South Station to Longwood Medical Area
The T route from South Station to Longwood Medical Area: where to board, where to change, where to get off and how late it runs.
Quick answer: Take the Red Line toward Alewife to Central, then bus 47 to Longwood Ave @ Brookline Ave, and walk about 4 min. The trip takes about 36 minutes (33-37 min depending on the connection). On weekdays bus 47 runs about every 20 min during the day.
Get the live route from South Station to Longwood
Step by step
- At South Station, take the Red Line toward Alewife.
- Ride 5 stops, about 9 min, through Downtown Crossing, Park Street, Charles/MGH and Kendall/MIT, and get off at Central.
- Walk about 3 min from Central to Green St @ Magazine St.
- At Green St @ Magazine St, change to bus 47 toward Broadway.
- Ride about 16 min (11 stops). Get off at Longwood Ave @ Brookline Ave, the stop after Brookline Ave @ Short St.
- Walk about 4 min to Longwood Medical Area.
Other ways to go
- Take the Providence/Stoughton Line toward Providence to Ruggles, then bus 65 to Longwood Ave @ Binney St, and walk about 3 min: about 28 min.
- Take the Franklin/Foxboro Line toward Forge Park/495 via Back Bay to Ruggles, then bus 65 to Longwood Ave @ Binney St, and walk about 3 min: about 25 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-Thursday | 4:45 am | 12:46 am | About every 20 min | About 36 min |
| Friday | 4:45 am | 1:02 am | About every 20 min | About 36 min |
| Saturday | 5:00 am | 1:44 am | About every 30 min | About 36 min |
| Sunday | 6:05 am | 12:47 am | About once an hour | About 36 min |
First and last trip are when the first train of the trip leaves South Station, on the fall 2026 schedule. "How often" is for bus 47 (the least frequent part of the trip).
Late at night
On weekdays, the last trip that works leaves South Station at 12:46 am and gets to Longwood Medical Area around 1:07 am, using Orange Line and bus 65. On Friday nights it runs later: the last trip leaves at 1:02 am. On Saturday nights the last trip leaves at 1:44 am, and on Sunday nights at 12:47 am. 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 Brookline Ave @ Short St. The next stop is Longwood Ave @ Brookline Ave. Start a live trip in Cobblehop and it alerts you before your stop.
- The Longwood Medical Area includes Brigham and Women's, Beth Israel Deaconess, Dana-Farber and Boston Children's. The Green Line E branch runs along Huntington Avenue on its east side.
- 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.
Step-free access
MBTA data lists every station on this route (South Station and Central) 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 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.
- Kids. Children 11 and under ride the MBTA free.
Fares as of October 2026. Check the MBTA's fares page before you ride.
South Station to Longwood Medical Area: common questions
How do I get from South Station to Longwood Medical Area by public transit?
Take the Red Line toward Alewife to Central, then bus 47 to Longwood Ave @ Brookline Ave, and walk about 4 min. The trip takes about 36 minutes (33-37 min depending on the connection).
How long does it take to get from South Station to Longwood Medical Area?
About 36 minutes on the main route, or 33-37 minutes depending on the connection.
Do I have to change along the way?
Yes, once: at Central. Take the Red Line toward Alewife to Central, then bus 47 to Longwood Ave @ Brookline Ave, and walk about 4 min.
How often does bus 47 run?
About every 20 min on weekdays during the day, about every 30 min on Saturdays and about once an hour on Sundays, on the fall 2026 schedule.
What time is the last bus from South Station to Longwood Medical Area?
On weekdays, the last trip that works leaves South Station at 12:46 am and gets to Longwood Medical Area around 1:07 am, using Orange Line and bus 65. On Friday nights it runs later: the last trip leaves at 1:02 am. On Saturday nights the last trip leaves at 1:44 am, and on Sunday nights at 12:47 am.
Related routes
- South Station to Museum of Fine Arts
- South Station to Boston University
- North Station to Longwood Medical Area
- Back Bay Station to Longwood Medical Area
- 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: Red Line
- MBTA: bus 47
- MBTA: South Station station
- MBTA: Central 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.
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