164-477: South Coast Rail is a project to build a new southern line of the MBTA Commuter Rail system along several abandoned and freight-only rail lines. The line will restore passenger rail service between Boston and the cities of Taunton , Fall River , and New Bedford , via the towns of Berkley , and Freetown , on the south coast of Massachusetts . It includes passenger service to some of the southern lines of
328-770: A $ 42 million contract was awarded for the replacement of three bridges (President Avenue, Brownell Avenue, and Golf Club Road) in Fall River plus the Wamsutta Street bridge in New Bedford. The bridges were completed in early 2017. On June 18, 2014, the MassDOT board awarded a $ 12 million one-year contract (with to $ 210 million possible over 10 years) to a joint venture between Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, Inc. and HNTB Corp. for "program management, early design development, and environmental permitting". While MassDOT managed
492-618: A cost of $ 203 million, with deliveries to begin in mid-2026. An $ 165 million option for 39 additional coaches (29 trailers and 10 cab cars), which would allow the retirement of all remaining single-level equipment, was exercised in November 2024 with deliveries to begin in 2027. As the MBTA assumed control of the commuter rail during the 1970s, it inherited various equipment from predecessor railroads. The 1976 purchase of B&M and Penn Central equipment included 94 Budd Rail Diesel Cars (RDCs) – 86 from
656-463: A formal request to the US Army Corps of Engineers to allow discharge of fill materials into wetlands — effectively starting the formal environmental review process. A federal Notice of Intent and state Environmental Notification Form were filed in November 2008. In a May 2009 interview, Commonwealth Treasurer Tim Cahill stated that "it is virtually going to be impossible" for the state to open
820-850: A freight-only track between Providence and Central Falls. No freight operates on the Needham Line, the Northeast Corridor between Readville and Back Bay, the Old Colony mainline between Boston and the Greenbush Line junction in Braintree, the Plymouth/Kingston Line, and most of the Greenbush Line. CSX also operates on most northside lines; prior to its 2022 purchase by CSX, Pan Am Railways operated over these lines. The Berkshire and Eastern Railroad (formerly Pan Am Southern ) operates over
984-472: A large increase was expected. Since it owned the tracks and equipment, the MBTA bid out the operating contract, which was won by the B&;M. The B&M began operating the southside lines on March 15, 1977; for the first time, all Boston commuter service was operated by one entity. Although all operation was subsidized by this time, a small number of cuts took place. The lightly used Lexington Branch closed after
1148-632: A local train in the same direction). Portions of the Fitchburg, Haverhill, and Newburyport/Rockport lines operate under NORAC rule 251, which allow trains to run only in a single direction on each track. Most lines are either double track , or single track with passing sidings; portions of the Northeast Corridor have three or four tracks. Freight service is operated over most of the MBTA Commuter Rail system by several private railroads. CSX Transportation operates freight on most southside lines, of which
1312-495: A long-term transition to regional rail . The MBTA would propose several pilots for electric Providence service during the early 2020s; however, none would come to fruition. In 2019, the MBTA had preliminary discussions with Amtrak about leasing Siemens ACS-64 electric locomotives to test on the Providence Line. By 2021, the MBTA shifted plans to instead pilot electric multiple units (EMU) on Providence service in 2024, with
1476-575: A maintenance siding in the middle for rescue operations on disabled trains. MBTA Commuter Rail [REDACTED] [REDACTED] The MBTA Commuter Rail ( reporting mark MBTX ) system serves as the commuter rail arm of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority 's (MBTA's) transportation coverage of Greater Boston in the United States . Trains run over 394 mi (634 km) of track to 135 stations. It
1640-566: A new terminus at Battleship Cove , and the entire line will be electrified. The Middleboro Secondary would return to exclusive freight use, though its upgrades are to be maintained to provide redundancy during service disruptions. The design for the Northern Corridor is being advanced to 30%, which includes several bridges over the Taunton River. Several town government officials along the planned Phase 2 route have expressed concerns about
1804-430: A number of freight-only or abandoned lines. This also marked the start of a five-year contract for the B&M to operate the service, replacing a series of one-year contracts. After acquiring the B&M and Penn Central rolling stock, the MBTA painted it with purple, yellow, silver, and black to create a visual identity. Federal subsidies allowed MBTA subsidies to Penn Central to remain the same until March 1977, when
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#17328546908351968-404: A renewal of the commuter rail operating contract, which expired at the end of 1986. Amtrak won the contract for commuter rail operations and took over the system on January 1, 1987. Gardner service was cut back to Fitchburg at that time due to a dispute between Amtrak, Guilford, and the MBTA. The late 1980s saw the beginning of substantial expansion of the system. The Southwest Corridor project
2132-483: A schedule change on January 23, 2021, Sunday morning Boston–Providence service began operation for the first time since the New Haven era. On February 26, 2021, South Attleboro station was temporarily closed due to structural deterioration. Full service was restored on April 5, 2021. As part of that schedule change, all Providence/Stoughton Line trains began stopping at Ruggles station after an additional platform there
2296-643: A seasonal weekend-only service to Cape Cod , operates using MBTA equipment over the Middleborough/Lakeville Line plus the Cape Main Line (which is not otherwise used by the MBTA). Special express service to Foxboro station is operated during New England Patriots home games and some other events at Gillette Stadium . It runs from South Station via the Franklin/Foxboro Line, and from Providence via
2460-521: A series of experiments to determine how fares and service levels affected ridership. This included a trial on the MTA bus network, as well as a $ 4 million test from January 1963 to March 1964 on New Haven and B&M lines. (The NYC, uninterested in its commuter service, declined to participate.) The MTC found that higher frequency was most important to attract additional ridership; lower fares would attract additional riders, while even higher fares would not result in
2624-476: A single weekend. As with other MBTA services, discounted fares and passes are available for several groups including disabled passengers, passengers over age 65, and students attending certain schools. Foxboro special event services and the CapeFlyer have separate fares; regular MBTA fares and passes are not valid. Fares are collected by train conductors; while fare evasion is explicitly illegal under state law, it
2788-428: A single zone to $ 7.25 for travel between Zone 1 and Zone 10. Fares can be purchased on the MBTA mTicket app, at automatic vending machines located at major stations, from businesses near some stations, or from conductors on board trains. Discounted passes include monthly passes (with or without free transfer to other MBTA services), "flex passes" valid for five 24-hour periods, and $ 10 passes offering unlimited travel on
2952-534: A snowstorm on January 10, 1977. Declining subsidies from Rhode Island resulted in off-peak Providence service being cut back to Attleboro in April 1979, with peak service cut on February 20, 1981. Woburn Branch service ended on January 30, 1981, amid state budget cuts. However, the energy crises of the 1970s and the formation of regional transit authorities prompted some expansions and improvements. $ 70 million in reconstruction work (equivalent to 582 million in 2023) on
3116-739: Is signalled and operates with Positive Train Control using the Advanced Civil Speed Enforcement System . The southside lines have cab signals for automatic train control ; cab signals will be placed in service on the northside lines in 2023. The MBTA is a member of the Northeast Operating Rules Advisory Committee (NORAC) and uses its operating rules. Most portions of the system operate under NORAC rules 261 and 562, which allow bidirectional train movements on every track (such as an express train passing
3280-485: Is standard in the northeastern United States . Some accessible stations have full-length high platforms for accessible boarding on all cars; others only have "mini-high" platforms about 40 feet (12 m) long – which allow for level boarding on two cars – with the rest of the platform length not accessible. As of December 2022 , the MBTA is designing a temporary accessible platform that can be added to stations pending full reconstructions. The MBTA Commuter Rail system
3444-675: Is about 5 miles, with most outer terminals in zones 6 through 8. Only two stations use further zones: T.F. Green Airport in Zone 9, and Wickford Junction in Zone 10. Zone 1A fares are identical to MBTA subway fares (though subway passes on CharlieCards are not accepted, except for Fairmount Line stations that have CharlieCard validator machines). As of 2024 , one-way fares within Zone 1A are $ 2.40, while fares between further zones and Zone 1A range from $ 6.50 for Zone 1 to $ 13.25 for Zone 10. Trips that do not enter Zone 1A have less expensive interzone fares; as of 2024 , these range from $ 2.75 for travel within
