Fare Gates for the Red Line’s Ashmont/Braintree Branch

Alewife Station, at the Red Line's northern terminus in Cambridge, uses fare gates like these to control access to Ashmont- and Braintree-bound service. The station opened in 1985 as the final extension of the Red Line north from Harvard, replacing a temporary terminus at Harvard Square. Alewife serves as a major park-and-ride hub for commuters from northwest of Boston, with an attached garage that is among the largest in the MBTA system. Riders tap CharlieCards or contactless payment at gates like these before continuing to platforms serving both branches of the line.

Taken April 2025