MBTA Orange Line Hits Record 55 MPH After Track Upgrades

The MBTA Orange Line has reached a record top speed of 55 miles per hour between Oak Grove Station in Malden and Assembly Station in Somerville for the first time on record, restoring speeds to the line's original design after decades of slower travel due to track degradation. This milestone follows a comprehensive Track Improvement Program completed between 2023 and 2024, which replaced miles of degraded track, removed over 220 speed restrictions, and allowed the trains to safely increase their maximum speed from 40 mph to 55 mph. As a result, travel times have improved, with trips between Oak Grove and Assembly now taking about six minutes, two minutes faster than a year ago. MBTA General Manager Phillip Eng emphasized that these improvements will continue to shorten trip times, giving riders back valuable time, while Governor Maura Healey credited the milestone to strategic investments in the transit system and workforce. The Orange Line, which serves communities from Malden to Jamaica Plain, had been limited in speed for safety reasons until these recent upgrades. Officials noted this is the first documented instance of trains operating at 55 mph on this line in over 20 years, reflecting the success of ongoing infrastructure renewal efforts.