Franklin Line Double Track

Track surfacing equipment will tamp down the stone ballast and spread it evenly around the tracks

The Franklin Line has one of the highest riderships on the Commuter Rail, and freight trains use the same tracks, which makes it a great candidate for projects that can improve capacity and make service more reliable.

We’re extending segments of double track between Franklin and Norwood Central stations. Once complete, this work will create a continuous second track along nearly all of the Franklin Line—helping to keep our Commuter Rail trains on schedule and supporting potential opportunities for increased service in the future.

Contract awarded: May 2019
Budget: $30 million
Status: Phase 1 major work complete; Phases 2 and 3 in progress

Building a Better T

As part of our $9.6 billion, 5-year capital investment plan, we're renovating stations, modernizing fare collection systems, upgrading services for our buses, subways, and ferries, and improving the accessibility of the entire system.

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Project Phases

We’re completing this work in phases, with construction on phase 2 and design work on phase 3 beginning simultaneously. In April 2020, we completed all major work on Phase 1. Minor work will be ongoing and will be done in conjunction with Phases 2 and 3.

As part of this work, we:

Install new track and make drainage and infrastructure improvements
Build new signal houses and retaining walls
Add new ballast around the tracks

Phase 1: Walpole to Norfolk

In 2019, we began extending an existing segment of double track by adding roughly 4 miles from just west of Walpole Station to Rockwood Road near Norfolk Station.

All major work on Phase 1 was completed in April 2020. The finished track serves as the foundation for phases 2 and 3 of the project.

In 2019, we began extending an existing segment of double track by adding roughly 4 miles from just west of Walpole Station to Rockwood Road near Norfolk Station.

All major work on Phase 1 was completed in April 2020. The finished track serves as the foundation for phases 2 and 3 of the project.

Phase 2: Norfolk to Franklin

We’re adding 3.5 miles of track extending from Norfolk Station to near Franklin Station.

We have completed approximately 2 miles of track between Norfolk and Franklin. The remaining 1.5 miles will be completed by January 2026.

We’re adding 3.5 miles of track extending from Norfolk Station to near Franklin Station.

We have completed approximately 2 miles of track between Norfolk and Franklin. The remaining 1.5 miles will be completed by January 2026.

Phase 3: Walpole to Norwood Central

In the final phase, we will extend the second track between Walpole and Norwood Central by 4 miles. This will connect to the existing double track that runs from Norwood Central to just south of Readville Station. Upon completion of Phase 3, the Franklin Line will have double track from slightly north of Franklin Station to the southern limits of the City of Boston.

We expect to complete engineering and design work for this phase in 2025.