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#17328546908353608-560: Is estimated at $ 3.42 billion with completion in 2030. The lines planned for commuter rail service date largely from the 1840s (the Fall River Railroad in 1846 and New Bedford Railroad in 1873) and were later part of the Old Colony Railroad network. The New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad leased the entire Old Colony system beginning in 1893, and ran commuter and intercity service to Fall River and New Bedford. In
3772-949: Is not criminal. Faregates have also been installed at North Station, with plans for installation at Back Bay and South Station. The second-generation MBTA fare collection system, planned for completion in 2025, will standardize fare media across modes and allow uses of CharlieCards for all commuter rail trips. Eight intercity mainlines radiating from Boston opened between 1834 and 1855: the Boston and Worcester Railroad (B&W) in 1834–35, Boston and Providence Railroad (B&P) in 1834–35, Boston and Lowell Railroad (B&L) in 1835, Eastern Railroad in 1838–1840, Fitchburg Railroad in 1843–45, Boston and Maine Railroad (B&M) in 1845, Old Colony Railroad and Fall River Railroad in 1845–46, and Norfolk County Railroad in 1849–55. Commuter rail service allowing suburban residents to work in Boston began with
3936-568: Is operated by Keolis Commuter Services – a subsidiary of French company Keolis – under contract to the MBTA. The MBTA owns all passenger equipment and most stations. Most trackage is also owned by the MBTA. The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (parent agency of the MBTA) owns several portions of the Framingham/Worcester Line as well as the Grand Junction Branch , which is used for non-revenue equipment moves between
4100-908: Is operated under contract by Keolis , which took over operations on July 1, 2014, from the Massachusetts Bay Commuter Railroad Company (MBCR). In 2023, the system had a ridership of 26,190,500, or about 109,300 per weekday as of the third quarter of 2024, making it the fifth-busiest commuter rail system in the U.S. , behind the three New York-area systems and the Chicago-area system . The line's characteristic purple-trimmed coaches operate as far south as North Kingstown, Rhode Island , and as far north as Newburyport and as far west as Fitchburg , both in Massachusetts . Trains originate at two major terminals in Boston – South Station and North Station . The only connection between
4264-478: Is provided by push-pull trains powered by diesel locomotives with a cab car on the opposite end. The locomotive is usually on the end facing away from Boston so that diesel exhaust does not enter the passenger concourses at North Station and South Station. Trains typically have four to eight coaches (with six the most common) and seat between 400 and 1,400 passengers. Approximately 62 trainsets are needed for weekday service. The primary heavy maintenance facility
4428-667: Is the MBTA Commuter Rail Maintenance Facility , located in the Inner Belt District in Somerville . It is also used for midday and overnight storage of trains on the northside lines. Southampton Street Yard and the Readville Interim Layover facility are used for light maintenance and layover service. Various other layover facilities are used for midday and overnight storage; most are located near
4592-490: Is the longest MBTA Commuter Rail line, and the only one that operates outside Massachusetts. The line is the busiest on the MBTA Commuter Rail system, with 17,648 daily boardings in an October 2022 count. The portion between Boston and Providence was originally built by the Boston and Providence Railroad between 1834 and 1847. The portion south of Providence was built by the New York, Providence and Boston Railroad in 1837, while
4756-607: The 1973 season due to insufficient ridership; Boston service ended that October. Boston service via the Franklin Line resumed in 1986. It was rerouted over the Providence/Stoughton Line in 1989, with intermediate stops at Back Bay, Hyde Park, Route 128, Canton Junction, Sharon, and Mansfield; a reverse move was made at Mansfield to access the Framingham Secondary . Boston–Foxboro service was again rerouted over
4920-684: The Attleboro Secondary , and a route following the Old Colony mainline to Middleborough then the Middleboro Secondary westwards. (All three routes used the same lines from Taunton south to Fall River and New Bedford). By 1988, the MBTA was tentatively planning to extend service to Taunton via Stoughton. The first serious study, completed in January 1990, concluded that the Stoughton Branch
5084-618: The CapeFLYER . The agency issued a $ 279 million contract (total project cost of $ 345 million) for 80 additional Rotem bilevel coaches in September 2019, with delivery expected from September 2022 to June 2024. The contract was later modified to 83 coaches, of which 43 are cab cars. The first four of the 83 bilevel cars arrived in June 2022 and entered service in 2023. In May 2024, the MBTA exercised an option order for 41 additional trailer coaches at
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5248-584: The Fairmount Line and the inner section of the Newburyport/Rockport Line electrified later in the decade. In June 2022 the MBTA reversed plans and specified that pilot electric service would utilize leased Amtrak locomotives, not EMUs, in 2024; additionally, long-term electrification would utilize battery-electric multiple units (BEMU) on the Providence/Stoughton Line and Fairmount Line by 2028–29. By 2024, all plans to pilot electric service on
5412-557: The Fairmount Line . As of February 2022 , weekday service has 20 Boston–Providence round trips, half of which run to Wickford Junction, and 16 Boston–Stoughton round trips. Weekend service has nine Boston–Providence round trips, with no Wickford Junction or Stoughton service. The main branch forms the far northern leg of Amtrak's Northeast Corridor. All Acela Express trains and all Northeast Regional routes between Boston and New York City run along this line. South Station, Back Bay, Route 128 and Providence have long ranked among
5576-593: The Grand Junction Branch , the Framingham-to-Worcester section of the Worcester Line , and the South Boston Running Track . Other parts of the agreement included plans for double-stack freights west of Worcester and the abandonment of Beacon Park Yard . The agreement was signed on September 23, 2009. On June 11, 2010, the state and CSX completed the first phase of the agreement, including
5740-514: The Old Colony Lines and Greenbush Line , which have full-length high-level platforms at all stops. All BTC-3, CTC-3, BTC-4C, and BTC-4D coaches have restrooms. During winter months, a Ski Train serving Wachusett Mountain runs on the Fitchburg Line , using a coach car which is equipped for carrying bicycles or skis. Three converted coaches – a bike car and two cafe cars – are reserved for
5904-852: The Providence and Worcester Railroad south of Central Falls, opened in October 1847. The B&P was leased by the Old Colony Railroad in 1888; the Old Colony was in turn leased by the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad in 1893. At the peak of service around the turn of the century, weekday service included six Boston–Providence local round trips, seven round trips from Taunton and New Bedford via Mansfield , 62 Boston– Forest Hills round trips running every 15 minutes, 12 Boston–Dedham round trips via Readville and 24 via West Roxbury , and 11 intercity round trips from beyond Providence. Connections to additional branch line trains were made at Canton Junction , Mansfield, and East Junction. Forest Hills service
6068-741: The Riverside –Framingham portion of the Worcester Main Line. (The inner section of that line was already owned by the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority .) The purchase also included several freight-only or abandoned lines, including the Old Colony mainline between Braintree and Brockton. Subsidies began for the Framingham Line in January 1973, for Canton Junction and Sharon stations in June 1973, and all Providence/Stoughton Line service on September 28, 1976. The MBTA purchased
6232-628: The $ 71.4 million the state had applied for to fund the Fast Track New Bedford project, which would have included a fourth bridge, construction of New Bedford station with bus and ferry facilities, and pedestrian and bicycle access improvements. The MBTA opened bidding in July 2010 and issued a Notice To Proceed in October 2010; the replacement bridges opened for Massachusetts Coastal Railroad freights in November 2011. In mid-November 2013, MassDOT replaced 42,000 ties along 33 miles (53 km) of
6396-584: The 1920s. Service levels declined more significantly during the 1930s; the 88 stations case resulted in the New Haven closing dozens of suburban stations and several lines in 1938. The BRB&L ceased all operations in 1940. Ridership increased during World War II but decreased soon afterwards, prompting further cuts. The railroads converted from steam to diesel in the 1950s. All three purchased substantial fleets of Budd Rail Diesel Cars , which lowered operating costs – but not enough to save most branch lines. A 1945–47 state report proposed suburban extensions of
