Photo: James Rojas/WBZ NewsRadio
MEDFORD, Mass (WBZ NewsRadio) — Over a hundred people woke up early Monday morning to get a chance to take the first Green Line train on the new Green Line Extension.
The extension opened Monday morning after years of work, connecting the Green Line to parts of Medford and Somerville. The E Branch previously ended at Lechmere station in Cambridge, but now extends to East Somerville, Gilman Square, Magoun Square, and Ball Square in Somerville and Tufts University in Medford.
The first train left the Medford/Tufts station at 4:51 in the morning and was packed tightly with eager riders looking to witness history. Many of those there for the early train was Tufts students and had been up waiting to get a chance to ride the first train on the GLX.
"We woke up so early for this, we didn't think anyone would come," one student told WBZ's James Rojas. "A ton of people came and it's super exciting."
"I was expecting this much excitement from Boston," one person said. "I expected everyone to be tired, Dunkin' in one hand and half asleep. But no, everyone is cheering."
In fact, so many people turned up that James and several others had to take the second train from the station, including one student named Kian.
"There's just so much excitement," he said. "I did not expect nearly as many people to show up for this and be as excited to see the new train line opening."
Among those excited to see the opening of the GLX was an 11-year-old named Menelik, who said he woke up early to see the historic moment because he's interested in trains.
"It's just fun to study where they go and how they're made," he said.
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Menelik's father said he thinks seeing this moment will help inspire him to work on trains in the future.
"This is how dreams are born," he said. "He wants to be an engineer, so I might as well have fun and at the same time allow him to do something that he loves and then to be part of history as well."
One person even woke up early on their birthday to see the grand opening of the GLX.
"What better present for a life-long MBTA fan than the new trains," he said.
MBTA General Manager Steve Poftak was there to greet riders as they embarked on the GLX and said he enjoyed seeing so many people turn out to see the historic moment.
"I thrilled that people are here and I'm thrilled that they're excited about the service," Poftak said. "I'm glad to see everyone up this early."
WBZ's James Rojas (@JamesRojasNews) reports.
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