Looking for a Bostonians’ help! Confused regarding fairs on commuter rail/subway!?
Tomorrow July 30, I am starting at the Providence Station commuter rail stop (7:12 am) and going up to South Station in Boston. From there, I will be taking the Red Line (Alewife to Park St. Station line) Inbound and arriving at Park St. Station. From there I will be taking the Green B line (Boston College to Blandford St line) Outbound from Park St to Blandford St. The trip planner states cost will be: $9.75 each way. I know I am traveling all 8 zones (from 8-1A the way there and 1A-8 the way back) and making two similar subway connections the way back. Can anyone please! help me understand the prices, when I will have to pay them, and how I will obtain the tickets. Thank you very much! All help is greatly appreciated.
– A Confused Traveler!
There are 2 different types of transport that you will be taking. First is the commuter rail. Travel from Zone 8 to Boston is $7.75.
Second is the Subway. Subway fares are $2.00 each trip for a Charlie Ticket or cash. You pay the fare at your station and go through the turnstiles (Red, Orange, Blue, Green underground). Once you enter the subway system, you can transfer from line to line all day long and never have to pay another fare as long as you don’t go back through the turnstiles, or get off on the Green Line above ground (where there are no actual stations).
So:
Commuter rail to Providence — buy a round trip ticket at the booth at the station. Get on the train. The conductor will come around and take your ticket after the train starts moving.
Red to Green to Blanford — Put $4.00 in the ticket machine, get a Charlie Ticket. At the entrance to the Red Line at South Station, pop your ticket in the slot, the doors will open, and your card spits out. Take the card. At Park, find the Outbound Green Line and walk up the stairs. Get on the B trolley. Get off at Blanchard, which is an above-ground stop.
Coming back: Get on the B trolly Inbound. Pop your ticket in the machine on the train. At Park, go down the Red Line Outbound stairs. Get out at South Station. Find your train, get on the train. The conductor will come around and take your ticket.
If you plan to use the subway for more than a trip or two, ask at South Station for a Charlie Card. It’s harder plastic, and stores cash value. Trips are $1.70 instead of $2.00.
Added: buy your ticket for the train BEFORE you get on the train. There is a surcharge for buying on the train.
I assume you are going on a BU Tour. Good luck!
Approaching South Station – Boston, MA
