METRO Magazine Logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Keolis, MBTA to replace up to 30K rail ties on line

Goal of replacement work on the Framingham-Worcester line is to end heat-related speed restrictions.

March 28, 2016
Keolis, MBTA to replace up to 30K rail ties on line

Pi.1415926535

2 min to read


Pi.1415926535


Track work is set to start on the Massachussetts Bay Transportation Authority's (MBTA) Framingham-Worcester Line this month, with a goal of replacing 25,000 to 30,000 railroad ties while work to end the line’s heat-related speed restrictions wraps up.

Keolis Commuter Services, which operates and maintains MBTA Commuter Rail, will be performing and overseeing much of this work, which is expected to have minimal impact on passengers. Most of the work will be performed mid-day to avoid peak commutes. Some speed restrictions will take place around the construction.



“Commuter rail’s performance on the Framingham-Worcester Line has improved dramatically thanks to the work we and the MBTA have already completed,” said Keolis GM Gerald C. Francis. “This next round of track work will help move trains more efficiently and finally end the speed restrictions riders have dealt with for many years.”

The track on the Framingham-Worcester Line was built and maintained by previous railroads using different design and maintenance standards than the MBTA. When the MBTA took control of the rail line in 2012, there were insufficient records available about the original installation of the rail, which helps engineers verify that the rail will respond to heat variations between winter and summer season.

To compensate for these unknowns, over the past two years the MBTA has either replaced rail or de-stressed sections of rail to ensure the safety of the Worcester Line. That work is ongoing this spring between Worcester and Framingham, and between Newtonville and Wellesley Farms. When complete, the commuter line will be free of speed restrictions.

At the same time, crews will start replacing 25,000 to 30,000 railroad ties between Newtonville and Southborough. Tie replacement will continue into the fall. In addition, the construction of the new Boston Landing Station will be taking place near the New Balance headquarters in Allston.

None of these projects are expected to impact peak service on the line, though off-peak service could be slowed by speed restrictions near construction zones.

More Management

AAAHI receiving METRO's Innovative Operator of the Year Award
Motorcoachby Alex RomanSeptember 16, 2026

METRO Opens Submissions for 2026 Motorcoach Awards

Nominations are now being accepted for METRO Magazine’s Operator of the Year and Innovative Operator of the Year awards.

Read More →
A New York MTA subway car with an open gangway
Railby Staff and News ReportsSeptember 16, 2026

New York MTA Advances Final Contract for Second Avenue Subway Expansion

Contract Four is the largest in the Second Avenue Subway Phase 2 project and includes construction of station infrastructure, tracks, and signals for the subway expansion, MTA officials said. Work on Contract Four will begin in 2027.

Read More →
Transit Leaders Gather for National Safety Summit
Security and Safetyby Alex RomanSeptember 16, 2026

Transit Agencies Highlight Safety Gains at National Summit

Leaders from 15 major transit systems shared crime-reduction results and safety initiatives while discussing the role of continued federal support.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
A blue and white graphic with text reading "NITA Names New Leadership, Expands Reduced-Fare Program."
Managementby Staff and News ReportsSeptember 14, 2026

NITA Names New Leadership, Expands Reduced-Fare Program at First Board Meeting

The new regional transit authority appointed its first board chair and interim executive director while extending reduced fares across CTA, Metra, and Pace for eligible riders.

Read More →
From Checklists to Better Outcomes
TechnologySeptember 11, 2026

Beyond the Checklist: A Structured Approach to Transit Maintenance

Reliability-Centered Maintenance helps transit agencies move beyond routine checklists to focus limited resources on the assets and failures that have the greatest impact on safety, reliability, and service.

Read More →
A red, white, and blue graphic with the APTA logo and text reading "APTA Nominates 2026-2027 Chair & Vice Chair."
Managementby Staff and News ReportsSeptember 10, 2026

APTA 2026 Nominating Committee Selects Leadership Slate, Names Chair and Vice Chair Nominees

Leadership changes will help shape the association’s priorities and its representation of the transportation industry during the 2026–2027 term.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
DART's light rail station at 8th and Corinth
Security and Safetyby Alex RomanSeptember 10, 2026

DART Launches Major Security, Fare Enforcement Initiative

The 90-day demonstration will deploy coordinated security teams at five light rail stations while testing controlled access and gathering data to guide future investments.

Read More →
STraffic White Paper Cover Learn about delivering 1300 gates at 91 stations while managing fare evasion. Explore the large scale deployment, solution customization and real-world results that affect the region. Prepare for deployment in your region now.
SponsoredSeptember 9, 2026

Advancing Fare Collection Through Technology and Innovation

Learn about delivering 1300 gates at 91 stations while managing fare evasion. Explore the large scale deployment, solution customization and real-world results that affect the region. Prepare for deployment in your region now.

Read More →
A TransLink train goes by a large FIFA World Cup soccer ball structure.
Managementby Elora HaynesSeptember 8, 2026

Game Day in Motion: Moving Millions During the 2026 World Cup

Between packed transit stations and team motorcoaches, see how agencies and operators across North America tackled the transportation demands of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
A blue and white graphic with text reading "Surface Transportation Averts Shutdown, Leaves Transit Funding Gap."
Managementby Elora HaynesSeptember 4, 2026

Surface Transportation Extension Averts Shutdown, Leaves Transit Funding Gap

The stopgap keeps federal transportation programs moving, but missing advance funding could complicate the transit and rail projects agencies are planning next.

Read More →