Forest Hills commuter Rail station

Again, not that I'm complaining but how come the Attleboro CR line and the Forge Park line does not stop at Forest Hills? Was it puposely designed just for the Needham line

Before the old station closed in 1979, did all three commuter rail lines stop there?

Prior to the reconstruction, the four-track ex-New Haven RR line through Forest Hills ran on an embankment adjacent to the elevated Orange Line station. From west to east the tracks were the Needham line (bidirectional), outbound mainline, inbound mainline, and a freight spur. Only the Needham track had a passenger platform, and it had ceased being a regular stop for the New Haven in the late 1950s or early 1960s. The MBTA did reopen a couple close-in stations like Belmont in the 1970s, but I don't believe Forest Hills was one of them... I can't find a late-70s timetable at the moment to confirm that.

Southbound CR trains to Attleboro/Providence, Stoughton and Franklin actually use the track in the inbound side of the Forest Hills Station so it is technically possible for Franklin/Attleboro/Stoughton trains to stop at that Station especially on the way out, although on the way in they may be on track 1 which is the eastermost track.

At Forest Hills the main tracks are numbered 2, 1, 3. Track 2 is the one next to the wall, 1 is in the middle, and 3 is the platform track.

Oh ok, thank you for the clarification.

I don't think it would be worth it for Attleboro/Stoughton/Franklin trains to stop there. It would make the trip longer especially on the Forge Park line. Although it would inconvienence those coming from Forest Hills trying to reach southern destinations.

It might make sense to have the trains that stop at TF Green airport stop at Forest Hills, too. Some times of day it would be as quick to go there as to Logan, so why not make it easy.

jwhite07 wrote:At Forest Hills the main tracks are numbered 2, 1, 3. Track 2 is the one next to the wall, 1 is in the middle, and 3 is the platform track.

Don't forget 5, or is it 7....for the outbound Needham.

Robert Paniagua wrote:Southbound CR trains to Attleboro/Providence, Stoughton and Franklin actually use the track in the inbound side of the Forest Hills Station so it is technically possible for Franklin/Attleboro/Stoughton trains to stop at that Station especially on the way out, although on the way in they may be on track 1 which is the eastermost track.

BTW Robert, most Franklin trains heading Westbound are on track #1 between Cove & Read.

As for Forest Hills being added to these lines it is not necessary and would just drag things out more. For someone at Forest Hills to get to Attleboro they can take the Orange Line to Ruggles or Back Bay (10 minute trip) or take the #32 bus to Cleary Square (15/25 minutes). As for Franklin Branch, one could take the #32 to Wolcott Square and get the train right there at Readville. Or depending where along the line they are going just take the #34E which goes all the way to Walpole, albeit a longer ride.