{{short description|Railway station in Sharon, Massachusetts, US}} {{about|the station in Massachusetts|the former station in Amenia, New York|Sharon station (New York Central Railroad)}} {{Use American English|date=February 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}} {{Infobox station | style=MBTA | name=Sharon | image=Sharon station from Depot Street stairs, November 2016.JPG | image_caption=Platforms and depot building at Sharon in November 2016 | address=1 Upland Road | borough=Sharon, Massachusetts | coordinates= {{coord|42.12475|-71.18400|type:railwaystation_region:US-MA |display=inline,title}} | line=Attleboro Line (Northeast Corridor) | other= | platform=2 side platforms | tracks=2 | parking=546 spaces<ref name=may2014minutes /> | bicycle=8 spaces | passengers=756 daily boardings<ref name=CRcounts>{{MBTA Commuter Rail 2024 ridership}}</ref> | pass_year=2024 | opened=June 1835 | closed= | rebuilt=1936; September 30, 2014 | accessible=Yes | zone=4 | services= {{Adjacent stations|system=MBTA|line=Providence/Stoughton|left=Mansfield|right=Canton Junction|to-left=Wickford Junction}} | other_services_header = Former services | other_services_collapsible = yes | other_services = {{Adjacent stations |system1=MBTA|line1=Foxboro event Boston|left1=Mansfield|right1=Canton Junction|note-mid1=1989–1994 |system2=New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad|line2=Shore Line Railway (Connecticut)|left2=East Foxboro|right2=Canton Junction}} | mapframe = yes | mapframe-marker-color = #{{rcr|MBTA|rail}} }}
'''Sharon station''' is an MBTA Commuter Rail station in Sharon, Massachusetts. It serves the Providence/Stoughton Line. The station has two separate entrances for inbound trains to Boston and for outbound trains to Providence and beyond. New platforms were constructed in 2014 to make the station accessible.
==History== thumb|left|1870s-built Sharon station on a 1908 postcard The Boston and Providence Railroad started full operations between the two cities in June 1835, including a station at the modern location in Sharon.<ref name=1888map>{{cite web |url=http://www.wardmaps.com/viewasset.php?aid=8552 |title=Foxborough & Sharon 1888 Plate 45 - Sharon Heights, Franklin Center |work=Atlas of Norfolk County, 1888 |year=1888 |author=E. Robinson |publisher=WardMaps LLC |accessdate=22 October 2012}}</ref><ref name=sne>{{cite book |title=The Rail Lines of Southern New England |author=Karr, Ronald Dale |publisher=Branch Line Press |year=1995 |isbn=0942147022 |pages=146–149}}</ref> In 1871, the original Sharon station was replaced by a larger building similar to those still extant at East Greenwich and Kingston in Rhode Island.<ref name=depots /><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/boston-evening-transcript/134486758/ |title=The Boston & Providence Railroad Corporation |newspaper=Boston Evening Transcript |date=November 8, 1871 |page=2 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> The Boston and Providence was leased by the Old Colony Railroad in 1888, which was in turn absorbed by the New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad in 1893.<ref name=sne />
The current inbound station building and the small outbound shelter were designed by F.J. Pitcher and built in 1936 by the New Haven Railroad.<ref name=depots>{{cite book |title=A Field Guide to Southern New England Railroad Depots and Freight Houses |author=Roy, John H. Jr. |publisher=Branch Line Press |year=2007 |isbn=9780942147087 |pages=225–226}}</ref> The Depot Road grade crossing was also replaced with a road bridge in 1936–37 at a cost of $127,094 ({{inflation|US-GDP|127094|1936|fmt=eq|r=-5}}).<ref>{{cite book |url=http://archives.lib.state.ma.us/handle/2452/799347 |title=Annual Report of the Department of Public Works for the Year Ending November 30, 1936 |publisher=Massachusetts Department of Public Works |year=1937 |page=28}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-boston-globe/75920788/ |title=Bids For Sidewalks And Grade Crossings Opened |newspaper=The Boston Globe |date=May 1, 1936 |page=14 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> It was considered a priority for elimination because of busy rail traffic – 78 daily trains – and because the ''Comet'' operated through Sharon at up to {{convert|95|mph}}.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-boston-globe/131255910/ |title=Crossing Projects Discussed By Foy |newspaper=The Boston Globe |date=July 25, 1935 |page=15 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-boston-globe/131255924/ |title=Worst Crossing "Is In Sharon" |newspaper=The Boston Globe |date=July 23, 1935 |page=15 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> The state issued a $9,789 contract ({{inflation|US-GDP|9789|1937|fmt=eq|r=-3}}) in November 1937 for construction of platform canopies and other improvements related to the crossing elimination.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://archives.lib.state.ma.us/handle/2452/799348 |title=Annual Report of the Department of Public Works for the Year Ending November 30, 1937 |publisher=Massachusetts Department of Public Works |year=1937 |page=39}}</ref>
