Concord Academy students come from various hometowns and use a diverse array of transportation to get to school. For some, their commute is a plane flight once per year, followed by a short walk from a boarding house each day. Others ride with their parents, friends, or drive themselves. For nearly 100 local students, however, their rides to school comes from the MBTA Commuter Rail. Here is a comprehensive guide on how to navigate this transportation system, which may be confusing and complicated for new users.
The commuter rail has 13 lines, spanning the greater Boston area. The Concord stop is on the Fitchburg Line, which runs from North Station to Wachusett. The Fitchburg Line is connected to both the Red Line and the Green Line, allowing for easy travel to and around downtown Boston. Most CA students board somewhere between North Station and Kendall Green, riding the outbound train to school, and the inbound train home. Be sure to know which platform to board. They should be labeled with both the direction and the end stop.
The commuter rail’s schedule lines up well with CA’s schedule. On Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, school starts at 8:30 a.m., meaning that students will take Train 405, which arrives in Concord at around 8:09 a.m. School starts at 9:20 a.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays, so students generally take Train 407, which arrives in Concord at 9:09 a.m. according to the MBTA Website. Some may still take the early train and enjoy some morning studying at school. However, trains are not always punctual, so it is advisable to check live, updated arrival times on Google Maps while waiting.
On the train, there is a chance that the conductor will charge you for a ticket, though this does not happen every single ride. It is always better to be prepared, however, so bring cash or a card along when riding—CA students receive a discount. Alternatively, you can use the mTicket app to purchase tickets digitally, which also streamlines the process of adding that aforementioned discount. There is also the option to buy a monthly M7 pass from the school, which provides unlimited discounted travel each month. Most discounted one-way fares will be in the $2.00 range, depending on where you boarded and where you disembark.
The Concord train stop is on the southeast side of downtown Concord, conveniently located next to a Dunkin’ and Starbucks for morning coffee runs. The walk to campus is only seven to ten minutes - just walk down Middle Street, then turn left onto Academy Lane. There’s no need to memorize this route, though, as you can always just follow the crowd of CA students.
After a 3:30 p.m. end to the school day, CA students' can CA students' earliest possible train back is the 4:00 p.m. train. The commuter rail arrives around every hour, and the latest one comes at 10:00 p.m.. Depending on sports and after-school activities, you may end up taking any train in between these times. Typically, students aim to start walking 10 minutes before the train is scheduled to arrive. The inbound platform at Concord Station is on the farther side, so it is important to get there before the train arrives.
Though the commuter rail is generally reliable, there are times when the train experiences significant delays, sometimes up to a full hour. These are more common during the winter months, when inclement weather can cause slippery conditions. While the thought of arriving at school considerably late may worry some, it is comforting to note that the attendance faculty at CA are fully aware of the Commuter Rail's shortcomings, so late arrivals due to the train will be excused. Remember to check in with either your class advisor or Jackie Decareau in the morning to let them know you have arrived; otherwise, you may get a cut for missing attendance.
Despite its occasional challenges and difficulties, the MBTA provides convenient and flexible transport for students. Though commuting by train may cause nervousness at first, know that you will not be alone. There are plenty of other CA student riders who are willing to answer any questions and help you out. Soon enough, riding the train will become second nature.