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MBTA Expanding Train Service To Providence On Weekdays, Introducing New Service On Weekends

Posted on July 14, 2006

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority and its provider of Commuter Rail service, Massachusetts Bay Commuter Railroad Company (MBCR), have announced that the frequency of train service between Boston and Providence, Rhode Island will increase significantly later this month.

As part of a new schedule that takes effect on Monday, July 24th, the number of weekday roundtrips between South Station and Providence will jump from 11 to 15. Under the existing schedule, the last train for Providence leaves Boston at 8:15. The new schedule includes three departures from Boston between 9:00 p.m. and midnight.

In addition to expanding the weekday schedule, the MBTA is introducing entirely new service on the weekends. Effective July 29th, Commuter Rail service between Providence and Boston will be available for the first time on weekends. There will be nine roundtrips on Saturdays and seven roundtrips on Sundays.

The expanded service is the result of a partnership between the states of Massachusetts and Rhode Island, which obtained federal funds for the expanded service and a new train layover facility in Pawtucket.

In releasing the new service schedule, MBTA General Manager Daniel A. Grabauskas also announced that the Attleboro/Stoughton Commuter Rail Line will be renamed the Providence/Stoughton Commuter Rail Line. “More than a thousand people a day are boarding our trains in Providence,” said Grabauskas. “Rhode Islanders have helped make this Commuter Rail Line the busiest in the MBTA system, and we look forward to attracting even more customers with the new service being offered.”

“The Romney-Healey Administration has made customer service a key guiding principle, and this is a great service enhancement on the Providence/Stoughton line,” said Transportation Secretary John Cogliano. “We’re excited to expand the accessibility of rail service south of Boston.”

“The new Providence/Stoughton line provides another example of MBCR and the MBTA working together to improve service for riders,” said Paul Lundberg, MBCR’s general manager. “We are pleased to implement this new service.”

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Joe Pesaturo