6560-408: The 1980s, but several infill stations were opened, including Shirley in 1981, West Natick in 1982, Mishawum in 1984, and Chelsea in 1985. The MBTA also began replacing the aging Rail Diesel Cars and other equipment; 18 EMD F40PH diesel locomotives and 60 passenger cars arrived between 1978 and 1980. Several major disruptions occurred in the mid-1980s. On January 20, 1984, a fire destroyed
6724-760: The 1990 report, concluding that both the Stoughton and Attleboro routes would be viable and that a partial Stoughton Branch extension to North Easton would be most cost-effective. In September 1995, the MBTA filed an Environmental Notification Form with the EPA for service via the Attleboro route, with a curved 3-mile (4.8 km) 'Attleboro Bypass' connecting the Northeast Corridor to the Attleboro Secondary just north of Attleboro proper. The then-$ 156 million project
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6888-511: The 2008-built network. The MBTA would not pay for the new network; the company would have a two-tier model with a fee for higher bandwidth. The MBTA canceled the plan in August 2017 due to local opposition to the erection of 320 monopoles , each 70-foot (21 m) tall, as well as the need to focus on more critical projects like the Green Line Extension . By that time, the 2008-built system
7052-440: The 2020s. A new midday layover yard at the former Beacon Park Yard is planned to be constructed by 2032 as part of the realignment of I-90. A large midday and overnight layover yard, which would support expanded service including regional rail and electrification , is planned at Widett Circle near South Station. The MBTA also plans to construct a southside maintenance and layover facility at Readville in 2023–2028, replacing
7216-565: The B&A was reduced from four to two tracks in 1959 for construction of the Massachusetts Turnpike , with several inner stations closed; all local stops west of Framingham were closed in 1960. The New Haven filed for bankruptcy for the last time in 1961. Faced with the imminent threat of losing what service remained, public opinion began to support subsidies for commuter rail. The state Mass Transportation Commission (MTC), formed in 1959 to coordinate transportation and land use, held
7380-468: The B&M Western Route between Somerville and Wilmington Junction in September 1973 for construction of the Haymarket North Extension . From 1967 to 1973, a series of state appropriations covered 90–100% of outside-of-district subsidy. This was reduced to 50% in January 1974, substantially increasing the cost of these municipalities. This resulted in several cuts as municipalities refused
7544-434: The B&M and eight from Penn Central – plus 116 Penn Central coaches and 25 Penn Central E8 and GP9 diesel locomotives. Although the MBTA purchased some new equipment in 1978–1980, large locomotive and coach fleets were not purchased until the late 1980s, so the first decade of combined operations used a variety of secondhand equipment in addition to that acquired in 1976: Most of the secondhand and inherited equipment
7708-651: The B&M discontinued the Concord trip; the Dover trip was cut back to Haverhill with local subsidies. In 1969, the B&M averaged 24,000 weekday passengers, with a yearly deficit of $ 3.2 million (equivalent to 27 million in 2023). The single daily trip on the Central Mass Branch ended on January 26, 1971. On July 28, 1965, the MBTA signed an agreement with the New Haven Railroad to purchase 11 miles (18 km) of
7872-415: The B&M in 1983. This did not initially affect commuter rail operations. Guilford's attempts to regain profitability, which included reducing employee headcount and pay, soon soured labor relations. This resulted in two strikes by Guilford employees; the first shut down the commuter rail system from March 21 to May 12, 1986. Local media was critical of Guilford during the strike; the company did not bid for
8036-604: The B&W in 1834; by the 1860s, commuting was possible on the eight mainlines and a number of branch lines. Mergers prior to the 1880s were primarily acquisitions of branch lines and consolidations with connecting lines: the B&A merged with the Western Railroad in 1874 to become the Boston and Albany Railroad (B&A), the Fall River Railroad and several other lines merged into the Old Colony Railroad, and
8200-540: The Boston terminal areas, with several exceptions. The Providence/Stoughton Line and Franklin/Foxboro Line both use the Northeast Corridor between Readville and South Station, with the Needham Line also sharing the tracks between Forest Hills and South Station. The Old Colony Lines and the Greenbush Line all use the Old Colony mainline between South Station and Braintree . The Haverhill Line and Newburyport/Rockport Line share tracks between North Station and near Sullivan Square . A small number of Haverhill Line trains use
8364-509: The COVID-19 pandemic. Six additional stations are under construction as part of the South Coast Rail project; several other stations are planned. South Station, North Station, and Back Bay all have MBTA subway and Amtrak connections; nine other stations have subway connections, and six others have Amtrak connections. Stations range in size from small platforms like North Wilmington to
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#17328546908358528-459: The DEIS differed from the previous reports by strongly recommending that service be electric, stating that the higher ridership (9,580 projected daily riders versus 8,140), decreased travel time due to the higher acceleration of electric locomotives and their 100 mph top speed versus 79 mph for diesels, and reduced pollution outweighed the increased cost of electrification. The electric alternative
8692-501: The December 14 vote went into place, with no weekend service on seven lines. Service changes on April 5, 2021, increased midday service on most lines as part of a transition to a regional rail model. Weekend service on the seven lines resumed on July 3, 2021. Ridership dropped substantially during the COVID-19 pandemic, with daily boardings just 12,800 during the first quarter of 2021. Ridership rose to 47,100 average weekday boardings in
8856-524: The Draft statement and cost revised slightly downwards to $ 1.817 billion. On November 13, 2013, the Massachusetts Joint Committee on Transportation approved a $ 12 billion spending authorization that includes $ 2.2 billion for South Coast Rail. The spending bill, which also included $ 1.3 billion for the Green Line Extension and $ 300 million for South Station expansion,
9020-505: The Eastern in 1883, the B&L in 1887, and the Fitchburg in 1900, giving it a near-monopoly on rail service north of Boston. North Union Station was built in 1893 to provide a union station for northside service; it was replaced by North Station in 1928. The Old Colony obtained control of the B&P in 1888; the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad acquired the Old Colony in 1893 to obtain access to Boston. The New Haven also acquired
9184-476: The Fall River and New Bedford branches, funded as a freight improvement project that also serves as a prerequisite for South Coast Rail. A $ 18.4 million project was issued on October 22, 2014 and reconstructed six grade crossings in Taunton, Freetown, and New Bedford. The Dean Street ( US-44 ) crossing in Taunton was replaced in August 2015 with work projected to last until late 2016. On November 25, 2014,
9348-651: The Fitchburg Line west of Ayer. Their combined Freight Main Line between Mechanicville, New York , and Mattawamkeag, Maine , shares tracks with sections of the Fitchburg, Lowell, and Haverhill lines. No freight service is operated over the Newburyport/Rockport Line north of Salem . Weight limits and loading gauge vary across the system. The full Framingham/Worcester line is rated for car weights of 315,000 pounds (143,000 kg), sections of lines that are part of
9512-468: The Franklin Line and several northside lines, partially funded by the Urban Mass Transportation Administration , began in 1977 under the Commuter Rail Improvement Program. Service to Haverhill resumed on December 17, 1979, and to Fitchburg and Gardner on January 13, 1980. Federally-funded experimental service to Nashua , Manchester , and Concord, New Hampshire ran from January 28, 1980, to March 1, 1981. Little-used stations continued to be closed until
9676-572: The Franklin Line in 1995. Providence–Foxboro event service resumed for the 1997 season , with intermediate stops at South Attleboro, Attleboro, and Mansfield. Event service was extended to T.F. Green Airport in 2012, but cut back to Providence in 2019. Substantially reduced schedules were in effect from March 16 to June 23, 2020. Service changes effective November 2, 2020, shifted some peak service to off-peak, providing 60-minute all-day headways between Providence and Boston. Reduced schedules were again put in effect on December 14, 2020. As part of
9840-430: The Freight Main Line for 286,000 pounds (130,000 kg), and other lines for lower weights. The western portion of the Framingham/Worcester Line and the southern section of the Providence/Stoughton line can accommodate cars up to 20 feet 8 inches (6.30 m) ( AAR Plate H or Plate K ). The Fitchburg Line west of Ayer can accommodate cars up to 19 feet 0 inches (5.79 m) (AAR Plate J), while most of
