Fitchburg Cutoff

Fitchburg Cutoff
The Fitchburg Cutoff east from Highland Road in 1953
Overview
Owner	Boston and Maine Railroad
Termini	Hills Crossing Somerville Junction
Stations	3
History
Opened	1870, 1881
Closed	1979–80, 1983, 2007
Technical
Line length	2.8 mi (4.5 km)
Track gauge	4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)
Route map Legend Fitchburg Division and Central Mass Branch Hill Crossing Lexington Branch Fitchburg Division to North Station North Cambridge West Somerville Willow Avenue closed ca. 1887 Somerville Highlands Southern Division Somerville Junction to North Station This diagram: view talk edit

The Fitchburg Cutoff (also called the Freight Cutoff) was a rail line running 2.8 miles (4.5 km) from Brighton Street (Hills Crossing station) in Belmont, Massachusetts, to Somerville Junction in Somerville, Massachusetts. It was constructed in two segments in 1870 and 1881 to connect the Lexington Branch and Central Massachusetts Railroad to the Boston and Lowell Railroad. Passenger service lasted until 1927. Freight service ended in 1979–80 to allow construction of the Red Line Northwest Extension; the line was abandoned in three sections in 1979, 1983, and 2007.

All of the right-of-way, except a short section near Alewife station, has been reused for three connecting rail trails: the Fitchburg Cutoff Path from Brighton Street to Alewife station, the Alewife Linear Park from Alewife to Massachusetts Avenue, and the Somerville Community Path east of Massachusetts Avenue. The paths are part of the Mass Central Rail Trail.