MENU
SEARCHWith the launch of the South Coast Rail passenger service, the communities of Taunton, Freetown, New Bedford, Middleboro, and Fall River will have passenger rail service for the first time in 65 years.
Leading up to the launch of the South Coast Rail, the MBTA will rename several stations and revamp connections along the line.
Photo: MBTA
Boston’s Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) said the South Coast Rail passenger service start date, pending final approval from the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), is set for March 24.
With the launch of the South Coast Rail passenger service, the communities of Taunton, Freetown, New Bedford, Middleboro, and Fall River will have passenger rail service for the first time in 65 years.
“Delivering new rail service to the communities as part of South Coast Rail is another example of our workforce fulfilling commitments made to the public,” said MBTA GM/CEO Phillip Eng. “The MBTA is proud to be in this position working collaboratively with the Federal Railroad Administration as we now seek their approval to begin passenger train service at the end of March ahead of our May target. This will allow communities in Boston, southeastern Massachusetts, and many in between to connect by train for the first time in decades,”
There will be a total of 15 trips on the Fall River line and 17 trips on the New Bedford Line with a total of 32 trips between South Station and East Taunton. There will be a total of 26 trips between South Station and East Taunton on the weekends.
The MBTA anticipates trains to run every 70 minutes on weekdays and every two hours on the weekends.
Late night service will be offered to South Coast Rail stations with the last train leaving Boston just before midnight.
In addition to direct service, there will also be shuttles operating between each terminus point and East Taunton Station. This allows for even more frequent service, which is consistent with the All Day Service model across the rest of the Commuter Rail network.
Leading up to the launch, the MBTA will rename several stations and revamp connections along the line.
The MBTA has determined that the fare structure for all South Coast Rail stations will be priced in Zone 8. This means that passengers will pay a full fare of $12.25 and a reduced fare of $6.
Automatic Train Control (ATC) testing was completed in July 2024 and dispatch responsibilities were transferred to Keolis. Over 800 Positive Train Control (PTC) functions have been tested to ensure safety, reliability, and compliance.
PTC system testing was completed in December 2024 and operations were transferred to Keolis on Jan. 6.
All six stations — located in Middleborough, East Taunton, Freetown, Fall River Depot, Church Street, and New Bedford — were completed by September 2024. Stations are fully accessible. Certificates of occupancy have also been given for the New Bedford Station and the Wamsutta Layover Facilities.
Qualification runs are currently underway to allow for operator training and route familiarity. Demonstration service is slated for early March.
All part of the federal New Starts process, these remaining tasks represent the final phases of the testing and commissioning process.
Communities can expect to see more signage installed shortly, including station posters, route maps, directional street signs, and more.
As part of the contract, the AECOM-LiRo NYPennT Joint Venture will work with Amtrak and the selected Master Developer to completely transform Penn Station, improving safety and operational efficiency, making the system more family-friendly, accommodating increased train and passenger capacity, and delivering a world-class experience to its growing passenger base, according to Amtrak officials.
Read More →
New edge-based solution enables real-time threat detection and situational awareness in remote, mobile, and infrastructure-limited environments.
Read More →
The Chicago agency seeks restoration of nearly $2 billion in federal funding, warning halted projects could impact transit access and economic growth.
Read More →
Company officials said that this latest contract extension with Metrolinx consolidates the company’s position as the leading private provider of Operations and maintenance services in North America.
Read More →
The new cars, model R262, will be funded by the MTA’s 2025-29 Capital Plan, which received a historic $68 billion in funding from Governor Hochul and the State Legislature in the FY26 Enacted State Budget.
Read More →
Amtrak will open grant applications March 23 for community projects near the Frederick Douglass Tunnel alignment in Baltimore as part of a $50 million investment tied to the B&P Tunnel Replacement Program.
Read More →
The Denmark Station $2.3 million construction investment project includes a new 280-foot concrete boarding platform, built eight inches above the top of rail, for improved accessibility for passengers with disabilities and families with small children and much more.
Read More →
The new bridge will begin carrying passenger trains on March 16, replacing a 116-year-old swing bridge that has long caused delays.
Read More →
Caltrain and its partners have implemented safety improvements at specific locations in response to known risk conditions, operational needs, and available funding since the agency’s founding.
Read More →
On a recent episode of METROspectives, METRO Magazine’s Executive Editor Alex Roman sat down with Ana-Maria Tomlinson, Director of Strategic & Cross-Sector Programs at the CSA Group, to explore a bold initiative aimed at addressing those challenges: the development of a National Code for Transit and Passenger Rail Systems in Canada.
Read More →
