Green Line Shuts Through the Central Subway This Weekend for Signal Work, a Day After Signal Trouble at Kenmore; Red Line Gets Faster to Quincy

Much of the MBTA Green Line is closed through the heart of Boston this Halloween weekend while crews work on signal upgrades, the agency said, one day after signal problems at Kenmore disrupted the line during the Friday morning commute.

On Saturday, Oct. 31, and Sunday, Nov. 1, there is no Green Line service between North Station and Babcock Street on the B branch, between North Station and Kenmore on the C and D branches, and between North Station and Heath Street on the E branch, according to an MBTA alert posted Oct. 26 and reported by NBC Boston. All four branches are affected.

The T is running free shuttle buses for service to Copley and Back Bay and is making the Orange Line fare-free between Back Bay and North Station, which runs parallel to much of the closed Green Line segment, the agency said. NBC Boston reported that the MBTA told riders to plan for up to 25 extra minutes of travel while the suspension is in effect.

The closure is part of the same signal modernization work that prompted a weeklong Green Line shutdown last month, NBC Boston reported. The timing means the shutdown overlaps with Halloween night, when the city has permitted more than 100 streets to close to traffic for trick-or-treating and block parties.

The weekend work follows a rough Friday morning on the line. The MBTA reported signal problems at Kenmore at 7:01 a.m. that delayed Green Line service, and reported at 8:43 a.m. that service had returned to normal, Universal Hub noted in a post that pointed out the irony of a signal failure the day before a shutdown for signal upgrades.

It has been a difficult week for MBTA riders more broadly. NBC Boston reported that passengers on a Providence Line commuter rail train were stuck for hours Tuesday night before having to walk along the tracks.

The MBTA also announced an improvement on Friday. Red Line trains can now travel up to 50 mph between North Quincy and JFK/UMass, the agency said in a news release, which means faster trips between Braintree and JFK/UMass in both directions. The T previously raised speeds to 50 mph on the Braintree Branch between Braintree and North Quincy on March 14, 2025, after work completed as part of its 2024 Track Improvement Program.

"Red Line trains can now reach speeds of up to 50 miles per hour between North Quincy and JFK/UMass, giving riders faster commutes and more time back in their day," Gov. Maura Healey said in the release. "We're seeing real results from our investments in the T," she said, adding that the administration is "going to keep building on this progress and delivering the faster, safer and more reliable service that riders deserve."

Phillip Eng, who serves as the MBTA's general manager and as interim transportation secretary, said in the release that "just under two weeks ago, we shortened trips and raised speeds on the Orange Line to 55 MPH and today we're proud to make more trips even faster for our Red Line riders." Eng said the speed increase shows the T is "not satisfied with simply restoring service but pushing ourselves to continuously improve on all lines and modes." He also credited the agency's employees, saying, "This work couldn't be done without the commitment of the workforce and the support and patience of our riders."

The release did not say how many minutes the speed increase saves on a typical trip between North Quincy and JFK/UMass, and it did not address the Ashmont Branch.

For the Green Line closure, riders heading from the western branches into downtown can take shuttles to Copley or Back Bay and transfer to the Orange Line at Back Bay for free travel to stations through North Station, according to the MBTA's guidance as described in its alert. Riders bound for Government Center, Park Street or other central subway stations served only by the Green Line will need to use the shuttles or walk from the Orange Line, which stops at nearby Haymarket, State and Downtown Crossing.

Current service alerts are posted on the agency's website at mbta.com/alerts.

Still unknown: how many more weekend or weeklong closures the signal project will require before it is finished, and whether Friday's Kenmore problem was connected to the equipment being replaced.