10004-481: The Lowell and Haverhill lines. Private companies also operate freight service over much of the system (see § Freight service ). As of November 2024 , there are 137 active stations – 55 northside and 82 southside. One additional station, Haverhill , is temporarily closed due to reconstruction of an adjacent bridge. Five additional stations ( Prides Crossing , Mishawum , Hastings , Plimptonville , and Plymouth ) are indefinitely closed due to service cuts during
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#173285469083510168-411: The MBTA awarded Keolis the contract for $ 2.68 billion over eight years, with the possibility of two two-year extensions that could bring the total price to $ 4.3 billion. Keolis took over the operations on July 1, 2014. Keolis lost $ 29.3 million in its first year of operation. In June 2020, the MBTA extended the contract through at least 2025. Free Wi-Fi internet service was piloted in January 2008 on
10332-425: The MBTA clashed with state regulators: several stations including West Natick and Chelsea were built without accessible platforms despite state rules; the latter resulted in fines from the Massachusetts Architectural Access Board (MAAB). The opening of South Attleboro was delayed by the MAAB because of the MBTA's refusal to build full-length high-level platforms. However, the MBTA did slowly increase accessibility of
10496-439: The MBTA for the Providence and Stoughton lines began on September 28, 1976, before which the Federal government helped. On March 31, 1977, the Greater Attleboro Taunton Regional Transit Authority and Rhode Island Department of Transportation began to subsidize service beyond the MBTA district, and Stoughton began to pay to keep its station open, that cost later going to the Brockton Area Transit Authority . On November 3, 1979,
10660-467: The MBTA has been retired: Stoughton Branch The Providence/Stoughton Line is an MBTA Commuter Rail service in Massachusetts and Rhode Island , primarily serving the southwestern suburbs of Boston . Most service runs entirely on the Northeast Corridor between South Station in Boston and Providence station or Wickford Junction station in Rhode Island, while the Stoughton Branch splits at Canton Junction and terminates at Stoughton . It
10824-449: The MBTA has not utilized this, and continues to operate diesel locomotives under-wire. Electrified commuter service had not been pursued due to costs associated with traction substation expansion, electric multiple unit procurement, as well as additional catenary installation at several station sidings and layover facilities. By the late 2010s, the MBTA began exploring options to pilot electric trains for Providence service as part of
10988-400: The MBTA increased weekday Providence service from 11 to 15 daily round trips. Weekend service to Providence resumed on July 29, and a new layover facility was opened in Pawtucket. The South County Commuter Rail initiative, a 20-mile extension past Providence to T. F. Green Airport and Wickford Junction in Rhode Island was implemented between 2010 and 2012. The T. F. Green Airport part of
11152-499: The MBTA indicated that weekend service would operate on the line. Dispatching for the lines shifted from Massachusetts Coastal Railroad to Keolis (the MBTA Commuter Rail operator) in August 2024, with Keolis to take over maintenance in February 2025. In September 2024, the MBTA announced that initial service will have 16 weekday and 13 weekend round trips between Boston and East Taunton, split between Fall River and New Bedford. Additional shuttle trains will operate between East Taunton and
11316-493: The MBTA owned 552 coaches. Of these, 448 were in active service, three being repaired or overhauled, and 101 stored pending disposition or reuse. Coaches whose designations start with BTC (Blind Trailer Coach) are conventional coaches, while those starting with CTC (Control Trailer Coach) are cab cars . Coaches acquired before 1990 were single-level cars with 88 to 127 seats; those since are bilevel cars with 173 to 185 seats. Some coaches are equipped with electronic doors for use on
11480-404: The MBTA proposed to close six low-ridership stations. On December 14, the MBTA Board voted to enact a more limited set of cuts, including indefinitely closing five stations. That day, temporary reduced schedules were again put into place, with four of the five stations ( Hastings , Silver Hill , Prides Crossing , and Plimptonville ) not served. On January 23, 2021, reduced schedules based on
11644-435: The MTA service area were closed; three more branches closed in 1959. The New Haven experimentally increased Old Colony Division service for several years in the 1950s, but new management soon sought to reduce costs. Service to Fall River and New Bedford was cut in 1958; a one-year state subsidy was given for the remaining Old Colony service, which ended in 1959 after the Southeast Expressway opened. The inner portion of
11808-615: The Massachusetts Legislature overrode Governor Deval Patrick 's veto and passed a major transportation funding bill providing an average of $ 600 million per year in additional funding. The bill mentioned South Coast Rail as deserving funding but did not specifically allocate monies to the project. In September 2013, the Army Corps of Engineers released the Final Environmental Impact statement, with few changes from
11972-597: The Middleborough routing, and the Taunton mayor was critical of Phase 1 lacking the downtown Taunton station of the previous plan. Stoughton, Easton, and Raynham officials continued their previous opposition to South Coast Rail. Several elements of the project were constructed prior to the main construction phases. In February 2010, MassDOT received a $ 20 million TIGER grant to replace three bridges in New Bedford built around 1907, for immediate freight use and future South Coast Rail service. The grant represented part of
12136-702: The New England Railroad (successor to the NY&;NE) in 1898. South Station opened in 1899 as a union station for the southside lines (New Haven and B&A). The New York Central and Hudson River Railroad – which later became the New York Central) (NYC) – leased the B&A in 1900; this brought all Boston commuter service save the BRB&;L under the control of three large multi-state railroads. The three railroads all planned electrification of some suburban lines in
12300-546: The New Haven had Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) permission to discontinue them otherwise. Three out-of-district stations were cut, while Franklin subsidized its station. The Millis and Dedham lines were discontinued on April 21, 1967. The NYC and the Pennsylvania Railroad merged to form Penn Central on February 1, 1968; the New Haven joined at the end of the year. Penn Central declared bankruptcy in 1970. Amtrak took over most intercity passenger service in
12464-539: The Norfolk County Railroad eventually became part of the New York and New England Railroad (NY&NE). The narrow gauge Boston, Revere Beach and Lynn Railroad (BRB&L) opened in 1875, competing with the inner portion of the Eastern Railroad. Unlike the other lines, it never built rails into downtown Boston, and instead relied on a ferry connection from East Boston . The B&M obtained control of
12628-461: The Old Colony Lines. The lines vary in length from the 9.2-mile (14.8 km) Fairmount Line to the 62.9-mile (101.2 km) Providence/Stoughton Line, with typical lengths in the 25–40-mile (40–64 km) range. The system has 394 miles (630 km) of revenue trackage and covers roughly the eastern third of Massachusetts plus central Rhode Island. Most lines do not share trackage outside
12792-404: The Old Colony mainline at additional cost. The report recommended the Stoughton route as the most cost-effective due to its high ridership. A groundbreaking ceremony was held in October 1998, but since planning was not complete no real construction began. Based on an April 1999 analysis of South Station operations, the July 1999 Draft Environmental Impact Report concluded that the Stoughton route
12956-582: The Phase 1 plan were in place and that the project would proceed "full speed ahead," with a late-2023 target date. In July 2019, the Baker-Polito Administration filled an $ 18 billion transportation bond bill that included $ 825 million for Phase 1 South Coast Rail. The total cost of Phase 1 is $ 1.047 billion and will be paid entirely by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts through bonds under
13120-556: The Providence Line had been indefinitely postponed. In late 2022 RIDOT applied for a $ 3 million Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvement (CRISI) grant to study Providence Line electrification; however, the application was rejected by the FRA in 2023, which precluded the study. In July 2024, the MBTA and Keolis moved forward with a proposal to procure and operate BEMUs on the Fairmount Line by 2028; however, Providence service
13284-402: The Providence/Stoughton Line has 37. Running times vary from 30 minutes on the Fairmount Line to nearly 120 minutes for some Providence/Stoughton Line trips, with 60–75 minutes typical. Most trains stop at all stations on the line; some stations have limited service, and peak-hour express trains operate on several lines. Several lines additionally have some short turn service. The CapeFlyer ,
13448-456: The Providence/Stoughton Line. During the winter, one "ski train" round trip of the Fitchburg Line operates with a bicycle car on weekends and Wednesday evenings, with a shuttle bus to Wachusett Mountain . All MBTA commuter rail service is provided by push-pull trains powered by diesel locomotives (see § Rolling stock ). Maximum speed for trains is 79 miles per hour (127 km/h), though some lines have lower limits. The entire system
