South Station to Northeastern University

Plain directions from South Station to Northeastern University, checked against the fall 2026 MBTA schedule.

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

Get the live route from South Station to Northeastern

Step by step

1. At South Station, take the Providence/Stoughton Line toward Providence.
2. Ride about 8 min to Ruggles, with 1 stop on the way.
3. Walk about 6 min to Northeastern University. Use the Columbus Ave exit.

Other ways to go

• Take the Red Line toward Alewife to Downtown Crossing, then the Orange Line toward Forest Hills to Ruggles, and walk about 6 min: about 20 min.
• Take the Red Line toward Alewife to Park Street, then the Green Line toward Heath Street to Northeastern University, and walk about 3 min: about 27 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

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

Late at night

On weekdays, the last trip that works leaves South Station at 12:46 am and gets to Northeastern University around 12:58 am, using Orange Line. On Friday nights it runs later: the last trip leaves at 1:43 am. On Saturday nights the last trip leaves at 1:46 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

• Inbound or outbound. Commuter Rail trains toward Boston are called inbound and trains leaving Boston are outbound. This trip is outbound: look for Providence on the departure board, and find the track number there a few minutes before the train leaves.
• Northeastern University station on the Green Line E branch is on Huntington Avenue. Ruggles, on the Orange Line, is on the other side of campus.
• 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 Ruggles) 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

• Commuter Rail. South Station to Ruggles is a Zone 1A fare, $2.40 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.

South Station to Northeastern University: common questions

Related routes

• South Station to Museum of Fine Arts
• South Station to Prudential Center
• North Station to Northeastern University
• Back Bay Station to Northeastern University
• Never miss your stop (guide)

More routes from South Station

• South Station to Back Bay Station
• South Station to Copley Square
• South Station to Longwood Medical Area
• South Station to Boston University
• South Station to MIT
• All routes from South 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: Providence/Stoughton Line timetable
• MBTA: South Station station
• MBTA: Ruggles station
• MBTA: fares
• MBTA: Commuter Rail fare zones
• 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.