North Station to South Station

How to get from North Station to South Station on public transit, with the stops, times and the last trip of the night.

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

Get the live route from North Station to South Station

Step by step

1. At North Station, take the Orange Line toward Forest Hills.
2. Ride 3 stops, about 4 min, through Haymarket and State, and get off at Downtown Crossing.
3. At Downtown Crossing, change to the Red Line toward Braintree.
4. Ride 1 stop, about 1 min to South Station.

Times and frequency

First and last trip are when the first train of the trip leaves North Station, on the fall 2026 schedule. "How often" is for the Orange Line (the least frequent part of the trip).

Late at night

On weekdays, the last trip that works leaves North Station at 1:06 am and gets to South Station around 1:25 am, using Green Line. On Friday nights it runs later: the last trip leaves at 2:00 am. On Saturday nights the last trip leaves at 1:55 am, and on Sunday nights at 12:53 am. Late at night, ask Cobblehop for the last trip. It checks live times and tells you when to leave.

Tips for this trip

• Changing at Downtown Crossing. You don't leave the station. Follow the signs for Red Line toward Braintree.
• South Station has the Red Line and Silver Line underground, Commuter Rail and Amtrak on the main concourse, and the intercity bus terminal upstairs next door.
• North Station sits under TD Garden. The Orange and Green Lines are underground and the Commuter Rail tracks are on the main level.

Step-free access

MBTA data lists every station on this route (North Station, Downtown Crossing and South Station) as accessible. South Station has 9 elevators in MBTA data. Elevators do break, so check the MBTA's elevator alerts before you go.

What it costs

• Subway. $2.40 one way. Changing between subway lines is free.
• 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.
• Kids. Children 11 and under ride the MBTA free.

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

North Station to South Station: common questions

How do I get from North Station to South Station by public transit?

Take the Orange Line toward Forest Hills to Downtown Crossing, then the Red Line toward Braintree to South Station. The trip takes about 12 minutes.

How long does it take to get from North Station to South Station?

About 12 minutes on the main route. Walking takes about 25 minutes.

Do I have to change along the way?

Yes, once: at Downtown Crossing. Take the Orange Line toward Forest Hills to Downtown Crossing, then the Red Line toward Braintree to South Station.

How often does the Orange Line run?

Every 5 min on weekdays during the day, every 7 min on Saturdays and every 8 min on Sundays, on the fall 2026 schedule.

What time is the last train from North Station to South Station?

On weekdays, the last trip that works leaves North Station at 1:06 am and gets to South Station around 1:25 am, using Green Line. On Friday nights it runs later: the last trip leaves at 2:00 am. On Saturday nights the last trip leaves at 1:55 am, and on Sunday nights at 12:53 am.

Related routes

• South Station to North Station
• North Station to New England Aquarium
• North Station to Boston Common
• Logan Airport to South Station
• Getting to TD Garden by T (guide)
• Never miss your stop (guide)

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: Red Line
• MBTA: North Station station
• MBTA: Downtown Crossing station
• MBTA: South Station station
• MBTA: fares
• MBTA: elevator and accessibility alerts

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.