13612-574: The Rail Enhancement Program. In June 2016, the MBTA announced that the project cost had been revised to $ 3.42 billion, with completion not expected until 2030. The substantial delay and increase in cost caused officials to consider alternate plans, including an earlier, interim service to New Bedford via Middleborough with 7 round trip trains to New Bedford and 6 round trip trains to Fall River on weekdays. However, that plan would decrease service to Middleborough/Lakeville . In March 2017,
13776-644: The Route 24 bridge over the Middleborough Secondary. The contract was awarded in January 2021, with work expected to last until 2027. By May 2021, Fall River Secondary work was 20% complete, while Middleborough Secondary/New Bedford Main Line work was 5% complete. Progress was at 35% and 18% by November 2021. In 2022, granite blocks from culverts and bridge abutments replaced during the project were dumped into Nantucket Sound off Yarmouth and Harwich to create artificial reefs . Overall project completion reached
13940-653: The Southwest Corridor, a shuttle service was retained as the Fairmount Line . Peak-hour service to Providence resumed in 1988 (with off-peak and weekend service later added); South Attleboro was added in 1990 as a park-and-ride station to replace Pawtucket–Central Falls . The Franklin Line was extended to Forge Park/495 in 1988; infill stations in that era included Yawkey in 1988 to serve Boston Red Sox games at Fenway Park , and Dedham Corporate Center in 1990. Massachusetts had state accessibility laws since 1977 – prior to 1990 federal legislation . At times,
14104-620: The Stoughton Branch has been proposed as a part of Phase 2 of the South Coast Rail project. Phase 2 of the South Coast Rail, projected for completion in 2030, would extend the Stoughton Branch south over the abandoned Dighton and Somerset Railroad through Easton , Raynham , and Taunton . Currently, the line between Stoughton and Dean Street in Taunton is abandoned; however, the route is rail-banked for future service, precluding it from overdevelopment. It would join Phase 1 (scheduled to open in mid-2025) near East Taunton station and replace
14268-490: The Stoughton Branch was built by the Stoughton Branch Railroad in 1845. The lines were acquired by the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad in the 1890s. The MBTA began subsidizing service in the 1960s, and purchased the infrastructure and rolling stock from Penn Central in 1973. Service was cut back to Attleboro in 1981, but rush-hour service returned as far as Providence in 1988 under an agreement with
14432-555: The US on May 1, 1971, including New York–Boston trains. The state agreed in December 1971 to purchase 145 miles (233 km) of Penn Central rights of way to prevent them being sold off in bankruptcy. The MBTA purchased the lines effective January 27, 1973. They included almost all the lines with passenger service: the Attleboro Line and Stoughton Branch , Franklin Branch , Needham Branch , and
14596-543: The Worcester Line, where 45 coaches were fitted with routers which connected to cellular data networks. This was the first Wi-Fi available on a commuter rail service in the United States. The program was considered successful; in December 2008, the MBTA announced that Wi-Fi would be available on all trains by mid-2009. In July 2014, the MBTA announced that a private company would be building a new network by 2016 to replace
14760-553: The addition of extending commuter service to existing Amtrak stations in Kingston and Westerly . Under this plan, RIDOT proposed the establishment of its own statewide commuter service along the Northeast Corridor that would connect with MBTA service and an extension of CTrail's Shore Line East . Ultimately, the MBTA would be contracted to operate trains as far as Wickford Junction, with Kingston and Westerly being relegated to only Northeast Regional service. An extension to Westerly
14924-434: The best choice) in September 2009. The corridor plan called for substantial mixed-use transit-oriented development around stations. On October 2, 2008, the state government announced an agreement with CSX Transportation for the purchase and upgrade of several of CSX's freight lines in the state. CSX agreed to sell its lines from Taunton to Fall River and New Bedford for use by the South Coast Rail project, as well as
15088-519: The busiest Amtrak stations in the country. With fast and frequent MBTA and Amtrak service, the Providence-Boston share of the Northeast Corridor is one of the busiest rail lines in the country. The MBTA owns the section from Boston to the Rhode Island border (called the Attleboro Line ), while Amtrak owns all track in Rhode Island. The entire line is part of the Northeast Corridor . As part of
15252-465: The corridor between Back Bay and Forest Hills. After Rhode Island cut back its subsidy, Sunday service was truncated to Attleboro in October 1977, with off-peak and Saturday service following suit in April 1979. On February 20, 1981, the MBTA stopped serving Rhode Island altogether after that state declined to renew its subsidy. On September 17, 1986, Massachusetts and Rhode Island reached an agreement to resume service. Rush-hour service to Rhode Island
15416-545: The cost could be as high as $ 1 billion. In April 2007, the Massachusetts Executive Office of Transportation released South Coast Rail: A Plan For Action , which restarted the planning process from the beginning. The plan estimated project costs at $ 1.435 billion (including $ 163 million for procuring additional rolling stock and $ 31.6 million for expanding South Station ) with opening in December 2016. A Strategic Environmental Permitting Plan
15580-482: The early 20th century, trains took a shorter route through Easton. However, in the 1930s, trains were routed through Mansfield on the Boston & Providence mainline, further to the west. Service finally ended in 1958, after construction of Massachusetts Route 24 and most of the local Interstate Highway System . In the 1980s — during the first expansion of commuter service in Massachusetts in decades —
15744-498: The early 20th century. The New Haven tested electrification on small parts of the Old Colony system, but never followed through on its plans to electrify South Station and the inner section of the ex-B&P. Despite a study to electrify the mainline to Framingham plus the Highland branch , the NYC only electrified the short Lower Falls Branch. Quadruple-tracking and electrification of part of
15908-458: The early action culverts and bridges contracts, oversight of the program was transferred to the MBTA in preparation for the start of Phase 1 construction in 2019. To provide additional technical assistance, the MBTA also awarded a $ 62 million contract to AECOM for program and construction management. A groundbreaking ceremony was held on July 2, 2019. Phase 1 was divided into eight major construction contracts. Contract #1 for 57 turnouts
16072-545: The ex-Eastern Railroad was planned by the B&M around 1910 when it was briefly under control of the New Haven, but this fell through when they separated. Service levels on the three major railroads peaked around 1910 and began to decline from streetcar and later auto competition in the 1910s. The independent BRB&L electrified its mainline and single branch line in 1928 and increased service to near- rapid transit levels. Two Old Colony branches were converted to an extension of Boston Elevated Railway (BERy) rapid transit in
16236-632: The existing layover yard there, as the Grand Junction Branch will be closed for several years during the I-90 project. As of October 2024 , the MBTA owned 109 locomotives. Of these, 87 were in active passenger service. Eleven were undergoing rebuild, six awaiting repairs, and five retired or out of service. All passenger locomotives are equipped with head end power . Rebuilding of 37 F40PH-2C and F40PHM-2C locomotives to F40PH-3C class by MotivePower (MPI) began in 2017; other older locomotives are also being rebuilt by MPI or in-house. As of October 2024 ,
16400-658: The extension opened in December 2010, with Wickford Junction service beginning in April 2012. An infill station at Pawtucket/Central Falls opened on January 23, 2023. Additional studies and proposals to expand Providence/Stoughton Line service have occurred; though none have been funded or pursued. In 2001, prior to the South County extension, the Rhode Island Department of Transportation considered constructing infill stations in Cranston and East Greenwich along with
16564-547: The first quarter of 2022, and 85,000 (69% of 2018 ridership) in October 2022. Limited Foxboro service resumed in May 2022; full pilot service began that September. The service was made permanent effective October 2, 2023. In April 2024, the MBTA extended the Keolis contract by one year to June 30, 2027, at which time a successor contract will take effect. Silver Hill station reopened on November 18, 2024. All MBTA commuter rail service
16728-543: The first two routes opened in September 1997 and Greenbush in 2007. The Old Colony mainline was rebuilt with restricted single-track sections through parts of Dorchester and Quincy, limiting the capacity required for reaching the South Coast via Middleborough — such that service could be operated to one of Fall River and New Bedford, but not both. However, planning for service to the South Coast continued. The March 1995 Expanded Feasibility Study analyzed routes absent from