Penn Central took over New Haven Railroad commuter operations on January 1, 1969. On January 27, 1973, the MBTA acquired a number of Penn Central's Boston commuter lines, including the Providence/Stoughton Line.<ref name=netransit /> In June 1973, the MBTA began subsidizing commuter rail service to Sharon. The town had been part of the MBTA district since 1964.<ref name="netransit">{{NETransit}}</ref>
From 1989 to 1994, Boston–{{bts|Foxboro}} trains for events at Foxboro Stadium operated over the Northeast Corridor, with intermediate stops including Sharon.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/94244374/the-boston-globe/ |title=The latest words from the streets |newspaper=Boston Globe |date=September 18, 1989 |page=15 |via=Newspapers.com |first=Jerry |last=Ackerman}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/94091470/the-boston-globe/ |title=How to get to the game |newspaper=Boston Globe |date=December 4, 1994 |page=63 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> Boston–Foxboro service was rerouted over the Franklin Line in 1995.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/94091398/the-boston-globe/ |title=How to get to the game |newspaper=Boston Globe |date=September 10, 1995 |page=93 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> Overcrowding of the parking lot led to plans for a 102-space expansion in 1999 and a 31-space expansion in 2003; neither were built.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/62724909/the-boston-globe/ |first=Robert |last=Preer |title=MBTA set to expand station parking |newspaper=Boston Globe |date=November 21, 1999 |pages=21, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/62725063/the-boston-globe/ 32] |via=Newspapers.com}} {{open access}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/62725589/the-boston-globe/ |title=Supply and demand clash at MBTA lots |newspaper=Boston Globe |date=October 2, 2003 |first=Joanna |last=Massey |page=201 |via=Newspapers.com}} {{open access}}</ref>
===Accessibility=== thumb|left|Mini-high platforms at Sharon station in 2016 Until 2014, Sharon was the busiest station on the system that was not accessible. All other stations with daily ridership above 1,000 passengers had accessible high-level platforms, as did all other stations on the busy Providence/Stoughton Line.<ref name=bluebook>{{MBTA Bluebook 2014}}</ref> After an accessibility complaint was filed in May 2011, construction was mandated to take place by November 1, 2012. No construction took place in 2012, prompting concerns that the commuter rail stop - not just the building - would be closed.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.wickedlocal.com/sharon/news/x21082840/Sharon-train-station-may-close-due-to-lack-of-handicap-access |title=Sharon train station may close due to lack of handicap access |author=Salisbury, Phil |newspaper=Wicked Local Sharon |date=October 1, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006161036/http://www.wickedlocal.com/x21082840/Sharon-train-station-may-close-due-to-lack-of-handicap-access |archive-date=October 6, 2014}}</ref> On October 15, 2012, the state's Architectural Access Board granted the MBTA an extension until October 1, 2013 to make the station accessible.<ref name=extension />
