Natick (MBTA station)
Encyclopedia
Natick is a below-grade MBTA Commuter Rail
station serving Downtown Natick
/Natick Center, Massachusetts
, as well as Wayland
and Dover
. The station is located on the MBTA's Framingham/Worcester Line
. Utilizing tracks formerly laid by the Boston & Albany Railroad, the outbound side also generates a spur to Saxonville
and Framingham (the Cochituate Rail Trail, formerly the Saxonville Branch).
The station is located on North and South Avenues at the intersection of Walnut Street (north side) and Main Street (north and south side), behind Eastern Bank
.
As of December 5, 2006, weekday evening rush-hour outbound trains board operate on Track 2 (inbound side) and inbound trains operate on Track 1.
The MWRTA
picks up on the North side of the station, coordinated with commuter rail train arrival and departure times.
Natick station has a parking lot with 71 spaces, including 4 accessible spaces. A permit from the town of Natick
must be obtained to use the parking lot; the lot is owned and operated by the town.
Natick Station is not handicapped accessible.
To create the station, Boston and Albany Railroad
took advantage of eminent domain
to take land owned by the Harrison Harwood Baseball Manufacturing Company. The baseball factory is now a condominium overlooking the train station.
The inbound side of the station is supported by a retaining wall decorated with a colorful mural of the Downtown Natick area. This mural features the train station, Natick Common, the Natick Fire Station, the Harwood Baseball Factory, and Casey's Hot Dog Stand.
MBTA Commuter Rail
The MBTA Commuter Rail serves as the regional rail arm of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, in the United States. It is operated under contract by the Massachusetts Bay Commuter Railroad Company a joint partnership of Veolia Transportation, Bombardier Transportation and Alternate...
station serving Downtown Natick
Natick, Massachusetts
Natick is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. Natick is located near the center of the MetroWest region of Massachusetts, with a population of 33,006 at the 2010 census. Only west from Boston, Natick is considered part of the Greater Boston area...
/Natick Center, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
, as well as Wayland
Wayland, Massachusetts
Wayland is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 12,994 at the 2010 census.For geographic and demographic information on Cochituate, which is part of Wayland, please see the article Cochituate, Massachusetts.-History:...
and Dover
Dover, Massachusetts
Dover is a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 5,589 at the 2010 census.Located about southwest of downtown Boston, Dover is a residential town nestled on the south banks of the Charles River. Almost all of the residential zoning requires or larger...
. The station is located on the MBTA's Framingham/Worcester Line
Framingham/Worcester Line
The Framingham/Worcester Line is a railroad line of the MBTA Commuter Rail system, running west from Boston, Massachusetts to Worcester, Massachusetts, though some trains terminate at Framingham, Massachusetts...
. Utilizing tracks formerly laid by the Boston & Albany Railroad, the outbound side also generates a spur to Saxonville
Saxonville, Massachusetts
Saxonville is a historic mill village located in the north end of the town of Framingham, in Middlesex County, Massachusetts 01701.- Geography :Saxonville is located at 42.3203 degrees latitude, 71.4404 longitude....
and Framingham (the Cochituate Rail Trail, formerly the Saxonville Branch).
The station is located on North and South Avenues at the intersection of Walnut Street (north side) and Main Street (north and south side), behind Eastern Bank
Eastern Bank
Eastern Bank is the largest independent, mutually owned bank in New England and the largest community bank in Massachusetts. With 82 branches, Eastern has a 2.83% market share in Massachusetts as of 2009...
.
As of December 5, 2006, weekday evening rush-hour outbound trains board operate on Track 2 (inbound side) and inbound trains operate on Track 1.
The MWRTA
MetroWest Regional Transit Authority
The MetroWest Regional Transit Authority is a regional public transit authority in the state of Massachusetts providing bus and paratransit service to eleven communities in the Boston MetroWest. The MWRTA was formed in 2006 and began service on July 1, 2007 with the purpose of filling a void in...
picks up on the North side of the station, coordinated with commuter rail train arrival and departure times.
Natick station has a parking lot with 71 spaces, including 4 accessible spaces. A permit from the town of Natick
Natick, Massachusetts
Natick is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. Natick is located near the center of the MetroWest region of Massachusetts, with a population of 33,006 at the 2010 census. Only west from Boston, Natick is considered part of the Greater Boston area...
must be obtained to use the parking lot; the lot is owned and operated by the town.
Natick Station is not handicapped accessible.
Notable station features
The 3.87 miles (6.2 km) spur to Saxonville was established in 1846.To create the station, Boston and Albany Railroad
Boston and Albany Railroad
The Boston and Albany Railroad was a railroad connecting Boston, Massachusetts to Albany, New York, later becoming part of the New York Central Railroad system, Conrail and CSX. The line is used by CSX for freight...
took advantage of eminent domain
Eminent domain
Eminent domain , compulsory purchase , resumption/compulsory acquisition , or expropriation is an action of the state to seize a citizen's private property, expropriate property, or seize a citizen's rights in property with due monetary compensation, but without the owner's consent...
to take land owned by the Harrison Harwood Baseball Manufacturing Company. The baseball factory is now a condominium overlooking the train station.
The inbound side of the station is supported by a retaining wall decorated with a colorful mural of the Downtown Natick area. This mural features the train station, Natick Common, the Natick Fire Station, the Harwood Baseball Factory, and Casey's Hot Dog Stand.