:
44:
29:
27:Train station in Natick, Massachusetts, US
847:
845:
829:"WRITTEN HISTORICAL AND DESCRIPTIVE DATA"
345:
337:
272:
259:
1111:McMahon Associates; URS (18 June 2014).
1092:McMahon Associates; URS (15 June 2014).
943:
941:
524:Early postcard of the 1897-built station
1215:from the original on September 6, 2019.
1134:Arsenault, Charlene (12 January 2015).
878:"Bus to Take Place of Saxonville Train"
814:County Atlas of Middlesex Massachusetts
748:County Atlas of Middlesex Massachusetts
705:. Branch Line Press. pp. 278–283.
636:
1277:Brelsford, Laura (November 30, 2020).
1022:Henrich, Michael (30 September 2015).
900:Boston's Commuter Rail: Second Section
856:. Branch Line Press. pp. 302–03.
703:The Rail Lines of Southern New England
1383:"Accessibility Initiatives—June 2024"
696:
694:
692:
690:
688:
143:
7:
729:The Boston Almanac for the Year 1838
558:has been built on the right-of-way.
1348:"Alerts: Framingham/Worcester Line"
1240:Malachowski, Jeff (April 8, 2020).
1183:Benson, Brian (December 17, 2017).
150:: 10, 11, Natick Commuter Shuttle,
535:Alexander Wadsworth Longfellow Jr.
25:
1046:"MBTA Station Advisory Committee"
932:Boston Street Railway Association
1399:Kelly, Maribel (June 21, 2021).
1119:. Town of Natick. Archived from
1096:. Town of Natick. Archived from
1048:. Town of Natick. Archived from
980:Gregg, John (November 1, 1998).
263:
167:71 spaces (town permit required)
142:
1312:Doherty, John (February 2022).
1157:Benson, Brian (26 March 2016).
1066:Benson, Brian (4 August 2014).
607:Construction work in March 2022
498:Boston & Worcester Railroad
238:736 (weekday average boardings)
221:Natick (until January 12, 2015)
1296:"2020 MassTrails Grant Awards"
1:
583:Natick Center station is not
207:
193:
827:Healey, John (August 1990).
992:– via Newspapers.com.
649:"2018 Commuter Rail Counts"
545:acquired the line in 1900.
1482:
1113:"Implementation Framework"
701:Karr, Ronald Dale (1995).
365:Boston and Albany Railroad
292:Framingham/​Worcester Line
852:Roy, John H. Jr. (2007).
543:New York Central Railroad
461:Framingham/Worcester Line
438:
427:
423:
419:
342:New York Central Railroad
322:
318:
314:
255:
246:
242:
230:
43:
726:Dickinson, S.N. (1838).
608:
580:
525:
493:
1436:Cochituate Rail Trail
1146:on 30 September 2015.
1123:on 30 September 2015.
1100:on 30 September 2015.
1052:on 30 September 2015.
1034:on 30 September 2015.
606:
578:
556:Cochituate Rail Trail
523:
491:
457:Natick, Massachusetts
449:Natick Center station
67:Natick, Massachusetts
1421:MBTA – Natick Center
1246:Metrowest Daily News
1189:Metrowest Daily News
1163:Metrowest Daily News
1072:MetroWest Daily News
1203:"Notice to Bidders"
988:. pp. West 1,
923:Belcher, Jonathan.
114:Worcester Main Line
94:42.2858°N 71.3472°W
90: /
56:General information
1354:on March 21, 2023.
609:
581:
526:
516:Longfellow station
494:
453:MBTA Commuter Rail
400:Saxonville Branch
346:Following station
338:Preceding station
273:Following station
260:Preceding station
1266:on June 24, 2020.
510:Commonwealth Road
446:
445:
442:
441:
415:
414:
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310:
309:
172:Other information
99:42.2858; -71.3472
16:(Redirected from
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1199:
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1180:
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1142:. Archived from
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1125:
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1101:
1089:
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1080:
1078:
1063:
1054:
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1030:. Archived from
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993:
986:The Boston Globe
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299:Wellesley Square
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1016:
1002:
1001:
997:
979:
978:
974:
964:
962:
961:on June 8, 2017
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597:island platform
573:
551:
539:H.H. Richardson
537:, a student of
518:
486:
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369:
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329:
328:Former services
306:
286:
210:
196:
154:Express Shuttle
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64:1 Walnut Street
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732:. p. 50.
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1140:Natick Patch
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1028:FOX25 Boston
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467:), has two
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279:West Natick
213:, 2020–2024
211: 1962
197: 1839
139:Connections
97: /
73:Coordinates
1445:Categories
1077:12 January
712:0942147022
631:References
585:accessible
505:Saxonville
473:accessible
393:Saxonville
388:Felchville
352:Framingham
226:Passengers
85:71°20′50″W
82:42°17′09″N
530:Riverside
375:Wellesley
368:Main Line
284:Worcester
177:Fare zone
152:MathWorks
120:Platforms
1210:Archived
1168:26 March
744:"Natick"
595:with an
465:Route 27
433:Location
406:Terminus
251:Services
61:Location
549:Decline
479:History
391:toward
378:toward
355:toward
302:toward
282:toward
203:Rebuilt
185:History
164:Parking
110:Line(s)
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451:is an
380:Boston
357:Albany
206:1897,
190:Opened
131:Tracks
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1170:2016
1079:2015
967:2019
904:ISBN
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673:ISBN
496:The
269:MBTA
235:2018
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