The project, which included adding mini-high platforms and improving handicapped access to the building, was originally expected to begin in the spring of 2013 and to be completed that fall at a cost of $1.2 million.<ref name=extension>{{cite news |url=http://www.wickedlocal.com/sharon/news/x1890062984/Sharon-commuter-rail-station-gets-access-waiver-extension |title=Sharon commuter rail station gets access waiver extension |author=Vogler, Paula |newspaper=Wicked Local Sharon |date=October 18, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140409111315/http://www.wickedlocal.com/x1890062984/Sharon-commuter-rail-station-gets-access-waiver-extension |archive-date=April 9, 2014}}</ref> In May 2013, the MBTA issued a request for bids for the then-$2.6 million project, with work to start in August.<ref name=businesscenter>{{cite web |url=http://www.mbta.com/business_center/bidding_solicitations/pdf/J75CN02%20NTB.pdf |title=Notice to Bidders |publisher=Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority |date=May 17, 2013 |author1=Davey, Richard A. |author2=Scott, Beverly A. |name-list-style=amp |archive-date=9 April 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140409014240/http://www.mbta.com/business_center/bidding_solicitations/pdf/J75CN02%20NTB.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/2013/07/20/train-accessibility-plan-outlined/Ge0qlhvN3is3I67Hcpe3yL/story.html |title=Train accessibility plan outlined |newspaper=Boston Globe |author=Barnes, Jennette |date=20 July 2013 |accessdate=21 July 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140409051613/http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/2013/07/20/train-accessibility-plan-outlined/Ge0qlhvN3is3I67Hcpe3yL/story.html |archive-date=9 April 2014}}</ref> Notice to Proceed was given to the chosen contractor on September 5, 2013, with work to be completed by February 2014.<ref name=businesscenter /> Noise testing begun in April 2014, followed by ongoing construction of mini-high platforms as well as improvements to the building and parking lot.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://sharon.patch.com/groups/around-town/p/mbta-work-at-sharon-station-nightly-through-april-25 |title=MBTA Work at Sharon Station Nightly Through April 25 |newspaper=Sharon Patch |author=Taurasi, Liz |date=7 April 2014 |accessdate=8 April 2014}}</ref> The accessible parking spots and the building retrofits were completed during May 2014.<ref name=may2014minutes>{{cite web |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170409205426/http://www.sharoncod.org/Minutes/May%202014.pdf |archivedate=April 9, 2017 |url=http://www.sharoncod.org/Minutes/May%202014.pdf |title=Sharon Disabilities Commission Minutes, May 28, 2014 |date=28 May 2014 |publisher=Sharon Disabilities Commission |accessdate=5 July 2014}}</ref> The mini-high platforms were opened on September 30, 2014.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sharoncod.org/Minutes/October%202014.pdf |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160709180222/http://www.sharoncod.org/Minutes/October%202014.pdf |archivedate=July 9, 2016 |title=Sharon Commission on Disabilities Minutes, October 22, 2014 |date=October 22, 2014 |publisher=Sharon Disabilities Commission |accessdate=November 22, 2016}}</ref>
The stairs to the platforms were closed on January 29, 2023.<ref>{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230418194518/https://www.mbta.com/schedules/CR-Providence/alerts |archive-date=April 18, 2023 |url=https://www.mbta.com/schedules/CR-Providence/alerts |date=January 29, 2023 |publisher=Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority |title=Alerts: Providence/Stoughton Line}}</ref>
===Other Sharon stations=== thumb|left|Sharon Heights station in the early 20th century A station was located in Sharon Heights near Garden Street, about a mile south of Sharon proper.<ref name=1888map /><ref name=sne /><ref name=history>{{cite book |url=http://www.stoughtonhistory.com/1890nason.htm |title=A gazetteer of the State of Massachusetts with numerous illustrations |year=1890 |author1=George J. Varney |author2=Rev. Elias Nason |name-list-style=amp |pages=588–589 |publisher=B.B. Russell |accessdate=22 October 2012}}</ref> It was closed sometime in the mid-20th century, at least a decade before the 1973 MBTA takeover.
In the late 1800s, a short-lived half-mile branch line led from Sharon Heights to a summer-only station at Lake Massapoag.<ref name=history /> The branch was also used to haul ice from the lake to surrounding locales.<ref name=1888map /> The remnants of the wye to the branch are still visible from passing trains on the main line. {{clear}}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{commons category-inline}} *[https://www.mbta.com/stops/place-NEC-2108 MBTA – Sharon]
Category:MBTA Commuter Rail stations in Norfolk County, Massachusetts Category:Sharon, Massachusetts Category:Stations on the Northeast Corridor Category:Former Old Colony Railroad stations Category:Railway stations in the United States opened in 1835 Category:1835 establishments in Massachusetts