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Boston's South Station Transportation Center

All Amtrak trains (except the Downeaster to Maine), and MBTA Commuter Rail trains going to communities south and west of Boston, use South Station Transportation Center, as do most intercity buses.

South Station, Boston MA
South Station, Boston MA.

About South Station

Boston's South Station Transportation Center (map) is the city's main transportation hub, only a short walk from Boston's Seaport District, Chinatown, and Downtown Crossing. South Station's grand hall has a food court and shops.

The Transportation Center has three main parts:

Amtrak Trains

Historic South Station serves Amtrak intercity trains to and from cities to the west and south of Boston, including Providence RI, the Connecticut Shoreline and New York City).

(Amtrak's Downeaster train to Portland and Brunswick Maine leaves from North Station, 135 Causeway Street, beneath the TD Garden sports arena: map.)

Commuter Rail Trains

MBTA Commuter Rail trains going to communities south and west of Boston, including Worcester, Needham Heights, Forge Park/I-495, Westwood/Route 128, Foxboro, Quincy, Middleborough/Lakeville, Kingston/Route 3 (for Plymouth), Providence RI, T F Green Airport RI, Wickford Junction RI, and other towns west, south and southeast of Boston.

Intercity & Interstate Buses

Boston has two important bus terminals: South Station Bus Terminal in the South Station Transportation Center, and Boston-Logan International Airport (map). Many intercity bus routes to and from Boston stop at South Station Bus Terminal, but start or end at Logan Airport.

South Station Bus Terminal, Boston MA

South Station Bus Terminal on the south side of South Station serves regional buses to the South Shore, Cape Cod, the New England states, and interstate buses to destinations beyond (such as New York City).

(A smaller station with limited service is next to the MBTA Riverside Green Line subway station, 335 Grove Street, Newton MA [map]).

Boston - New York City Buses

Here's all the info on the numerous daily buses running between Boston and New York City.

Bus Companies

Bus companies serving Boston include:

Boston Express

Service north on I-93 via Tyngsboro MA, and Nashua, Salem, North Londonderry and Manchester NH.

Concord Coach Lines

Routes through New Hampshire and Maine, and to New York City.

C & J Bus

Serves communities along the New Hampshire coast and up to Portland ME, as well as New York City.

Dartmouth Coach

Serves New Hampshire's Upper Connecticut River Valley (Hanover, Lebanon, New London NH), Boston and New York City.

Flixbus, Lucky Star & Greyhound

Major traffic between Boston and New York City, also routes to major cities in Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, as well as throughout the USA.

Megabus

Serves major New England cities, New York City and beyond.

Peter Pan Bus (includes Bonanza)

New England's largest bus operator, serving many Massachusetts cities and towns, as well as Connecticut, Rhode Island, and New York City.

Plymouth & Brockton Bus

Service between Boston, South Shore and Cape Cod, including Falmouth and Woods Hole (for ferries to Martha's Vineyard.)

Hours of Operation

South Station Bus Terminal is open from 06:00 am to 12:00 am (24:00, midnight). However, if you have a ticket for a bus departure between the hours of 12:00 am (midnight) and 06:00 am, you will be allowed into the terminal to wait for and board your bus.

Baggage Storage

You can leave your luggage for safekeeping on the 5th (top) floor of the South Station Bus Terminal. Take the elevator up and follow the signs for Package Express. The Package Express location will also safeguard your luggage for the day if you have a few hours and want to see some of Boston.

When picking up your luggage allow plenty of time as the Package Express office may close for 15 or 20 minutes without warning now and then as the agent runs an errand or goes for lunch.

MBTA Subway Red & Silver Lines

The MBTA subway station beneath South Station serves Red Line subway trains and Silver Line hybrid buses. Silver Line Bus SL1 takes you to all the terminals at Boston-Logan International Airport. More...

The subway station is entered by descending steps or escalators near South Station's main entrance at Summer Street and Atlantic Avenue.

Other Commuter Rail trains arrive and depart from North Station, at 135 Causeway Street, beneath the TD Garden sports arena, a 1.1-mile (1.8-km, 30-minute) walk or a short taxi or rideshare ride north of South Station (map).

To travel from South Station to North Station by subway, descend to the Red Line subway station following signs for trains to Alewife. Take the Red Line Alewife train to Downtown Crossing and change to an Orange Line train bound for Oak Grove. Get out at North Station, walk upstairs and into the station.