BOSTON — Massachusetts’ South Coast Rail commuter operation is now officially in service.
The 37-mile addition to the MBTA commuter rail network launched today (March 24, 2025), with the Fall River Herald News reporting that well over 100 people were on hand to catch the first train, a scheduled 4:27 a.m. departure from New Bedford. That is one of the six stations on the two-branch addition. The first train from Fall River, endpoint of the other branch, also drew a crowd for its 5:05 a.m. departure, including Mayor Paul Coogan and state Rep. Carole Fiola.
Other new stations are at Church Street on the New Bedford branch and Freetown on the Fall River route; the two come together at East Taunton. The final new station is at Middleborough, where the new route joins the existing Middleborough/Lakeville line. With the opening of the extension, that route is now known as the Fall River/New Bedford Line. Fall River, New Bedord, and Tauton had been the three largest communities within 50 miles of Boston without commuter rail service.
The extension, which cost approximately $1.1 billion, at one time was projected to open in 1997.
“After years of delays, we took this challenge head on and delivered for the people of the South Coast ± and our entire state will benefit,” Gov. Maura Healey said in an event at the East Taunton station marking the start of service. “The start of rail service will give people more options for how to get around, where to live and where to work. It means less traffic congestion and shorter commutes, giving people more time back with their loved ones.”
Said MBTA CEO Phillip Eng, “This is truly a day for celebration for all, in particular for the many stakeholders who long advocated for this service. 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. Today, we make history together and welcome back our southeastern Mass. passengers to the T.” It had been 65 years since the South Coast communities had rail passenger service.
Trips between Boston’s South Station and either endpoint will take about 90 minutes; eventually, a full-fare ticket will be $12.25 from all six of the new stations, with reduced fares of $6 available for qualified riders. However, officials announced last week that all travel to or from the new stations will be free through March 31; after that, free travel will continue on weekends through the end of April [see “MBTA expands free service …,” Trains News Wire, March 21, 2025]. Parking will also be free at the new stations through the end of April, subject to availability.
The service that launched today is actually Phase 1 of a project envisioned to eventually provide a more direct route to Fall River and New Bedford by extending the MBTA’s current Stoughton Line to connect with the new service at its East Taunton station, That extension, called the Full Build by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation, would also lead to four additional stations, but is currently unfunded and has no timeline for construction.
— Updated at 9:30 p.m. CT with comments from press conference to mark the start of service.
Lovely Massachusetts cities that have trains back after almost 67 years… Way to go MBTA Commuter Rail!
Dr. Güntürk Üstün
I don’t know how “lovely” Taunton, New Bedford and Fall River are, but it is “lovely” that they get to rejoin the more prosperous cities elsewhere in the Commonwealth by now having commuter rail.
It’s not just the Old Colony and South Coast that have been added to MBTA’s commuter system. Trains were added on the Fairmount Branch is lower-income Dorchester (Boston) On the Worcester Line, the token few rush-hour trains on the former New York Central have been upgraded to a full schedule.
The “Full Build” (shown in green on the map above) is required to be electrified by act of the state legislature. MBTA doesn’t have any electric locomotives. It runs diesels under wire on the Providence Line, which Amtrak electrified two decades ago.
I don’t know how much time (if any) the Full Build would save South Coast commuters. The big advantage would be adding Back Bay station in Boston to the commuters’ choices, a choice not available (unless a transfer at South Station) to any rider on the Old Colony.
After Phase 1, best of good luck to the MBTA for Phase 2 (proposed but not funded)!
Dr. Güntürk Üstün