Ski Train Rides Again
Wachusett Mountain offers skiers and snowboarders affordable access by rail.
New weekend train service will bring skiers from Boston to the slopes of Wachusett Mountain beginning Nov. 25 and 26, when the ski area opens for the season.
The ski train is back. At least in Massachusetts that is. In a throwback to skiing’s early years, Wachusett Mountain, the Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority (MBTA) and the Massachusetts Bay Commuter Rail Company (MBCR) have inaugurated weekend train service to the ski resort from Boston.
The train, which will be fitted to include ski racks, will leave from North Station in Boston at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday mornings and head to the commuter rail stop in Fitchburg. From there, mountain staff or a livery service will take the skiers to Wachusett free of charge.
The train leaves at about 5:30 p.m. for the 90 minute trip back. Cost is $6 one way.
What a boon for skiers who don't have a car or want to save money on gas!
Wachusett Mountain Marketing Director Thomas Meyers said the mountain had a train promotion in the early 1980s. "We decided to revisit that idea in this era of higher gas prices and demand for public transportation," he told the Telegram & Gazette of Worcester.
The current scheduled weekend ski train service will leave Boston’s North Station at 8:35 a.m. and arrive at the Fitchburg commuter rail station at 10:06 a.m. Wachusett will then arrange to have customers picked up and shuttled directly to the mountain, approximately 15-20 minutes away. Wachusett will also arrange to shuttle customers back to the Fitchburg station for a 5:35 p.m. departure back to Boston, arriving at North Station at 7:00 p.m
Even better - Wachusett Mountain will credit skiers and riders a one way fare to be used anywhere at the mountain including lift tickets, rentals, food & beverage and more. This credit is valid to any passengers who shows a train ticket that day at the ski area.
The new ski train service is scheduled to be in place when the mountain opens for the season in late November. Each train will also include a designated ski car which will allow for easy storage of ski or snowboard equipment.
All aboard!
