The blog that started it all! Check out reviews of every bus route and train station in Boston, as well as ongoing reviews of the regional bus systems in Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
Recent Posts from Miles on the MBTA
87 (Arlington Center or Clarendon Hill – Lechmere Station via Somerville Ave)
I originally had this grand plan to take all the Lechmere buses I haven't taken yet in one day. This plan fell flat because the 87 ran late. Come on, 87! Anyway, this route is a pretty straight run from Lechmere, up through Union Square and Davis Square, to...
101 (Malden Center Station – Sullivan Square Station via Salem Street, Main Street, and Broadway)
There are quite a few bus routes that go from Sullivan or Wellington up to Malden Center. They all more or less travel in crescents, in order to serve neighborhoods not served by the Orange Line. Most of these routes serve the eastern side of the tracks, while there...
92 (Sullivan Square Station – Downtown via Main Street and Haymarket Station)
The 93 cuts right through the heart of Charlestown, and it's a really nice ride that feels like you're going through a really old neighborhood (which it is). The 92 still has that feeling, but along its route, there are hints of trashiness here and there: a small...
245 (Quincy Center Station – Mattapan Station via Quincy Hospital and Pleasant Street)
This is a route I've been wanting to take for a while. It's not quite as elusive as the 217 (though I really want to take that one, too), but it does run weekdays only and not very often at that. It serves quite a few parts of southern Milton, and a large part of...
27 (Mattapan Station – Ashmont Station via River Street)
Geographically, the 27 runs very close to the Mattapan High Speed Line along its whole route. Looking at it on a map, I thought it seemed like the most useless bus route ever! But in actuality, it serves quite a lot. See, the Mattapan High Speed Line is separated from...
Back Bay (a very in-depth look)
I've been to Lechmere. I've been to Dudley. I've been to Prudential, for heaven's sake. Yet I was unprepared for Back Bay. This is the darkest, dirtiest, scariest, and overall dingiest MBTA station I've ever been to. Along with two of my friends, Jason and...
MBTA to Become More “Fun”
As we all know, the MBTA had a rough time this winter. From outdated infrastructure to old trains, the MBTA needs to improve its winter performance for next year. But there's a more pressing concern for Boston's subway system: it's not fun enough. "The MBTA had a...
Newton Centre
It's another "Center", except this one's spelled the British way! Yes, we're taking a trip on the D Line out to Newton Centre. I had actually come here once before when I was really little, back when there was a Starbucks right in the station building. That Starbucks...
Random Photos: Is There a Laundry Service?
I got on a pretty much empty train at Alewife, and sat down. Looking across from me, I noticed that someone had left a whole bunch of clothing under one of the seats! How the heck do you forget something like that? Geez, Louise...
Malden Center
Malden Center is the undisputed hub of the northern Orange Line. The subway station is accompanied by a huge number of buses, as well as a Commuter Rail station. It's also elevated! However, brutalist architecture is very present here...uh-oh. The Orange Line...
Revere Beach
Revere Beach is a really weird station. It has a lot of strange little oddities that really make it super unique. Also, it's the last station on the Blue Line to be reviewed on this blog, at least until Government Center opens! It's too bad, because the Blue Line has...
Orient Heights
Orient Heights Station was a mess. It wasn't accessible, and it was literally falling apart. Finally, in 2013, the MBTA gave it a much-needed renovation. But does that mean the aesthetics are good? Well, let's find out. The platform. Okay, so I have to say, I wasn't a...
Wood Island
A blog post?! Gee, it's been so long since the last one, I hope I still remember how to write these... Yes, I've been super busy lately and haven't been able to write. But I finally have another station review, as we take a look at a really generic Blue Line station,...
Airport
Being a Red Line user, the Silver Line is the much more efficient way of getting to the airport for me. But for Blue, Orange, and Green Line (before Government Center was closed) users, Airport Station is more direct. And most tourists would probably use the station...
Random Photos (Videos): Blue Line Train Switching Power
A Blue Line train switching from third rail to pantograph power at Airport Station. It was a lot less exciting than I thought it would be... If the video below doesn't load, watch it here.