16892-511: The former Old Colony Railroad and the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad (service along the Southeastern lines was largely restored in 1997 and 2007). Passenger service was discontinued in 1958, and the restoration proposal surfaced in the 1980s. A full planning process was held starting in 1990 but was suspended in 2002 due to increasing costs. Planning restarted in 2007 and in March 2017,
17056-528: The former Old Colony mainline from Fort Point Channel to South Braintree in order to construct a new rapid transit line along the corridor. The line was expected to be completed within two years. The agreement also provided for the MBTA to subsidize commuter service on the railroad's remaining commuter rail lines for $ 1.2 million (equivalent to 10 million in 2023) annually. Subsidies for the Needham , Millis , Dedham , and Franklin lines began on April 24, 1966, as
17220-418: The funding district; those outlying municipalities were expected to reach their own subsidy agreements with the railroads. On December 14, 1964, the MBTA reached a subsidy agreement with the B&M. The agreement only covered in-district services; on January 5, 1965, the B&M discontinued interstate service except for single commuter round trips from Dover and Concord, New Hampshire ; Portsmouth service
17384-487: The halfway point in mid-2022. By August 2022, Fall River Secondary work was 81% complete, while Middleborough Secondary/New Bedford Main Line work was 53% complete. Substantial completion of the Fall River Secondary work was announced in December 2022, with revenue service still planned for late 2023. In September 2023, the MBTA indicated that revenue service would not begin until mid-2024. New Bedford Secondary work
17548-632: The higher subsidies: Ayer service was cut to South Acton on March 1, 1975; the single Newburyport trip ended on April 1, 1976; and the single Haverhill trip ended on April 2, 1976 (North Andover and Andover having previously ended subsidies.) The single round trip to Worcester , never subsidized, was cut to Framingham on October 27, 1975. Amtrak began running the Lake Shore Limited over that route four days later, restoring rail service to Worcester. State subsidies were increased back to 75% in June 1976 to prevent further cuts. Rapid transit extension
17712-564: The inner Lowell Line and the Wildcat Branch , while some Franklin/Foxboro Line trains (including all weekend trains) use the Fairmount Line rather than the Northeast Corridor. Several Amtrak intercity routes run on MBTA tracks: the Acela and Northeast Regional over the Providence/Stoughton Line, the Lake Shore Limited over the Framingham/Worcester Line, and the Downeaster over portions of
17876-403: The last evening Stoughton-bound train began operating via the Fairmount Line – the first such service since 2004. South Attleboro station reopened with limited weekday service – three northbound and four southbound trains – on May 20, 2024. All weekend service and some weekday service began stopping at Readville station to provide timed transfers with Franklin/Foxboro Line trains operating over
18040-468: The line was closed north of Readville for long-term reconstruction as part of the Southwest Corridor project. All trains began using what is now the Fairmount Line , and special shuttle trains connected South Station to Back Bay. The new line, rebuilt below grade with space for three tracks (the old one had been above grade with room for four tracks), opened on October 5, 1987. The Orange Line shares
18204-573: The lines in 2016 as planned due to the recession, adding that federal funding was unlikely to be obtained because "[t]he federal government doesn't trust us anymore because of the Big Dig ." However, the state continued to publish studies, releasing the South Coast Rail Economic Development and Land Use Corridor Plan in June 2009 and the Phase 2 Alternatives Analysis Report (which indicated electric or diesel service through Stoughton as
18368-560: The northside and southside lines. Pan Am Southern owns the section of the Fitchburg Line between Fitchburg and Wachusett, while Amtrak owns the section of the Northeast Corridor (used by the Providence/Stoughton Line) in Rhode Island. Most lines operate on regular headways , though some have additional service at peak hours. Service levels vary by lines: the Greenbush and Kingston lines have 13 round trips on weekdays, while
18532-557: The other northside lines can accommodate up to 17 feet 0 inches (5.18 m) (AAR Plate F). The inner Fitchburg and Newburyport/Rockport Lines, and the southside except for the outer Framingham/Worcester Line, have height restrictions smaller than Plate F. MBTA Commuter Rail uses a zone fare system , with fares increasing with distance. Zone 1A includes the downtown terminals and other inner core stations up to about 5 miles (8.0 km) from downtown. Ten additional zones, numbered 1 through 10, extend outwards from Boston. Each zone
18696-595: The outer ends of the lines. Some maintenance and storage of MBTA equipment is contracted out to the Seaview Transportation Company in North Kingstown, Rhode Island . Several additional yards are under construction or planned. Two layovers are under construction for South Coast Rail, with service planned for mid-2025, and the Haverhill Line layover at Bradford is proposed for relocation later in
18860-489: The outer portion of the Worcester Line has the most freight traffic. Massachusetts Coastal Railroad operates south of Middleborough on the Middleborough/Lakeville Line, as well as on future South Coast Rail trackage. The Fore River Railroad operates between Braintree Yard and East Braintree on the Old Colony mainline and the Greenbush Line. The Providence and Worcester Railroad shares tracks with Providence/Stoughton Line trains between Providence and Wickford Junction; it uses
19024-581: The plans. In 2009, Stoughton officials indicated that they would seek for a tunnel to be built through the downtown area — as was done in Hingham on the Greenbush Line — with Stoughton station moved underground. The Easton town government opposes the construction of Phase II, claiming visual and environmental impacts. In 2014, Raynham officials expressed interest in lowering tracks under Route 138 to prevent traffic impacts. Between Easton and Raynham,
19188-424: The project as well as previous opponents. Middleborough and Lakeville officials were critical of the possibility of abandoning the current Middleborough/Lakeville station — which has attracted transit-oriented development — or requiring its riders to take a shuttle train, as well as possible traffic issues from a downtown Middleborough station. The New Bedford mayor was critical of the longer travel times of
19352-405: The project was split into two phases. Phase 1 provides interim service to Fall River and New Bedford while the northern section of the line is built in Phase 2. Several separately-funded projects were constructed between 2013 and 2019 in preparation for the project. Phase 1 construction began in 2019 with a projected cost of $ 1.047 billion. It is expected to open in May 2025. Total cost of the program
19516-488: The proposed route passes along an embankment that is currently used for off-road vehicles through the Hockomock Swamp . Due to the sensitive environmental area, an 8,500-foot (2,600 m) elevated trestle is proposed at a cost of $ 50 million to allow animals to pass under the tracks and limit the disturbance to the existing ground. The trestle would use concrete box girders on piles spaced at 50 feet (15 m), with
19680-467: The rapid transit lines. MBTA maps began showing the B&M and Penn Central lines as a single system. Penn Central became Conrail on April 1, 1976; the MBTA purchased most of their commuter rolling stock at that time. After delays due to the B&M bankruptcy, the MBTA purchased the B&M commuter equipment, maintenance facility , and 250 miles (400 km) of right of way on December 27, 1976. This included all lines with passenger service, as well as
19844-740: The rapid transit system, largely using railroad rights-of-way, with the expectation that most commuter rail service would be cut back to the rapid transit terminals or abandoned entirely. Prompted by the report, part of the BRB&L was reactivated as rapid transit in 1952–54 by BERy successor Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA), and the Highland branch was converted to a rapid streetcar line in 1958–59. The three railroads all made major cuts to suburban service in 1958–1960 as commuters began using new expressways. The B&M became unprofitable in 1958 and moved to shed its money-losing passenger operations. Four branch lines were cut that May, and most stations in
20008-535: The restoration of the lines to New Bedford and Fall River was proposed. Since the Mansfield Branch was permanently severed by a grade separation project in the 1950s, three possible routes to the South Coast were placed under consideration: an extension of the Stoughton Branch of the Providence/Stoughton Line past Stoughton , a route following the Providence Line to Attleboro and then branching onto
20172-503: The section of the Phase 1 route through Middleborough . Current plans call for the reconstruction of Canton Center and Stoughton stations; new stations on the extended route would include North Easton , Easton Village , Raynham Place , and Taunton . Amtrak electrified the Northeast Corridor north of New Haven to Boston as part of the Northeast High Speed Rail Improvement Program in 2000; however,
