Next on the Orange Line was the addition of the 01200 series cars from Hawker Siddely and the retirement of the 01100's built by Pullman Standard and in operation since 1957. The 01200 and 01300's have served the Orange Line through the 1980's
The next major change with the end of service on the Washington Street Elevated. The El ran from Chinatown over Washington Street to Forest Hills making 6 stops including Forest Hills. When the El closed it marked the end of heavy rail elevated service in Boston. The Green Line Trolley Elevated was left as the last El in Boston. When the service on Washington Street ended, the new southwest corridor opened up, running a few miles west to a new Forest Hills station, running in the Southwest Corridor in a cut. At the same time station platforms at some locations were being extended to allow for 6 car trains.
This new route offered faster service and more stations than the Elevated route and ridership began to increase on the line after opening.
Residents of Washington Street now complain of a lack of transit service in thier area since the El was torn down.
As the 1980's and into the 1990s the Orange Line underwent only minor changes such as the addition of 6 car trains during peak periods.
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