Commuter Rail Fares | Fares Overview (2024)

During theSumner Tunnel closureJuly 5 August 5,Newburyport/Rockport linetrips will be$2.40, or you can use aZone 1Apass.

One-Way Fares

Commuter Rail One-Way

$2.40 – $13.25

with CharlieTicket or mTicket App

Price based on distance traveled

Commuter Rail One-Way

with CharlieTicket or mTicket App

Price based on distance traveled

$2.40 – $13.25

Learn about Commuter Rail zones

Commuter Rail Weekend Pass

$10.00

with CharlieTicket, cash, or mTicket App

Commuter Rail Weekend Pass

with CharlieTicket, cash, or mTicket App

$10.00

Learn about $10 weekends

You can also buy $10 Commuter Rail tickets on select holidays.

Learn more about $10 Commuter Rail Holiday Passes

Fare Calculator

Choose your origin and destination to calculate your fare with our Trip Planner.

Commuter Rail Fare Zones

Each Commuter Rail station is located in a fare zone, from 1A – 10. Your Commuter Rail fare depends on which zones your boarding and exiting stations are located in.

Learn more about Commuter Rail zones

Download a Commuter Rail zones map

Passes

The price of your monthly Commuter Rail pass depends on which zones your boarding and exiting stations are located in.

Monthly passes can be purchased at fare vending machines or on mTicket starting on the 15th of the month prior. Printed passes need to be ordered between the 15th and 22nd of the month prior to be shipped.

Note:Reduced monthly Commuter Rail passes are available for eligible riders. Passes can be purchased on either a CharlieTicket or via the mTicket app.

Monthly Commuter Rail Pass CharlieTicket

$90.00 – $426.00

Unlimited travel for 1 calendar month

Valid on:

  • Commuter Rail, up to designated pass zone
  • Subway
  • Bus
  • Charlestown Ferry
  • East Boston Ferry (seasonal)
  • Hingham/Hull Ferry with Zone 6 passes and up
  • Lynn Ferry with Zone 2 passes and up(seasonal)
  • Winthrop/Quincy Ferry with Zone 1 passes and up(seasonal)

Please note:

  • Zone 1A passes not valid on Express Bus
  • Interzone passes not valid on subway, Express Bus, and ferry

Monthly Commuter Rail Pass mTicket

$80.00 – $416.00

Valid on:

No transfers to other modes

  • Commuter Rail, up to designated pass zone
  • All MBTA ferries

1-Day Commuter Rail Zone 1A Pass

$11.00

Unlimited travel for 24 hours

Valid on:

  • Commuter Rail Zone 1A
  • Subway
  • Local Bus
  • Charlestown Ferry
  • East Boston Ferry(seasonal)

7-Day Commuter Rail Zone 1A Pass

$22.50

Unlimited travel for 7 days

Valid on:

  • Commuter Rail Zone 1A
  • Subway
  • Local Bus
  • Charlestown Ferry
  • East Boston Ferry(seasonal)

Weekend Pass

$10.00

  • Unlimited travel to all zones on all lines
  • Valid Saturdays and Sundays
  • Available onboard trains, at ticket windows, and from mTicket

Valid only on:
Commuter Rail

5-day Flex Pass

$21.60 - $119.25

  • Get five 1-day passes for a 10% discount compared to round-trip travel
  • 1-day passes valid for 24 hours of unlimited travel
  • Usepassesanytime within30-days after purchase
  • Available only in the mTicket app

Valid only on:
Commuter Rail, up to designated pass zone

No transfers to other modes

$10 Commuter Rail Weekends

Take unlimited Commuter Rail trips on Saturdays, Sundays and select holidays for just $10.

Learn more about weekend passes

Perq

Commuter Rail Fares | Fares Overview (3)

Get monthly passes—at pre-tax rates—through your employer.

Learn more about Perq

How to Pay Your Commuter Rail Fare

First, choose how you'll pay your fare

Conductors will check your ticket or pass after you board the train.

During Fare Is Fair events, your ticket may be checked at any point during your trip, including before you board or after you get off the train.

Note: CharlieCards are not accepted on Commuter Rail with the exception of cards with monthly Commuter Rail passes. These cards are printed with the month and zone of the pass and can be used to pay for both bus/subway and Commuter Rail.