20336-517: The section of the Providence–Boston line in Massachusetts, as well as many other lines including the Stoughton Branch, from Penn Central on January 27, 1973. On April 1, 1976 Conrail took over Penn Central and the commuter rail equipment was sold to the MBTA. Conrail continued to operate the line under contract to the MBTA until 1977, when the Boston and Maine Railroad became the sole contractor for all MBTA commuter rail service. Full subsidies by
20500-446: The services becoming profitable. At the recommendation of the MTC, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) was created on August 3, 1964, with a 78-municipality funding and service district. The MBTA was to build rapid transit extensions (as planned in 1947) along some lines, with the others to be subsidized or allowed to be discontinued. Most remaining lines ran to points outside
20664-425: The southern terminals. All new stations will be in fare zone 8. Phase 2 work includes reconstructing track from the existing Stoughton station to Cotley Junction to meet the Phase 1 work. Four stations will be constructed along this alignment: North Easton , Easton Village , Raynham Place , and Taunton along with reconstruction of Canton Center and Stoughton Stations. The Fall River branch will also be extended to
20828-556: The sprawling downtown terminals. Most stations outside downtown Boston have one or two side platforms or a single island platform . Standard MBTA platforms are about 800 feet (240 m) long – enough for a nine-car train – and a minimum of 12 feet (3.7 m) wide for side platforms and 22 feet (6.7 m) wide for island platforms. 110 active stations are accessible , including all terminals and all stations with rapid transit connections; 26 are not. The MBTA uses 48-inch (1,200 mm)-high platforms for accessible level boarding, as
20992-677: The state agreed to build a set of transit projects as part of the settlement of a lawsuit by the Conservation Law Foundation (CLF) over auto emissions from the Central Artery/Tunnel Project ( Big Dig ). Among these project were extensions of the Framingham Line to Worcester and the Ipswich/Rockport Line to Newburyport, restoration of the Old Colony Lines , and addition of 20,000 park and ride spaces outside
21156-622: The state announced a revised plan intended to provide service sooner for a total cost of $ 3.42 billion. The $ 1.1 billion Phase 1 would follow the Middleborough route and open in 2024; Phase 2 would follow the original route through Stoughton (including electrification) and open in 2029. By June 2017, the planned completion dates were changed to Phase 1 in 2022 and Phase 2 in 2030, with stations at Freetown and Battleship Cove in Phase 1 rather than Phase 2 as proposed in March. The revised plan has attracted criticism from several directions, including some of those who had previously advocated for
21320-683: The state of Rhode Island. Off-peak service to Rhode Island resumed in 2000. An extension south from Providence opened to T. F. Green Airport in 2010 and to Wickford Junction in 2012. All stations have been made accessible with high-level platforms. Newer stations like T.F. Green Airport, as well as stations shared with Amtrak, largely have full-length high level platforms; older stations have mostly been retrofitted with "mini-high" platforms one car length long. The Boston and Providence Railroad (B&P) opened between Boston and Sprague Mansion in 1834, and on to Providence in 1835. A new line between Providence and East Junction via Central Falls, shared with
21484-501: The station siding at T.F. Green Airport to enable Northeast Regional service has been subjected to several planning studies. Current plans for Phase 2 of the South Coast Rail Project would fully electrify the Stoughton extension and the Phase 1 route by 2030. In August 1971, the MBTA began operating Boston– Foxboro and Providence–Foxboro service for events at the new Foxboro Stadium . Providence service ended early in
21648-508: The system to have Positive Train Control activated was the inner Worcester Line on August 15, 2020. Most of the southside lines already had cab signals for automatic train control (ATC) prior to PTC implementation, but the northside lines did not. Cab signals on the southside were completed in 2020; cab signals on the northside will be completed in 2023. Temporary bus replacements for several lines took place between 2017 and 2022 during PTC and ATC construction and testing. Weekday service
21812-407: The system. Most Ipswich/Rockport line stations were made accessible during the 1984–85 closure, and renovations followed at other stations. South Station was made accessible in the late 1980s, Back Bay during the Southwest Corridor project, and North Station in the early 1990s, providing accessibility at the main downtown Boston stations. By 1992, 44 commuter rail stations were accessible. In 1991,
21976-400: The transfer of the South Coast Rail lines to MassDOT. The Army Corps of Engineers released a Draft Environmental Impact Statement in March 2011. Concurring with previous documents it recommended that South Coast Rail be routed through Stoughton, citing in particular the need to add a billion-dollar fourth track from Back Bay to Forest Hills to accommodate service through Attleboro. However,
22140-614: The two halves of the system is the non-revenue Grand Junction Branch . The North–South Rail Link is a proposed tunnel between North Station and South Station to allow through-running service. The system consists of twelve lines – four of which have branches – radiating from downtown Boston . Eight "southside" lines terminate at South Station , with four (Framingham/Worcester, Needham, Franklin/Foxboro, and Providence/Stoughton) also running through Back Bay station . Four "northside" lines terminate at North Station . The Kingston Line and Middleborough/Lakeville Line are often grouped together as
22304-410: The urban core. Peak-hour service to Worcester began in 1994, followed by off-peak and weekend service; four intermediate stations were added in 2000 and 2002. Service on the Old Colony Lines (Middleborough/Lakeville Line and Kingston/Plymouth Line) began in 1997. Newburyport and Rowley opened in 1998. The MBTA Commuter Rail Maintenance Facility , which replaced the ex-B&M Boston Engine Terminal,
22468-426: The whole project area. The $ 403.5 million contract was awarded to SCR Constructors (a joint venture of The Middlesex Corporation and Tutor Perini) on August 24, 2020; construction began later in 2020 and was estimated to take 37 months. Two additional major contracts are part of the project. Contract #10 is for construction of a footbridge over Route 18 at New Bedford station. The $ 21.3 million contract
22632-604: The wooden approach trestles to the North Station drawbridges . The four northside lines used temporary terminals with rapid transit connections while the trestles were rebuilt. Another bridge fire between Beverly and Salem on November 16, 1984, isolated part of the Ipswich/Rockport Line from the rest of the system. Service to North Station resumed on April 20, 1985; service to Ipswich and Rockport resumed on December 1, 1985. Guilford Transportation Industries purchased
22796-404: Was 85% complete by that time. In April 2024, the MBTA acknowledged that a midyear opening was unlikely, but did not provide a new schedule. This delay was attributed to delays constructing East Taunton station and with testing taking longer than expected. Test trains began operating in June 2024. That month, the MBTA announced that the planned opening had been delayed again to May 2025. In July 2024,
22960-592: Was awarded in December 2022. Contract #12 is for traffic mitigation during construction, including intersection and traffic signal modifications. The $ 8.5 million contract was awarded in early 2022. Replacement of a bridge carrying Route 24 over the New Bedford Secondary in East Taunton was originally planned to be part of South Coast Rail as Contract #5. It was combined with a larger MassDOT bridge replacement project on Route 24, which includes replacement of
23124-623: Was awarded to Progress Rail on December 14, 2018. Completion of the $ 9.8 million contract was scheduled for February 2021. Contract #2 included the reconstruction of 46 culverts, cleaning 16 additional culverts and removal of one more, reconstruction of one grade crossing, and construction of six wetland impact mitigation areas. The $ 18.3 million contract was awarded to J.F. White on March 6, 2019, with completion expected in June 2020. Contract #3 included replacement of four railroad bridges and one culvert, plus 2.5 miles (4.0 km) of track replacement. The $ 26.1 million contract
23288-531: Was awarded to J.F. White, with completion planned for November 2020. On May 11, 2020, a $ 159 million contract (#7) was awarded to Skanska DW White JV for the Fall River Secondary portion of phase 1. The work included construction of Freetown station and Fall River station , 12.1 miles (19.5 km) of track work, rehabilitation of 10 grade crossings and 8 bridges, and construction of Weaver's Cove layover yard in northern Fall River. Construction
23452-472: Was completed in 1987 with a new below-ground alignment for commuter rail, Amtrak, and Orange Line trains. Back Bay and Forest Hills stations were completely rebuilt as transfer stations, and Ruggles opened to serve the growing Longwood Medical Area . The Needham Line, closed since 1979 for construction, was reopened. The Attleboro and Franklin lines had been diverted over the previously freight-only Dorchester Branch during construction; after they returned to
