MBTA completes Orange Line infrastructure work

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) recently completed infrastructure improvements along the subway Orange Line, including track and signal upgrades.

Work took place during an 11-day suspension of service between Oak Grove and Back Bay stations. Regular service resumed on Aug. 31.

Between Tufts Medical Center and Haymarket station, crews replaced 210 cologne egg rail fasteners, more than 2,600 feet of rail, 780 feet of restraining rail, 270 plates and 140 insulators, and fixed the end approach gap for the Orange Line's third rail at four locations, MBTA officials said in a press release.

Between Haymarket station and the Assembly truck pad, crews replaced more than 1,200 ties, nearly 6,500 feet of rail and more than 760 plates. They also performed nearly 25,000 feet of surfacing, aligning and tamping. 

Signal upgrades focused on signal rack relocations at Wellington, North Station and Community College stations, as well as final signal completion work between Oak Grove and Tufts Medical Center, MBTA officials said.

The work was part of the MBTA’s planned renewal and revitalization work, intended to upgrade assets according to needs outlined in its 2023 Capital Needs Assessment and Inventory. The work also built upon and maintained work completed in the 2024 Track Improvement Program.

Other work completed during the 11-day outage includes:

• upgrades at the operator platform at Wellington;
• MassDOT Inspections of Interstate 93 bridges between Sullivan Square and Community College;
• plumbing and drainage improvements at Sullivan Square;
• platform and flooring repair at Oak Grove, Malden, Sullivan Square, and Community College; 
• radio installations between Community College and Tufts Medical Center; and 
• upgrades within the signal interlocking area and along third rail heating infrastructure.