Natick Center (MBTA station)

NATICK CENTER
Natick Center station in April 2016
Location	1 Walnut Street Natick, Massachusetts
Line(s)	Framingham/Worcester Line
Platforms	2 side platforms
Tracks	2
Connections	MWRTA: 10, 11, Natick Commuter Shuttle
Construction
Parking	71 spaces (Town permit required) 4 accessible spaces
Other information
Fare zone	4
History
Opened	August 1834
Rebuilt	1897, c. 1962
Traffic
Passengers (2013)	1077 (weekday inbound average)
Services
Preceding station   MBTA   Following station West Natick toward Worcester Framingham/Worcester Line Wellesley Square toward South Station   Former services   closed 1961 New York Central Railroad Framingham toward Worcester Worcester Line Wellesley toward Boston

Natick Center is a passenger rail station in downtown Natick, Massachusetts, with service on the MBTA Commuter Rail Framingham/Worcester Line.

The station, located below grade in a wide cut adjacent to North Main Street (MA-27), has two low-level side platforms serving the line's two tracks. Natick Center station is not handicapped accessible; the low platforms do not support level boarding, and passage to street level is via staircases only. The busiest non-accessible station on the system, it is planned to receive a major renovation and modernization.

Natick Center station is primarily used by those walking from nearby neighborhoods. A small lot with 71 spaces, owned by the town, is adjacent to the station; a town permit is needed to park. West Natick station, with a larger lot and daily pay spaces, opened two miles to the west in 1982 to serve park and ride commuters. All inbound trains except for a handful of express trains stop at both stations, as well as most outbound non-express trains.

The Boston & Worcester Railroad, extending outwards from Boston, reached Natick in August 1834. To create the first Natick station, the B&A took advantage of eminent domain to take land owned by the Harrison Harwood Baseball Manufacturing Company. The baseball factory is now a condominium overlooking the train station. In 1839, the line was double tracked through Natick. Two other stations were located in Natick: Lake Crossing (at Pond Road on the border with Wellesley to the east) and Walkerville (at Speen Street to the west). Neither lasted long into the 20th century.

The 3.87-mile (6.23 km) Saxonville Branch opened from Natick to the Saxonville section of Framingham on July 6, 1846, with through trains to Boston. Although branch ridership was never high, these trains were timed to allow commuting from Natick for the first time. Stations on the branch included Felchville (at Fisher Street), Cochituate (at Commonwealth Road on the Natick/Framingham border), and Saxonville.