Back Bay Station to Salem State University
The train route from Back Bay Station to Salem State University: where to board, where to change, where to get off and how late it runs.
Halloween weekend: On Saturday, October 31 and Sunday, November 1, 2026, the MBTA runs a special Halloween schedule on the Newburyport/Rockport Line, so the weekend train times on this page don't apply on those two days. See Getting around Salem in October for the Halloween times.
Back Bay Station to Salem State University
- Orange Line
- Newburyport/Rockport Line
- Bus 455
- Take the Orange LineFrom Back Bay, toward Oak Grove6 stops, about 8 min
- Change at North Station
- Take the Newburyport/Rockport LineToward Newburyport3 stops, about 25 min
- Walk about 5 min to Essex St @ Burrill StAfter you get off at Swampscott
- Take bus 455Toward Salem Depot via Central Square22 stops, about 13 min
- Get off at Loring Ave @ Rainbow TerrThe stop after Loring Ave @ Raymond Rd
- Walk about 3 min to Salem State University
Weekdays, fall 2026 schedule · First and last trips
Quick answer: Take the Orange Line toward Oak Grove to North Station, the Newburyport/Rockport Line toward Newburyport to Swampscott, then bus 455 to Loring Ave @ Rainbow Terr, and walk about 3 min. The trip takes about 82 minutes (69-87 min depending on the connection). On weekdays Newburyport/Rockport Line trains run about every 30 min during the day.
Get the live route from Back Bay to Salem State
Step by step
- At Back Bay, take the Orange Line toward Oak Grove.
- Ride 6 stops, about 8 min, through Tufts Medical Center, Chinatown, Downtown Crossing, State and Haymarket, and get off at North Station.
- At North Station, change to the Newburyport/Rockport Line toward Newburyport.
- Ride about 25 min to Swampscott, with 2 stops on the way.
- Walk about 5 min from Swampscott to Essex St @ Burrill St.
- At Essex St @ Burrill St, change to bus 455 toward Salem Depot via Central Square.
- Ride about 13 min (22 stops). Get off at Loring Ave @ Rainbow Terr, the stop after Loring Ave @ Raymond Rd.
- Walk about 3 min to Salem State University.
Other ways to go
- Take the Orange Line toward Oak Grove to Haymarket, bus 450 to American Legion Hwy @ Revere St, then bus 455 to Loring Ave @ Rainbow Terr, and walk about 3 min: about 78 min.
- Take the Orange Line toward Oak Grove to Haymarket, bus 426 to Western Ave @ Minot St, then bus 455 to Loring Ave @ Rainbow Terr, and walk about 3 min: about 87 min.
Which one is faster depends on when you leave. Cobblehop compares them with live times and gives you the one that gets you there first.
Times and frequency
| Day | First trip | Last trip | How often (daytime) | Trip time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monday-Friday | 5:25 am | 11:50 pm | About every 30 min | About 82 min |
| Saturday | 5:48 am | 11:00 pm | About once an hour | About 81 min |
| Sunday | 6:11 am | 10:19 pm | About once an hour | About 79 min |
First and last trip are when the first train of the trip leaves Back Bay, on the fall 2026 schedule. "How often" is for Newburyport/Rockport Line trains (the least frequent part of the trip).
Late at night
On weekdays, the last trip that works leaves Back Bay at 11:50 pm and gets to Salem State University around 1:06 am, using Orange Line and bus 426 and bus 455. On Saturday nights the last trip leaves at 11:00 pm, and on Sunday nights at 10:19 pm. Late at night, ask Cobblehop for the last trip. It checks live times and tells you when to leave.
Tips for this trip
- Know your stop. Get to the door after Loring Ave @ Raymond Rd. The next stop is Loring Ave @ Rainbow Terr. Start a live trip in Cobblehop and it alerts you before your stop.
- Inbound or outbound. Commuter Rail trains toward Boston are called inbound and trains leaving Boston are outbound. This trip is outbound: look for Newburyport on the departure board, and find the track number there a few minutes before the train leaves.
