Route 128 Station - Definition

Route 128 Station, located at Exit 13 off Interstate 95 (known locally as Route 128), in Westwood, Massachusetts, a suburb of Boston. A new, completely rebuilt station opened in 2000. Its facilities include:

• a stop on Amtrak's Northeast Corridor service to New York City and Washington, D.C., including all Acela Express high speed trains.
• a stop on the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority Attleboro/Providence commuter rail line, with inbound service to Back Bay and South Station in Boston.
• multi-level parking garage, bicycle racks, staffed ticket windows, small concession and vending area, restrooms, enclosed well-lit waiting area, direct phone lines to nearby car rental companies

Notably, no MBTA bus routes stop at the station. It is mainly intended as a highway-to-rail intermodal facility.

There are separate automobile entrances and levels for Amtrak (overnight) and commuter rail (day only) parking. The former is more expensive ($15 per day vs. $5 per day as of 2004). FastLane transponders are accepted for payment.

Blue Hill Drive/Green Lodge Street, the original alignment of the Circumferential Highway (Route 128), used to pass over the railroad where the platforms now are. With the building of the new alignment of 128, the old road was little-traveled, and the bridge was removed. The abutments are still visible on each side.

Attractions

• immediately off I-95/I-93/Route 128
• Westwood Industrial Park
• 5 mile via car or taxi to Norwood Airport, a general aviation facility

Accessibility

• Route 128 Station is wheelchair accessible and has full length high level platforms. (There is a section of low level platform left over from the earlier station, but it is not normally used.)
• Other Amtrak stations on the Northeast Corridor are generally accessible. Most have high-level platforms.
• Only selected MBTA commuter rail stations have wheelchair access and most of those have short elevated platforms that only serve one or two cars. See MBTA accessibility.