Shawmut Station - MBTA - Red Line

Shawmut is an underground station on the Red Line and is right in the middle of a completely residential neighborhood. Surrounded by homes and absolutely no commercial buildings, this is all about the commuters.

There is handicapped access with an elevator from the street level and the ticketing area down to the platform level. The usual turnstiles and automated ticket machines are present. Helpfully, there is a visual display upstairs that indicates the next train in either direction so you know if you need to rush your way to the platform or if you can take a more leisurely stroll.

Side platforms and not an island, so the doors will open on the right side. As the station is completely underground, you're protected from the elements here. There are audible and visual announcements of the next train.

The station is surprisingly clean and quite modern thanks to renovations. It is definitely one of the nicer stations on the Red Line.

Shawmut is between Ashmont (outbound, the terminus of this branch) and Fields Corner (inbound).

[Review 9859 overall, 1437 of 2018.]

As far as T stations go, this is probably my favorite.
First & foremost - it's indoors - protection from the elements while awaiting the train to arrive... yes please!
The surrounding neighborhood is both safe and also, visually a nice one to walk through. Alternatively, if you aren't too familiar with the area or it's late night - there is also a very well-lit pedestrian walkway leading from the station out to Melville Avenue.

Though this station is tiny, I love it all the same. Its size and simplicity makes it less intrusive on the quaint and serene shawmut neighborhood. Outside the station there is ample parking for cars within a block of the station. However, there are signs that read "do not leave valuables in your car," but that goes without saying :)

Shawmut is a little odd T station that it just seems to sprout out of nowhere. It is very nice that it is sheltered and the surrounding area has been recently redone so it is modern, clean and well lit. I like the little gardens that sprouted along the walkway to the station. They did a little to improve the inside also. The panels that show the history of Dorchester is a nice touch but they could do more to seal up the leaks that arise when it rains. They do keep the platform clean and it is well lit. I cannot wait until the MBTA get up to speed and can tell me when the next train arrives on the boards.

I've seen three people get robbed over here. On multiple occasions I've heard gunshots while leaving this station. I guess that's not really the stations fault though. The charlie card machines are usually broken. Like the other bul said, very leaky. Also, when they do shuttle service on the Ashmont line, the shuttle station is in a weird spot on Dot Ave.