- Changing at North Station. You don't leave the station. Follow the signs for Newburyport/Rockport Line.
- Salem State's North Campus is on Lafayette Street in South Salem.
- Back Bay station has the Orange Line, Commuter Rail and Amtrak under one roof. It connects to Copley Place by an indoor passage.
Step-free access
MBTA data lists every station on this route (Back Bay, North Station and Swampscott) as accessible. North Station has 6 elevators in MBTA data. Elevators do break, so check the MBTA's elevator alerts before you go.
What it costs
- Subway and bus. The subway is $2.40 one way, and a local bus is $1.70. Under an MBTA pilot that started September 1, 2026, you can change between bus and subway within 2 hours of your first tap and pay only the highest fare, if you use the same card or phone each time.
- How to pay. Tap a contactless credit or debit card, phone or watch at the fare gate or bus door, or use a CharlieCard or CharlieTicket.
- Commuter Rail. North Station to Swampscott is a Zone 3 fare, $8.00 one way. On Saturdays and Sundays, a $10.00 weekend pass covers unlimited Commuter Rail rides.
- Buying a train ticket. Tap-to-pay doesn't work on the Commuter Rail. Use the mTicket app, a fare machine or ticket window, or pay the conductor. Paying on board can add a $3 fee when you board at a station that sells tickets. A Commuter Rail ticket doesn't cover the subway part of the trip.
- Kids. Children 11 and under ride the MBTA free.
Fares as of October 2026. Check the MBTA's fares page before you ride.
Back Bay Station to Salem State University: common questions
How do I get from Back Bay Station to Salem State University by public transit?
Take the Orange Line toward Oak Grove to North Station, the Newburyport/Rockport Line toward Newburyport to Swampscott, then bus 455 to Loring Ave @ Rainbow Terr, and walk about 3 min. The trip takes about 82 minutes (69-87 min depending on the connection).
How long does it take to get from Back Bay Station to Salem State University?
About 82 minutes on the main route, or 69-87 minutes depending on the connection.
Do I have to change along the way?
Yes, 2 times: at North Station and Swampscott. Take the Orange Line toward Oak Grove to North Station, the Newburyport/Rockport Line toward Newburyport to Swampscott, then bus 455 to Loring Ave @ Rainbow Terr, and walk about 3 min.
How often do Newburyport/Rockport Line trains run?
About every 30 min on weekdays during the day, about once an hour on Saturdays and about once an hour on Sundays, on the fall 2026 schedule.
What time is the last train from Back Bay Station to Salem State University?
On weekdays, the last trip that works leaves Back Bay at 11:50 pm and gets to Salem State University around 1:06 am, using Orange Line and bus 426 and bus 455. On Saturday nights the last trip leaves at 11:00 pm, and on Sunday nights at 10:19 pm.
Related routes
- Back Bay Station to Salem Hospital
- Back Bay Station to Salem Maritime National Historical Park
- South Station to Salem State University
- North Station to Salem State University
- Never miss your stop (guide)
More routes from Back Bay Station
- Back Bay Station to The Witch House
- Back Bay Station to Salem Witch Museum
- Back Bay Station to Revere Beach
- Back Bay Station to Square One Mall
- Back Bay Station to Belle Isle Marsh
- All routes from Back Bay Station
Official sources
Cobblehop is independent and isn't affiliated with these agencies or operators. Schedules on this page come from MBTA/MassDOT public data. Check their pages for the latest schedules and service changes:
- MBTA: Orange Line
- MBTA: Newburyport/Rockport Line timetable
- MBTA: bus 455
- MBTA: Back Bay station
- MBTA: North Station station
- MBTA: Swampscott station
- MBTA: fares
- MBTA: Commuter Rail fare zones
- MBTA: elevator and accessibility alerts
Published October 30, 2026. Times were computed from the fall 2026 MBTA schedule (2026-11-04 for weekdays). Service changes, so check Cobblehop for live times before you go.
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