TRANSIT SYSTEMS IN MASSACHUSETTS

BOSTON AREA (MBTA/EARLIER MTA)


CURRENT TRANSIT SYSTEM (SINCE 1964)
Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority

Provides comprehensive transit coverage throughout this large area.


BOSTON/HISTORIC DETAIL

Route History (City)
Route History (Suburbs)


Boston

Horse Car
1856-1887 - several companies
1887-1897 - West End Street Railway Co.
1889-1901 - horse cars replaced with electric streetcars

1897-1947 - Boston Elevated Railway Co.
1922 - buses introduced
1936-2022 - operated trolleybuses
1947-1964 - Metropolitan Transit Authority
STILL OPERATES STREETCARS

West Roxbury

1896-1901 - West Roxbury & Roslindale Street Railway Co.
1901-1911 - Old Colony Street Railway Co.
1911-1919 - Bay State Street Railway Co.
1919-1930 - Eastern Massachusetts Street Railway Co.
1930-1947 - Boston Elevated Railway Co.
1947-1964 - Metropolitan Transit Authority
1952 - streetcars discontinued

1952-1958 - operated trolleybuses

Hyde Park

1889-1892 - Norfolk Street Railway Co.
1892-1899 - Norfolk Suburban Street Railway Co.
1899-1900 - West Roxbury & Roslindale Street Railway Co.
1900-1901 - Brockton Street Railway Co.
1901-1911 - Old Colony Street Railway Co.
1911-1919 - Bay State Street Railway Co.
1919-1930 - Eastern Massachusetts Street Railway Co.
1930-1947 - Boston Elevated Railway Co.
1947-1964 - Metropolitan Transit Authority
1953 - streetcars discontinued

1953-1958 - operated trolleybuses

ADDITIONAL HISTORIC ELECTRIC RAILWAYS
1896-1901 - West Roxbury & Roslindale Street Railway Co. (above)
(Forest Hills-Roslindale-Dedham)
1892-1899 - Norfolk Suburban Street Railway Co. (above)
(Forest Hills-Hyde Park-Readville/Mattapan-Hyde Park-Dedham)
1896-1899 - Norfolk Central Street Railway Co. (above)
(Dedham-Norwood-East Walpole)
1899-1899 - Needham & Boston Street Railway Co.
(Roslindale-Needham)
1899 to West Roxbury & Roslindale Street Railway Co./above


Chelsea

Horse Car
1854-1880 - Boston & Chelsea Railroad
1857-1880 - Winnisimmet Railroad Co.

1880-1901 - Lynn & Boston Railroad Co.
1891-1892 - horse cars replaced with electric streetcars

1901-1911 - Boston & Northern Street Railway Co.
1911-1919 - Bay State Street Railway Co.
1919-1936 - Eastern Massachusetts Street Railway Co.
1936-1947 - Boston Elevated Railway Co.
1947-1964 - Metropolitan Transit Authority
1952 - streetcars discontinued

1952-1961 - operated trolleybuses

Revere

1889-1890 - Revere Street Railway Co.
1890-1893 - Boston & Revere Electric Street Railway Co.
1893-1901 - Lynn & Boston Railroad Co.
1901-1911 - Boston & Northern Street Railway Co.
1911-1919 - Bay State Street Railway Co.
1919-1968 - Eastern Massachusetts Street Railway Co.
1923 - buses introduced
1937 - streetcars discontinued
1925-1975 - Service Bus Line (supplemental service)

Arlington

electric railways and replacement bus lines
also connected with adjoining areas
1935-1938 - Service Bus Line
1938-1973 - Hudson Bus Lines

Malden

electric railways and replacement bus lines
also connected with adjoining areas
1927-1953 - Warwick Coach Lines
1953-1955 - Service Bus Line
1955-1972 - Malden Bus Lines
1972-1975 - Service Bus Line

Medford

electric railways and replacement bus lines
also connected with adjoining areas
1934-1937 - Warwick Coach Lines
1937-1994 - Hudson Bus Lines


ADDITIONAL HISTORIC ELECTRIC RAILWAYS
1895-1904 - Wellesley & Boston Street Railway Co.
(Newton-Newton Lower Falls)
1904 to Newton Street Railway Co./above
1895-1904 - Commonwealth Avenue Street Railway Co.
(Boston-Newton-Auburndale)
1904 to Newton Street Railway Co./above
1892-1909 - Newton & Boston Street Railway Co.
(Newton-Needham)
1909 to Middlesex & Boston Street Railway Co./above
1896-1900 - Newtonville & Watertown Street Railway Co.
(Newtonville-Watertown)
1900 to Newton & Boston Street Railway Co./above

Interurban railway service discontinued 1930


Milton

1899-1920 - Blue Hill Street Railway Co. (Mattapan-Canton-Stoughton)
1920-2003 - Brush Hill Transp. Co.


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