Since the Green Line extension opened in 2022, Guinness hasn't accepted new MBTA rail rapid transit speedrun records (and even then they were still missing a few folks because of their verification requirements). This is an attempt to continue tracking runs, in the spirit of DC Metro Challenge (archived), Montréal Métro Speedrunning, BART Speedrun Records, and friends.
TransitRuns, a project I am very loosely involved in, now maintains a competitive leaderboard for this system. I continue to maintain this page as a historical record, and for anyone who doesn't wish to play competitively, as it were.
Attempts
Made an attempt yourself? Email me at mbta@tris.fyi and I'll add your info!
- 2025-08-22: Aaron (@aquaticpotato@better.boston) (7h21m11s, no Silver Line / RRT%). Fediverse thread.
- 2025-05-06: cpma213 (8h17m11s, no Silver Line / RRT%). Reddit thread (links to additional parts in comments).
- 2025-05-02: Owen (10h37m12s including Silver Line). Reddit thread.
- 2025-01-02: Billy and Corinne (8h13m, no Silver Line / RRT%). Bluesky thread.
- 2024-12-27: Tris (me!) and Asa (7h31m25s, no Silver Line / RRT%). Fediverse thread.
- 2024-12-23: cat, snow, and blair (9h08m52s, no Silver Line / RRT%). Fediverse thread.
- 2024-07-05: @mbta-unofficial (12h35m45s including Silver Line). Tumblr.
- 2024-07-02: Heshan de Silva-Weeramuni (9h47m34s RRT% cut, 13h13m10s including Silver Line). Bluesky, Universal Hub.
- 2024-04-16: (anonymous) (8h10m39s, no Silver Line / RRT%). Reddit discussion thread.
- 2022-12-24: Aaron (@aquaticpotato71) (7h39m, no Silver Line / RRT%). Twitter thread.
- 2022-07-27: Benjamin + Nicholas Jaffer (7h37m44s, pre-Medford, post-Union RRT%). Instagram.
Rules (post-GLX)
- Visit all stations. You don't have to step out at all platforms. Since the MBTA doesn't have scheduled express service, taking trains running express for headway balancing reasons/etc is allowed. You do not need to request all stops on the Green Line.
- Time starts when the doors close on your first train, and end when the doors open at your final station.
- Communal public transportation only. No cars, bicycles (Bluebikes or otherwise), or taxis. Trains, buses, ferries, and Commuter Rail are all OK. Non-MBTA operators are OK (Massport/Logan Express, Cambridge EZRide, Amtrak, etc). Walking and running are of course OK.
- Only rail rapid transit required ("RRT%"). In keeping with pre-GLX records, you don't have to take the Silver Line (but if you do, and if your route allows for it, you can time your run with and without the Silver Line and I'll post both times). The Red Line (both branches), Orange Line, Green Line (all branches), Blue Line, and Mattapan Trolley are required.
Changelog
- 2025-05-17: Removed language allowing running between Green Line stops and paratransit operators; these don't help and nobody uses them. This should put us more in line with other authorities' rules.