History of Boston's Back Bay Station - Trains Magazine

The existing station was never used by the New Haven and only was used by Amtrak and the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authoroity, and still is.   About 22-24 year ago, the elevated rapid transit line from downtown Boston to Forest Hills was relocated in the same cut as the New Haven main line, which if I remember correctly, was reduced from four to three tracks, but sitll the cut required widening.  In places it has been covered over.   This massive rebuilding required shutting down of the line, with trains rerouted over the Dorchester Branch, which is an alternative route to the east, rejoining the main line at Reaville, about 25 miles from South Station.  During the rebuilding, the quite handsom Back Bay Station was demolished and a completely new station constructed.

The old station had two low-level "island" platforms, so New Haven trains could load passengers on any of the four tracks.   A third western-side platform served trains on the Boston and Albany (New York Central) line after Massachusetts Turnpike construction required the demolition of the old Huntington Avenue (inbound trains) and Trinity Place (outbound) B&A stations.