23616-453: Was completed in 1998. Two tenders were submitted in 2003, one from GTI and another from the newly formed Massachusetts Bay Commuter Railroad Company (MBCR), a partnership between Connex (later Veolia), Bombardier Transportation and Alternate Concepts, Inc. MBCR won the contract, and took over the MBTA Commuter Rail operation from Amtrak in July 2003. The MBCR contract originally expired in July 2008 but had an additional five-year option; it
23780-564: Was completed. Additionally, the final Providence-bound train on weekdays began stopping at Forest Hills station to provide a transfer to a shuttle train to Needham. During the closure of the Orange Line from August 19 to September 18, 2022, additional Providence/Stoughton Line trains stopped at Forest Hills. One of these trains – a midday Providence outbound – continued to stop after September 19. Daily ridership reached 17,648 in October 2022 – 69% of pre-COVID ridership. On October 2, 2023,
23944-491: Was cut back to a single Newburyport round trip. Subsidies began for six lines on January 18; all out-of-district service to Fitchburg , Lowell , Haverhill , Ipswich , and Rockport was discontinued except for three single round trips. Agreements were reached to restore most out-of-district service; after delays due to a lawsuit by the competing Eastern Massachusetts Street Railway , full service returned to Ayer , Lowell, Ipswich, and Rockport on June 28. On June 30, 1967,
24108-481: Was estimated to take 30 months. The main construction contract (#6) for the New Bedford branch includes 24.1 miles (38.8 km) of track work on the Middleboro Secondary and New Bedford Secondary , four stations ( Middleborough , East Taunton , Church Street , and New Bedford ), the Wamsutta layover yard in New Bedford, seven bridges, and associated infrastructure. It also includes signal and communication systems for
24272-416: Was largely unusable to the decommissioning of 3G networks . Mobile ticketing was introduced on the northside lines on November 12, 2012, and on the southside lines on November 28. Positive Train Control was implemented on the entire system per a federal mandate, which required installation by the end of 2018 with the possibility of a two-year extension. Construction began in 2017. The final segment of
24436-418: Was later extended three years to July 2011 and then another two to July 2013. After concerns about on-time performance, the 2011 extension increased the fine for late trains from $ 100 to $ 300. The MBTA considered running the service directly rather than contracting it out, but this "public option" was rejected in 2012. In August 2012, MBCR and Keolis were the two bidders for the contract. On January 8, 2014,
24600-453: Was omitted due to increased fleet requirements. Several preliminary projects to enable electric service have been proposed or are underway. A 1.7-mile (2.7 km) section of non-electrified platform sidings at Attleboro , not included in the initial Amtrak electrification, was planned for electrification in mid-2022 to support future electric MBTA operations; however, the project was delayed and completed in mid-2024. Electrification of
24764-440: Was once again studied by RIDOT in 2017. The study also assessed electrification and extensions of Shore Line East service to Westerly or Kingston. Ultimately, none of the alternatives moved beyond the preliminary study phase. A passing siding and new platforms at Kingston were completed in 2017, which may enable commuter services in the future. As of 2024, there are no plans to extend Providence Line service. A major extension of
24928-405: Was projected to cost $ 1.88 billion versus $ 1.48 billion for diesel service, with the increased cost from the overhead wire infrastructure as well as the cost of buying electric locomotives plus new coaches capable of 100 mph speeds. (Current coaches are limited to 80 mph even on sections of the Northeast Corridor rated for 150 mph.) In July 2013, after substantial discussion
25092-452: Was released in August 2007, followed by a Phase 1 Alternatives Analysis Report in April 2008 which narrowed 65 options (including unlikely modes like heavy rail metro and monorail) to five plausible alternatives including Attleboro, Stoughton, and Middleboro routes plus express bus service or a mixture of Attleboro and Middleboro service. MassDOT released 18 potential station sites for the project in September 2008. In May 2008, MassDOT issued
25256-586: Was restored on February 1, 1988. On June 20, 1990, a new stop opened in South Attleboro and most trains were extended to the station; regular Sunday service returned in 1992. In 1990, a northbound commuter train was involved in a collision with a northbound Night Owl train. The accident, which occurred to the west of Back Bay station , injured over four hundred people, although there were no fatalities. Some off-peak weekday trains were extended to Providence starting on December 11, 2000. On July 24, 2006,
25420-411: Was retired between 1979 and 1989. 33 ex-B&M RDCs were converted to locomotive-hauled coaches (designated BTC-2 and CTC-2) in 1980 and 1982; they were retired by 1989. This left all MBTA service operated by locomotives and coaches purchased new by the MBTA. At several points since, the MBTA or its contract operator has temporarily leased locomotives when needed. Some passenger equipment acquired new by
25584-472: Was slower than expected; by 1971, the only extension in service was the first portion of the Red Line Braintree Branch on the Old Colony mainline. In 1972, as part of a funding shift from highways to transit, Governor Francis Sargent initiated a Commuter Rail Improvement Program. On October 8, 1974, the MBTA began using purple to represent the commuter rail system, as had been done in 1965 with
25748-457: Was soon decimated by the competing Washington Street Elevated ; branch line service declined in the 1920s and 1930s. Further reductions occurred after World War II; cuts in July 1959 reduced Providence service from 12 to nine round trips, Dedham service to one round trip, and Stoughton service to two round trips. On December 31, 1968, the recently formed Penn Central bought the failing New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad . The MBTA bought
25912-600: Was stopped in May 2003. In October 2004, the Southeastern Regional Planning and Economic Development District restarted the Growth Task Force, even while the MBTA was conducting its review of the project. In March 2005, Romney allowed the project to proceed and allocated $ 670 million for the project, then projected to open between 2011 and 2013. In June 2005, the Chief of Commonwealth Development stated that
26076-458: Was substantially cut on March 17, 2020, due to reduced ridership during the COVID-19 pandemic . On June 22, service was increased to 85% of normal weekday levels. Changes effective November 2 reduced peak service and increased off-peak service, providing more consistent midday headways on some lines; Foxboro pilot service was suspended. In November 2020, as part of service cuts during the pandemic,
26240-582: Was the most viable route. The study was criticized for not considering other alternatives, including express buses. In March 1991, newly elected governor William Weld asked the state legislature to authorize the sale of bonds to finance further studies. In the early 1990s, the Old Colony Lines Middleborough/Lakeville Line and Plymouth/Kingston Line , plus the delayed Greenbush Line ) were chosen as Big Dig environmental mitigation instead of routes to Fall River and New Bedford;
26404-424: Was the only practical route but required a Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS). The FEIS was released in April 2002 and approved in August; however, in July 2002 the MBTA revised the project cost to $ 600 million with an opening date of 2007. Due to ballooning costs, Governor Romney's administration suspended the Growth Task Force and stopped project planning in November 2002; the environmental approval process
26568-464: Was the only viable route, with projected service of 20 trains per day to each of Fall River and New Bedford for an estimated total of 4,325 daily riders. In January 2000, following then-governor Paul Cellucci 's reapproval, the state reported that construction would begin in late 2002 and last until 2004. The Draft Environmental Statement certificate was received in November 2000; the EPA confirmed that Stoughton
26732-570: Was then sent to the Massachusetts House and Senate for debate. On April 18, 2014, a modified version of the bill was signed into law, allocating $ 2.3 billion for South Coast Rail, $ 1.33 billion for the Green Line Extension, and $ 325 million for South Station. On April 22, 2019, Massachusetts Department of Transportation Secretary Stephanie Pollack announced that funding and Army Corps of Engineers permits for
26896-528: Was to be completed in 2000. In August 1996, Weld signed a bill giving $ 136 million to commuter rail expansion, while the state legislature directed the MBTA to further study alternatives. However, in 1997 the Expanded Alternatives Analysis showed vastly increased costs — $ 407 million via Attleboro, $ 410 million via Stoughton, or $ 436 million via Middleborough. Service via Middleborough would also require double-tracking on
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