MBTA unveils new rail station, commuter service
The Wickford Junction commuter rail station will be served by 10 north- and south-bound trains on weekdays and is expected to carry as many as 1,500 riders a day. The rail service to T.F. Green Airport extends the transit system’s existing service 20 miles to the state’s Southeastern communities.
The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) opened its Wickford Junction commuter rail station and launched a commuter line service to T.F. Green Airport.
The station received $59 million in federal funds, including $25 million from the Federal Transit Administration’s New Starts Capital Program and more than $4 million from the Recovery Act. It will be served by 10 north- and south-bound trains on weekdays and is expected to carry as many as 1,500 riders a day. Commuters will have access to an on-site garage with bike racks and 10 charging stations for electric and hybrid-electric vehicles.
The new commuter rail service extends the MBTA’s existing commuter rail service 20 miles to the state’s Southeastern communities, including North Kingston, Wickford and Warwick. Traveling by rail will take riders from Wickford Junction to Providence in about 35 minutes and to Boston in less than two hours. Driving these routes at peak travel times often takes considerably longer.
The project is part of the South County Commuter Rail Project, a 20-mile rail extension along Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor from Providence to the South County Region.
To read additional reporting from abc6.com, click here.
More Rail
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 →
San Diego MTS Breaks Monthly Trolley Ridership Record
Agency officials said July’s ridership indicates MTS’s continued recovery from the pandemic.
Read More →
Report Examines NJ TRANSIT Reliability, Funding Challenges
The Garden State Initiative analysis examines the roles of Amtrak infrastructure, fleet management, and agency operations while recommending a more performance-based approach to improving reliability.
Read More →
Stadler, CapMetro Sign Long-Term Rail Fleet Support Agreement
Beginning in 2027, Stadler will provide on-site technical expertise, spare parts support, training, and obsolescence management to help extend the reliability and longevity of CapMetro’s GTW fleet.
Read More →
Biz Briefs: Alstom Lands Canadian Contract, LYT to Supply California TSP, and More
In METRO's latest installment, we take a look at recent news from Complete Coach Works, Beep, FlixBus, and more partnerships making headlines across the transportation sector.
Read More →
CATS Gold Line Marks 5 Years of Service, 2.8M Passenger Trips
With a six-mile expansion planned, the Charlotte streetcar is positioned to connect more neighborhoods and major transit hubs across the region.
Read More →
Why Simulating Pedestrian Movement Has Become Essential for Modern Rail Stations
Pedestrian microsimulation is helping rail planners identify bottlenecks, test station designs, and prepare complex transit hubs for growing passenger volumes.
Read More →
Amtrak Begins Major Construction at New York’s Sunnyside Yard
The new maintenance facility will support Amtrak’s Airo trainsets while improving maintenance efficiency and turnaround times in New York.
Read More →
Chicago Leaders Unveil Plans for O’Hare Airport Express Train
The privately developed project would offer a 15-minute trip between downtown and O’Hare’s Terminal 2, with trains operating every 15 minutes on a dedicated track. The service would use battery-electric trains and three existing freight rail rights-of-way.
Read More →
OCTA Maps Out 30-Year Strategy to Protect Coastal Rail Corridor
The draft feasibility report identifies strategies to protect the coastal rail line for decades as the agency continues near-term stabilization and sand placement efforts.
Read More →