The Healey-Driscoll Administration, the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT), and the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) celebrated the launch of South Coast Rail and the beginning of service on the new Fall River/New Bedford Commuter Rail Line. 

Gov. Maura Healey, MassDOT Secretary/CEO Monica Tibbits-Nutt, and MBTA GM/CEO Phillip Eng joined municipal leaders, elected officials, and local stakeholder groups aboard commuter rail trains in Fall River and New Bedford to East Taunton Station where a celebratory event took place. 

Bringing Rail to Southeastern Mass

For the first time in over 65 years, the cities and towns of southeastern Massachusetts will now have a passenger rail service to and from downtown Boston. 

“The Healey-Driscoll Administration is giving us the tools to rebuild and reshape mass transportation to support communities, housing, and jobs for current and future riders. This is truly a day for celebration for all, in particular for the many stakeholders who long advocated for this service,” said Eng. “It is through the collaboration of an incredible number of MBTA teams, contractor crews, our MassDOT partners, many community members, elected officials, our operating partners at Keolis, and so many more. I am so grateful for their dedication and tremendous hard work.” 

The South Coast Rail Program extended the existing Middleborough commuter rail line, reconstructed over 17 miles of the New Bedford Main Line and nearly 12 miles of the Fall River Secondary Line, upgraded the existing Middleborough Secondary track from Pilgrim Junction to Cotley Junction (a distance of 7.1 miles), constructed two new layover facilities, and constructed six new commuter rail stations at Middleborough, East Taunton, Freetown, Fall River Depot, Church Street, and New Bedford. 

South Coast Rail Operations  

South Coast Rail will operate more trips than originally planned, which benefits both the newly served southeastern Massachusetts communities and previously served communities like Brockton and Bridgewater. 

Through enhanced access to public transportation, South Coast Rail is anticipated to offer significant economic and housing development, as well as educational and recreational opportunities throughout southeastern Massachusetts with area residents having much easier access to the many amenities of the South Coast and connections to downtown Boston. 

There are 15 trips on the Fall River section of the line and 17 trips on the New Bedford section of the line for a total of 32 trips between South Station and East Taunton on weekdays. 

There are also a total of 26 trips between South Station and East Taunton on the weekends. Trains run every 70 minutes on weekdays and every two hours on the weekends.   

Late-night service is offered to South Coast Rail stations with the last train leaving Boston just before midnight.  

In addition to direct service, there are connecting trains 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.