CharlieTicket

Best for frequent Commuter Rail riders who also take the subway or bus
Monthly passes available (1-Day and 7-Day passes also available for Zone 1A)
No online cardmanagement
No discounts

One-way and round trip tickets valid on:
Commuter Rail, up to designated zone

Monthly passes valid on:
Commuter Rail, up to designated zone
Subway
Bus
Charlestown Ferry
East Boston Ferry(seasonal)
Hingham/Hull Ferry with Zone 6 passes and up

Note: Interzone passes not valid on subway, Express Bus, and ferry

mTicket

Best for infrequent Commuter Rail riders or pass holders who don't often take subway or bus
$10 discount on monthly passes
10% discount for 5-day Flex Pass
Convenient smartphone app for ticket purchase and validation
Option to purchase multiple tickets
Only one monthly pass per app or device
No transfers

Valid on:

Commuter Rail, up to designatedzone
All MBTA ferries

Cash Onboard

Best for infrequent Commuter Rail riders at stations where tickets can’t be purchased at fare vending machines or ticket windows
May include a $3 fee if you board at a station where tickets can be purchased
Only available for one-way and round trip tickets
Not available during Fare is Fair events

Note: All Commuter Rail passes for one-way and round-trip travel expire 90 days from the purchase date.

You can also use your EBT card to load value or passes onto a CharlieTicket at fare vending machines, the CharlieCard Store, and MBTA retail sales locations that accept EBT cards.

Learn how to pay with your EBT card

As of Tuesday, September 5, 2023, the CharlieCard Store has been temporarily relocated to the State Transportation Building at 10 Park Plaza, due to maintenance issues.

Learn more about the temporary CharlieCard Store relocation

Auto-pay Monthly Passes

Sign up for Auto-pay so you never have to worry about reloading your CharlieCard again. Signing up is quick and easy, and your pass renews automatically each month.

Learn more about Auto-pay

Then, choose where to buy your ticket or pass

One-way, round trip, 5-day Flex Passes, reduced fare and monthly Commuter Rail passes for all zones are available on the mTicket App.

Credit and debit cards are accepted.

Watch an instructional video

For issues with the mTicket app you can email customerservice@keoliscs.com or call 617-222-3200.

You can purchase one-way, round trip, and monthly Commuter Rail passes for all zones and reduced fare 10-ride ticket bundles from agents at:

  • North Station
  • South Station
  • Back BayStation

If you need to upgrade a pass to a higher zone you can visit the booths are North or South Station, or the CharlieCard Store. You will be charged for the price difference. If you are downgrading a pass, refunds will not be issued.

Cash and credit/debit cards are accepted.

One-way, round trip, and monthly Commuter Rail passes up to Zone 10* are available at fare vending machines, which are located at all subway stations and the Lynn and Worcester/Union Commuter Rail stations.

Most machines accept cash, major credit/debit cards, and EBT cards. Some machines only accept credit/debit/EBT cards and are marked to indicate that they don’t accept cash.

* Interzone tickets and passes are not available from fare vending machines.

You can order monthly Commuter Rail passes for all zones online. Passes will be mailed to you.

Credit and debit cards are accepted.

Buy a monthly Commuter Rail pass online

You can also sign up for Auto-pay, a monthly Commuter Rail pass that automatically renews each month.

Sign up for Auto-pay

You can purchase one-way, round trip, and monthly Commuter Rail passes up to Zone 10 at retail stores around Greater Boston and Providence.

Cash and credit/debit cards are accepted. Some locations also accept EBT cards.

Find a retailstore near you

When you're ready to board the train

The conductor will verify your fare payment after you board the train. The conductor may tuck a small piece of paper on the seat back in front of you to indicate that you paid your fare.

The only exception to this is during Fare Is Fair events, when your ticket may be checked at any point during your trip, including before you board or after you get off the train.

Commuter Rail Fares | Fares Overview (5)

Show your ticket or pass to the conductor.

Commuter Rail Fares | Fares Overview (6)

  1. Open the mTicket App.
  2. Activate the ticket you would like to use.
  3. Show it to the conductor for verification.

Tickets are valid for three hours after activation. Please note, once a ticket is activated, it cannot be deactivated.

Commuter Rail Fares | Fares Overview (7)

  1. Tell the conductor you would like to pay in cash or with a credit card. They will ask you where you are going, and if you’d like a one-way or round-trip ticket.
  2. Pay the conductor. Keep in mind this may include a $3 fee if you boarded at a station where you could have purchased a ticket at a fare vending machine or ticket window.
  3. The conductor will give you a paper ticket with your origin and destination listed on it. If you’re going round trip, keep this ticket for your return.

Please note that this option is not available during Fare Is Fair events.

Reduced Fares

Some customers are eligible for reduced fares or can ride the T for free.

Learn more about reduced fares

Do You Get T Passes Through Your Job?

Monthly Commuter Rail passes can help you save money, even if you’re working a flexible schedule—just two round trips per week may be enough to make a monthly pass worth it.

