Central station (MBTA)

CENTRAL
Inbound platform at Central in 2013
Location	Massachusetts Avenue at Prospect Street Cambridge, Massachusetts
Coordinates	42°21′54″N 71°06′12″W / 42.365°N 71.1034°W / 42.365; -71.1034Coordinates: 42°21′54″N 71°06′12″W / 42.365°N 71.1034°W / 42.365; -71.1034
Owned by	Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority
Line(s)	Red Line
Platforms	2 side platforms
Tracks	2
Construction
Bicycle facilities	36 spaces
Disabled access	Yes
History
Opened	March 23, 1912
Traffic
Passengers (2013)	16,525 (weekday average boardings)
Services
Preceding station   MBTA   Following station Harvard toward Alewife Red Line Kendall/MIT toward Ashmont or Braintree

Central station (also called Central Square station) is an MBTA transit station in Cambridge, Massachusetts. It serves the Red Line subway line and has a street-level terminal for the MBTA Bus system. It is located at the intersection of Massachusetts Avenue with Western Avenue, Prospect Street, and Magazine Street at Central Square.

Central Square station opened along with Park Street Under, Kendall Square station, and Harvard Square station on March 23, 1912. Several 1912-built tile mosaics displaying the station name are still visible above the platforms. Similar mosaics are visible at a number of other older MBTA stations, including South Station and Broadway on the Red Line.

On January 26, 1978, heavy rains flooded the station.

In the mid 1980s, the platforms were extended at many early-built Red Line stations, allowing 6-car trains to be run beginning in January 1988. The platforms at Central were extended to the northwest (contrary to original plans for the southeast) beginning on April 25, 1985, with new entrances placed west of Prospect Street. The row of arches and columns between the tracks was not extended when the station was lengthened, making the extensions visually distinct from the original station area.

A fictionalized version of Central's platform area appears as a backdrop in the Xbox and PlayStation 2 game Karaoke Revolution.

Central is a major transfer station, with 8 MBTA Bus routes running from the station to various parts of Cambridge, Somerville, Allston, and Boston.