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Boston to Waltham

Plain directions from Boston to Waltham, checked against the fall 2026 MBTA schedule.

By Ahmad Haji, founder of Cobblehop · October 29, 2026

Quick answer: Take the Fitchburg Line toward Wachusett to Waltham, and walk about 5 min. The trip takes about 27 minutes. On weekdays Fitchburg Line trains run about once an hour during the day.

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Step by step

At North Station, take the Fitchburg Line toward Wachusett.
Ride about 22 min to Waltham, with 3 stops on the way.
Walk about 5 min to Waltham.

Other ways to go

Take the Orange Line toward Forest Hills to Downtown Crossing, then bus 505 to Moody St @ Carter St: about 50 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	5:40 am	11:50 pm	About once an hour	About 27 min
Saturday	7:45 am	11:40 pm	About every 2 hours	About 27 min
Sunday	7:45 am	11:40 pm	About every 2 hours	About 27 min

First and last trip are when the first train of the trip leaves North Station, on the fall 2026 schedule. "How often" is for Fitchburg Line trains.

Late at night

On weekdays, the last trip that works leaves North Station at 11:50 pm and gets to Waltham around 12:17 am. On Saturday nights the last trip leaves at 11:40 pm, and on Sunday nights at 11:40 pm. Late at night, ask Cobblehop for the last trip. It checks live times and tells you when to leave.

Tips for this trip

Inbound or outbound. Commuter Rail trains toward Boston are called inbound and trains leaving Boston are outbound. This trip is outbound: look for Wachusett on the departure board, and find the track number there a few minutes before the train leaves.

Step-free access

MBTA data lists every station on this route (North Station and Waltham) 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

Commuter Rail. North Station to Waltham is a Zone 2 fare, $7.00 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.
Kids. Children 11 and under ride the MBTA free.

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

Boston to Waltham: common questions

How do I get from Boston to Waltham by public transit?

Take the Fitchburg Line toward Wachusett to Waltham, and walk about 5 min. The trip takes about 27 minutes.

How long does it take to get from Boston to Waltham?

About 27 minutes on the main route.

Do I have to change trains?

No. The Fitchburg Line goes all the way, so it's one ride.

How often do Fitchburg 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 Boston to Waltham?

On weekdays, the last trip that works leaves North Station at 11:50 pm and gets to Waltham around 12:17 am. On Saturday nights the last trip leaves at 11:40 pm, and on Sunday nights at 11:40 pm.

Related routes

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:

Published October 29, 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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