See if a monthly pass works for you

Use Your CharlieCard on the Commuter Rail

You can use your CharlieCard to pay for travel within Fairmount Line Zone 1A. Tap your CharlieCard at the fare validators on the platform.

Learn more about CharlieCards

Other MBTA Fares

Subway FaresSee all MBTA subway fares
Bus FaresSee all MBTA bus fares
Ferry FaresSee all MBTA ferry fares
Common FaresSee common fares across all MBTA modes
Commuter Rail Fares | Fares Overview (2024)

FAQs

What is the difference between a CharlieCard and a Charlie ticket? ›

CharlieCards are hard plastic reusable cards that serve as a convenient way to pay bus and subway fares. Value can be reloaded with cash or credit card at the fare machines at all subway stations. CharlieTickets resemble a regular ticket and can be reloaded up to 18 months after the purchase date.

Can I use my CharlieCard on the Commuter Rail? ›

Use Your CharlieCard on the Commuter Rail

You can use your CharlieCard to pay for travel within Fairmount Line Zone 1A. Tap your CharlieCard at the fare validators on the platform.

Is MBTA commuter rail free on weekends? ›

Enjoy unlimited travel on the Commuter Rail for just $10.00 every weekend. Passes are valid on all lines and zones, Saturdays, Sundays and select holidays. You can still buy zoned Commuter Rail tickets or monthly passes at regular cost for non-unlimited travel on weekends.

What is the difference between MBTA link pass and zone 1A? ›

The Link Pass is picked up once, lasts for the semester and can be replaced when lost. The Zone 1A Pass must be picked up monthly towards the end of each month (i.e. February's pass will be picked up at the end of January) and cannot be replaced if lost (students must wait for the following month's pass to arrive).

Can you use one CharlieCard for multiple people? ›

The CharlieCard can only hold transfers for 4 people, but it can be used to tap in an unlimited number of people with stored value. The official MBTA policy is that only the CharlieTicket version of the 7 day LinkPass is accepted on the commuter rail and ferry.

Can you use your phone as a CharlieCard? ›

mTicket, an Android and iPhone app for Commuter Rail and ferry tickets or passes. Cash at onboard fare boxes on buses or load a CharlieCard onboard with in the event you expect change.

Can you bring food on MBTA Commuter Rail? ›

Food and drink must remain in closed containers. Please be considerate and avoid eating or drinking on MBTA vehicles and in stations.

Why is it called a CharlieCard? ›

The Charlie Card actually gets its name from a 1949 campaign song about a man named Charlie who was eternally stuck on the T when he couldn't pay his exit fare (a concept that no longer exists).

What is the difference between commuter train and express train? ›

The Express trains are designed to serve mainly air travelers whereas the Commuter trains are for general commuters. For the public's ease of identification, the Express trains are purple in color while the Commuter trains are of blue color.

What is the senior age for the MBTA? ›

If you are 65 or older, you are eligible for reduced fares with a Senior CharlieCard. If you attend one of the schools enrolled in the MBTA's Student Pass Program, you are eligible for an S-Card or M7 Card.

Are there bathrooms on MBTA commuter rail? ›

There are restrooms on Commuter Rail trains, and they are accessible to people with disabilities. They are located at the ends of some cars. Please note that on some trips, the car with a restroom may be closed, but you can ask the conductor for access.

Who can ride free on MBTA? ›

More from Reduced Fares

Learn more about reduced fare programs available for children, students, seniors, and people with disabilities. The MBTA offers free service to children, military personnel, public servants, and government officials.

What is the most used line on the MBTA? ›

You can see the busiest stations are all along the Red Line.

Do CharlieCards expire? ›

CharlieCards distributed later had expiration dates printed on them and are valid for ten years, with the exception of Student CharlieCards which expire at the end of the school year they are issued.

Why is it called a Charlie ticket? ›

Charlie on the MTA

"Charlie on the MTA" was written as a campaign song for Mayoral candidate Walter A. O'Brien, Jr. in 1949. It tells the story of a subway rider named Charlie, stuck on an endless train ride underneath the streets of Boston because he was unable to pay the exit fare.

How do you use a CharlieCard? ›

You add cash value and ride passes to the card with your credit card, debit card or cash. Each time you board a BRTA bus, simply tap your loaded CharlieCard on the fare box and off you go. CharlieCard makes taking the bus more affordable.

Does my CharlieCard have money on it? ›

To check your balance, visit the nearest fare vending machine. Register your card to protect your balance against loss, theft, or damage. If you request a replacement, we'll transfer your balance to the new card. For expired cards, please visit the CharlieCard Store.

Can you reuse a Charlie ticket? ›

CharlieCard. CharlieCards are reusable plastic cards that can be loaded with cash value or 1-Day, 7-Day, or monthly passes.

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