The MBTA will run its subway and buses on a Saturday schedule on Monday, Oct. 12, 2026, for Columbus/Indigenous Peoples’ Day, according to the agency’s holiday service page. The MBTA holiday schedule for Oct. 12 also keeps Commuter Rail and ferries on regular weekday timetables. Here is what that means for riders in Boston, plus a new ferry feature that launched this week.
MBTA Holiday Schedule for Monday, Oct. 12
The MBTA lists the following service levels for the holiday:
- Subway: Saturday schedule with no late-night service. Service ends at the regular Monday time.
- Bus and The RIDE: Saturday holiday schedule with no late-night service. Service ends at the regular Monday time.
- Commuter Rail: regular weekday schedule.
- Ferry: regular weekday schedule.
In practice, a Saturday schedule generally means less frequent trips than a normal weekday, and some routes that do not run on weekends will not operate. The MBTA notes on its holiday page that if a weekend schedule is running, routes that do not typically run on weekends will not be in service. Riders with a fixed arrival time, such as a flight or a medical appointment, should check the specific route in the MBTA Go app or the MBTA Trip Planner before leaving.
Ferries Run on Weekdays, and You Can Now Track Them
The MBTA said in an alert updated Oct. 7 that all ferry service will operate on a normal weekday schedule on Oct. 12, covering the Charlestown, East Boston, Harbor Loop, Hingham, Hingham/Hull, Lynn, Quincy, Winthrop and Winthrop/Quincy ferries. The agency’s Fall 2026 service update separately says Hingham/Hull weekend service ends on Oct. 12, in alignment with Indigenous Peoples’ Day, while weekday service continues year-round.
On Oct. 8, the MBTA announced that real-time ferry information is now available in the MBTA Go app and other digital tools. According to the MBTA announcement, riders can view schedules for the day’s ferry service, see live predictions for trips in progress or coming soon, check active ferry alerts and track a boat as it moves on the water.
To use it, the MBTA says to download MBTA Go, search for a stop or pan the map to tap a ferry stop, and view departure times and the live location of the boat serving that trip. Ferry information is also on MBTA.com/ferry under each route’s “Schedules & Maps” tab, and on digital signs near Aquarium station on the Blue Line.
Other Holiday Details
The MBTA’s Charlie Service Center, where riders can get fare cards and assistance, is listed as closed on Columbus/Indigenous Peoples’ Day. The agency’s main customer line, 617-222-3200, is listed as available Monday through Friday from 6:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.; the page does not say whether the holiday changes those hours. For emergencies, the MBTA directs riders to call 911 or Transit Police at 617-222-1212.
The MBTA’s rider guidelines on the same page remind passengers that alcohol is not allowed on MBTA vehicles or at stations, and that backpacks should be removed and held at your side or placed between your feet.
Also Coming Up This Week
A few other transportation items fall in the days right after the holiday. Enrollment for the free-fare program for car-free seniors is scheduled to begin Oct. 13, as we covered in our report on the car-free seniors program. Construction on new protected bike lanes and safety changes on Tremont Street in Mission Hill is scheduled to start Oct. 13, weather permitting, according to the Boston Globe; our Tremont Street coverage has the details. And the city’s plan for free neighborhood shuttles is explained in our Boston Link Bus guide.
Schedules can change. The MBTA recommends checking mbta.com/holidays and mbta.com/servicechanges, and using the Trip Planner and MBTA Go for live information. For more local transit coverage, visit our Boston news section.