Back Bay Station to Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Plain directions from Back Bay Station to Worcester Polytechnic Institute, checked against the fall 2026 MBTA schedule.
Back Bay Station to Worcester Polytechnic Institute
- Framingham/Worcester Line
- WRTA West Boylston via Grove & West Boylston St.
- Take the Framingham/Worcester LineFrom Back Bay, toward Worcester13 stops, about 87 min
- Walk about 3 min to Central HubAfter you get off at Worcester
- Take the WRTA West Boylston via Grove & West Boylston St. busAbout 5 min
- Get off at Grove St at 74 Grove
- Walk about 9 min to Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Weekdays, fall 2026 schedule · First and last trips
Quick answer: Take the Framingham/Worcester Line to Worcester, then the WRTA West Boylston via Grove & West Boylston St. bus to Grove St at 74 Grove, and walk about 9 min. The trip takes about 113 minutes (106-123 min depending on the connection). On weekdays Framingham/Worcester Line trains run about once an hour during the day.
Get the live route from Back Bay to WPI
Step by step
- At Back Bay, take the Framingham/Worcester Line toward Worcester.
- Ride about 87 min to Worcester, with 12 stops on the way.
- Walk about 3 min from Worcester to Central Hub.
- At Central Hub, change to the WRTA West Boylston via Grove & West Boylston St. bus.
- Ride about 5 min and get off at Grove St at 74 Grove.
- Walk about 9 min to Worcester Polytechnic Institute.
Other ways to go
- Take the Framingham/Worcester Line to Worcester, then the WRTA Lincoln Plaza via Elm St. & West Boylston St. bus to Park Ave + Salisbury St, and walk about 8 min: about 114 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 | 4:50 am | 7:46 pm | About once an hour | About 113 min |
| Saturday | 5:06 am | 6:52 pm | About every 2 hours | About 111 min |
| Sunday | 7:06 am | 3:07 pm | About every 2 hours | About 113 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 Framingham/Worcester Line trains (the least frequent part of the trip).
Late at night
On weekdays, the last trip that works leaves Back Bay at 7:46 pm and gets to Worcester Polytechnic Institute around 9:38 pm. On Saturday nights the last trip leaves at 6:52 pm, and on Sunday nights at 3:07 pm. Late at night, ask Cobblehop for the last trip. It checks live times and tells you when to leave.
Tips for this trip
- Check the destination on the train. Back Bay also has trains to Framingham on this line, and they don't go to Worcester.
- Inbound or outbound. Commuter Rail trains toward Boston are called inbound and trains leaving Boston are outbound. This trip is outbound: look for Worcester on the departure board, and find the track number there a few minutes before the train leaves.
- WPI's campus is on Institute Road, northwest of downtown Worcester.
- 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 and Worcester) as accessible. Back Bay has 4 elevators in MBTA data. Elevators do break, so check the MBTA's elevator alerts before you go.
What it costs
- Commuter Rail. Back Bay to Worcester is a Zone 8 fare, $12.25 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.
- WRTA. WRTA sets its own fares. Check WRTA before you go.
- 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 Worcester Polytechnic Institute: common questions
How do I get from Back Bay Station to Worcester Polytechnic Institute by public transit?
Take the Framingham/Worcester Line to Worcester, then the WRTA West Boylston via Grove & West Boylston St. bus to Grove St at 74 Grove, and walk about 9 min. The trip takes about 113 minutes (106-123 min depending on the connection).
How long does it take to get from Back Bay Station to Worcester Polytechnic Institute?
About 113 minutes on the main route, or 106-123 minutes depending on the connection.
Do I have to change along the way?
Yes, once: at Worcester. Take the Framingham/Worcester Line to Worcester, then the WRTA West Boylston via Grove & West Boylston St. bus to Grove St at 74 Grove, and walk about 9 min.
How often do Framingham/Worcester Line trains run?
About once an hour on weekdays during the day, about every 2 hours on Saturdays and about every 2 hours on Sundays, on the fall 2026 schedule.
What time is the last train from Back Bay Station to Worcester Polytechnic Institute?
On weekdays, the last trip that works leaves Back Bay at 7:46 pm and gets to Worcester Polytechnic Institute around 9:38 pm. On Saturday nights the last trip leaves at 6:52 pm, and on Sunday nights at 3:07 pm.
Related routes
- Back Bay Station to Worcester Art Museum
- Back Bay Station to DCU Center
- Worcester Union Station to Worcester Polytechnic Institute
- Back Bay Station to Polar Park
- Boston to Worcester by train (guide)
- Never miss your stop (guide)
More routes from Back Bay Station
- Back Bay Station to Clark University
- Back Bay Station to Worcester State University
- Back Bay Station to EcoTarium
- Back Bay Station to UMass Memorial Medical Center
- Back Bay Station to Framingham State University
- 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: Framingham/Worcester Line timetable
- MBTA: Back Bay station
- MBTA: Worcester 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.
Leaving now? Cobblehop gives you one clear plan with live times and alerts you before your stop. No sign-up, nothing to install.