The MBTA will shut down the Green Line’s central subway on Halloween weekend, Saturday, Oct. 31, and Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026, for signal upgrades, with no trains between North Station and Kenmore, Babcock Street or Heath Street. A longer nine-day Green Line shutdown follows Nov. 7 to 15. Riders are told to expect trips at least 25 minutes longer than usual.
| Shutdown | Dates | No trains between |
|---|---|---|
| Halloween weekend | Sat. Oct. 31 – Sun. Nov. 1 | North Station and Babcock St (B), Kenmore (C, D), Heath St (E) |
| Nine-day closure | Sat. Nov. 7 – Sun. Nov. 15 | North Station and Babcock St (B), Cleveland Circle (C), Kenmore (D), Heath St (E) |
Source: MBTA service alerts, updated Oct. 28, 2026.
What is closed on Halloween weekend
According to the MBTA’s subway alerts, the Oct. 31–Nov. 1 suspension covers the Green Line’s downtown tunnel and the inner ends of all four branches. On the B branch, trains will not run between North Station and Babcock Street. The C and D branches are suspended between North Station and Kenmore, and the E branch between North Station and Heath Street. Service continues as usual on the outer parts of the C and D branches, beyond Kenmore toward Cleveland Circle and Riverside.
The MBTA says the work is for “critical signal upgrades” in the central Green Line tunnel. Its alert says trips are expected to take at least 25 minutes longer than usual.
The closure lands on a busy weekend. Halloween falls on a Saturday this year, and the closed stretch serves Kenmore Square, Fenway, Boston University and the Back Bay. Boston.com reported the shutdown drew criticism on social media from riders who rely on the T during Halloween festivities.
Shuttles, free buses and the Orange Line
The MBTA is offering several alternatives during the shutdown:
- Free, accessible shuttle buses between Babcock Street, Kenmore and Copley/Back Bay, stopping along Commonwealth Avenue at Blandford Street, BU East, BU Central and Amory Street, plus Hynes Convention Center.
- Orange Line between Back Bay and North Station, with transfers at North Station and Haymarket.
- Fare-free Route 39 bus, which runs parallel to the E branch on Huntington Avenue.
- Fare-free Route 57 bus, which runs parallel to the B branch between Kenmore and Packard’s Corner.
- Fare-free Commuter Rail on the Framingham/Worcester Line between Lansdowne and South Station.
For closed downtown stations, the MBTA points riders to nearby Orange Line stops: State instead of Government Center, Downtown Crossing instead of Park Street, Chinatown instead of Boylston or Arlington, Massachusetts Avenue instead of Symphony, and Ruggles instead of Northeastern or the Museum of Fine Arts. The westbound Copley-area shuttle stop is on Stuart Street at Dartmouth Street. Accessible van service is available for Green Line stops between Kenmore and North Station.
A longer Green Line shutdown Nov. 7–15
A second, longer suspension is scheduled from Saturday, Nov. 7, through Sunday, Nov. 15. This time the C branch is closed all the way out to Cleveland Circle, with shuttles running along Beacon Street through Brookline, while the B, D and E closures match the Halloween weekend limits. The MBTA again expects trips to take at least 25 minutes longer.
Other work also affects riders. C branch trains are skipping Hawes Street and Saint Paul Street outbound through Nov. 7 for accessibility upgrades, and Symphony station on the E branch remains closed for an accessibility rebuild expected to finish in 2029. The Orange Line will have signal maintenance near Community College on Oct. 31–Nov. 1, which may mean longer waits.
Ferry service extended through December
In separate news on Oct. 28, the MBTA said four seasonal ferry routes will keep running through Dec. 31, 2026: East Boston (weekdays and weekends) and Lynn, Winthrop and Quincy (weekdays). The Hingham/Rowes Wharf, Harbor Loop, Hingham/Hull and Charlestown routes already run year-round. No ferries run on Thanksgiving, Christmas or New Year’s Day.
Regional Rail meetings in November
The MBTA also said on Oct. 28 that it will hold two virtual public meetings on its long-range plan to turn the Commuter Rail into a more frequent Regional Rail system. The meetings are online at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 4, and Tuesday, Nov. 17, and the agency says a further round of public engagement will follow in spring 2027. Details are on the MBTA site.
For a running list of planned T closures, see our MBTA closures page. Road and transit conditions are on Boston traffic today, and weekend plans are on things to do in Boston this weekend.
Sources
- MBTA: Subway service alerts (Green Line suspensions Oct. 31–Nov. 1 and Nov. 7–15)
- MBTA: MBTA extends four ferry routes through the end of the year (Oct. 28, 2026)
- Boston.com: A Green Line closure will be haunting Halloweekend
Additional sources
- Boston 25 News: MBTA Green Line shutdown to disrupt Halloween weekend travel
- MBTA: Green Line alerts page
- MBTA: Two community meetings for Regional Rail modernization in November
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