Green Line C Branch trains through Brookline will be replaced by shuttle buses for nine days beginning Saturday, Nov. 7, while crews upgrade signals and rebuild stations.
Free, accessible shuttles will run between Cleveland Circle and Back Bay through Sunday, Nov. 15. Regular train service is scheduled to resume Monday, Nov. 16, according to the MBTA.
Riders traveling from Cleveland Circle to Park Street should allow at least 25 additional minutes. Shuttles will connect with the Orange Line at Back Bay for travel through downtown.
Three stops without shuttles
Shuttle buses will not serve Saint Mary’s Street, Kent Street or Brandon Hall in either direction. Riders should use the next nearest shuttle stop.
All replacement buses will be accessible. Some weekday vehicles will use wheelchair lifts, while weekend buses will have low floors and ramps.
Accessible vans will also be available between North Station and Kenmore, including Copley and Back Bay. Riders can request a van through station personnel or a station call box.
Fairbanks closes permanently
The existing Fairbanks Street platform will be demolished during the shutdown as the stop is consolidated with Brandon Hall, according to Brookline’s construction update.
Crews will also work on platforms at Summit Avenue, Hawes Street and Saint Paul Street, build ramps at Brandon Hall, and install lighting, signs and landscaping along the branch.
The work is part of the $51 million C Branch Station Accessibility Improvements project, targeted for completion in spring 2027. The MBTA says all remaining C Branch stations will be accessible when the project is finished.
Drivers should expect disruptions near Beacon Street work zones. The eastbound Beacon Street U-turn restriction at Hawes Street remains in effect during construction.
Signal upgrades in the tunnel
The closure also gives crews access to the Green Line’s central tunnel to replace century-old signal infrastructure.
Workers plan to install 16 miles of signal cable and about one mile of fiber-optic cable, complete connections and begin testing at several locations. The upgrades are intended to improve reliability and support the new Type 10 cars expected to enter passenger service in 2027.
Commuter rail alternative has a weekend exception
Worcester Line trips between South Station, Back Bay and Lansdowne will be fare-free during the Green Line disruption, but separate construction affects the opening weekend.
On Nov. 7–8, Worcester Line trains will be suspended between Framingham and South Station. Replacement buses will serve South Station and Back Bay, but will not stop at Lansdowne, according to the MBTA’s November service notice.
Regular fares apply beyond Lansdowne and on other commuter rail lines. Riders can check current service information and subscribe to T-Alerts before traveling.
