Brockton
Brockton should be a grand train station in the middle of this over small over 100,000 person diverse city just south of Boston. Unfortunately, the discontinuation of all passenger service on the Old Colony Lines in 1959 resulted in the demolition of the historic 1890s passenger buildings during 1960s urban renewal projects. The station is still located along the historic stone Brockton Railroad Viaducts and bridges that were completed in 1895 as the first full-scale grade-separation project in the State of Massachusetts. Plaques honor these as a Massachusetts Historical Civil Engineering Landmark.
The former train station was replaced by the main police station for the Brockton Police Department located in a non-descript brick building, with a two-level winding its way downhill to street-level on each side of the police station, parking lot.
The present-day Commuter Rail Stop is at a high-level island platform in between two remaining tracks for what was once a four-track line. This is directly across from the police station. The platform begins with a single pedestrian grade-crossing over only the eastern, inbound track at its southern end. This leads up to a staircase next to a ramp up to the platform that is canopied for its three southernmost cars before running north as an 850 foot 9 car long platform with the northern end crossing over Court Street and being completely exposed to the elements.
Passengers leave the station into a small grassy plaza. A staircase, between historic stone walls, leads down to the north side of Centre Street. ADA access is provided by what looks like a small passenger pick-up and drop off area (although its unclear if this is for police vehicles only) and a sidewalk along the access road up to the police station that switchbacks off the viaduct down to the west side of Commercial Street.
Directly across Commercial Street from the train station (and ADA Access driveway) is the BAT Intermodal Center. This is a modern single-level transit center building with a few arches and brick walls trying to evoke the demolished historical station. Inside is an airy bus passenger waiting area and even some CharlieCard vending machines used for BAT passes (although I don’t think these sell commuter rail tickets), they were closed off when I visited in 2024 because BAT was operating fare-free as part of a 2024 pilot program. The Intermodal Center leads out to an island with 16 bus bays, where buses surprisingly need to back out to leave the bus hub.
Parking is located in a small 226 space two-story parking garage just south of the Intermodal Center. The sides of this garage have brick walls and also try and fit the history of the railroad in Brockton just a little bit.
Photos 1-49: June 20, 2024;
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Last Updated: November 2, 2024
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