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Boston to Worcester by train

The Commuter Rail runs all the way from South Station to Worcester's Union Station. Here is how long it takes, how often it runs and how to get around when you arrive.

By Ahmad Haji, founder of Cobblehop · October 28, 2026

Quick answer: Take the Framingham/Worcester Line from South Station, Back Bay or Lansdowne to Worcester. Most trains take about 1 hour 20 minutes to 1 hour 40 minutes. Trains run about every hour on weekdays, more often at rush hour, and about every 2 hours on weekends.

Step by step: South Station to Worcester

Board a Framingham/Worcester Line train at South Station, Back Bay or Lansdowne. On weekdays, check that the train is going to Worcester, because some trains end at Framingham.
Most trains make many stops, including Boston Landing and stations in Newton, Wellesley and Natick, then Framingham, Ashland, Southborough, Westborough and Grafton.
Get to the door after Grafton. Worcester is next, and it's the end of the line.
You arrive at Worcester's Union Station.

Getting to the Worcester train

South Station is on the Red Line and the Silver Line, and Back Bay is on the Orange Line. Lansdowne is about a 9-minute walk from Kenmore on the Green Line. Only going as far as Framingham? On weekdays about 28 trains a day go there, in about 35-60 minutes.

How often Worcester trains run and how long they take

Commuter Rail	Weekdays	Weekends
Trains each way	About 21-22	About 10
Usual gap	About 50-70 min midday, 25-45 min at rush hour	About 2 hours
Ride from South Station	About 80-100 min. The fastest train takes about 67 min	About 90-98 min
First train from South Station	Around 4:45 am	Around 5 am
Last train from South Station	Around 11:45 pm	Around 11:15 pm
Last train from Worcester	Around 10:50 pm	Around 11:25 pm

Times are from the current fall schedule. On the day you travel, ask Cobblehop for the next train or the last one.

Coming back to Boston from Worcester

Trains from Worcester stop at Lansdowne and then Back Bay before South Station. Get to the door after Back Bay if you're going to South Station, or after Lansdowne if you're getting off at Back Bay. The first weekday train leaves Worcester around 4:15 am, and the first weekend train around 5:10 am.

Amtrak to Worcester

Amtrak's Lake Shore Limited also stops at Worcester, but it's a long-distance train that runs only once a day, and not every day on the fall 2026 schedule. When it runs, it takes about 70 minutes from South Station. Check Cobblehop for the day you travel.

Getting around Worcester

WRTA's Central Hub is about a 2-minute walk from Union Station, and most WRTA bus routes stop there. Sunday service is lighter, with fewer routes running. Cobblehop plans WRTA buses too, so ask for your final address and it adds the bus to your trip.

What it costs

Commuter Rail. Worcester is in Zone 8, so it's $12.25 one way from South Station, Back Bay or Lansdowne. Framingham, in Zone 5, is $9.75.
Weekends. On Saturdays and Sundays, a $10 weekend pass covers unlimited Commuter Rail rides. Buy it on the mTicket app, at a ticket window at South Station or Back Bay, or from the conductor.
How to pay. Use the mTicket app, a fare machine or ticket window, or pay the conductor. Worcester's Union Station has a fare machine for the trip back. Paying on board can add a $3 fee when you board at a station that sells tickets. Tap-to-pay doesn't work on the Commuter Rail.
Kids. Children 11 and under ride the MBTA free.
WRTA buses. Free. Per WRTA, fares are suspended on all its fixed routes until June 30, 2027.
Amtrak. Amtrak sets its own fares for the Lake Shore Limited. Check Amtrak for the price on your date.

Fares as of October 2026. Check the MBTA's Commuter Rail fares page and WRTA before you ride.

Tips for the Worcester train

On weekends, plan your day around the train. With about 2 hours between trains, the train times set your schedule.
Coming back on a weekday evening? The last train from Worcester leaves about an hour earlier than the last one out of Boston.
Staying near Fenway Park? Board at Lansdowne, a short walk from the park.
On a long ride, start a live ride. Cobblehop will buzz you before Worcester, or before your stop if you get off earlier.

What can go wrong on the Worcester trip

Trains that end at Framingham. On weekdays, check that your train goes all the way to Worcester.
Weekend gaps. Missing a weekend train can mean a 2-hour wait.
Delays. Cobblehop uses live MBTA predictions and shows when a train on your route is canceled.

Boston to Worcester train: common questions

How long is the train from Boston to Worcester?

Most Framingham/Worcester Line trains take about 1 hour 20 minutes to 1 hour 40 minutes from South Station. The fastest weekday train takes about 67 minutes.

How often do trains run between Boston and Worcester?

About every hour on weekdays, more often at rush hour, and about every 2 hours on weekends.

When is the last train from Worcester to Boston?

On the fall 2026 schedule, the last train from Worcester leaves around 10:50 pm on weekdays and around 11:25 pm on weekends.

Where do I catch a WRTA bus in Worcester?

WRTA's Central Hub is about a 2-minute walk from Union Station, and most WRTA bus routes stop there.

How much is the train from Boston to Worcester?

$12.25 one way on the Commuter Rail, because Worcester is in Zone 8. On Saturdays and Sundays, a $10 weekend pass covers unlimited Commuter Rail rides. Per WRTA, its buses in Worcester are free until June 30, 2027.

Official sources

Cobblehop is independent and isn't affiliated with these agencies or operators. Check their pages for the latest schedules and service changes:

Published October 28, 2026. Route details were checked against the published schedules for fall 2026. Service changes, so check Cobblehop for live times before you go.

Plan your trip in Cobblehop. Say where you're going and get one clear route, a leave-in countdown and a buzz before your stop.

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