Phase 1 Passes Midpoint of Construction
Updated on November 23, 2022
The South Coast Rail project will connect Fall River, New Bedford, and Taunton to Boston for the first time since the late 1950s.
Phase 1 of the project extends a secondary line west from the existing Middleborough Line and creates Commuter Rail lines in New Bedford and Fall River. Phase 1 is now pass the midpoint of construction.
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.
What We've Accomplished So Far
Fall River Secondary Line
The Fall River Secondary Line will include one Commuter Rail station in Freetown and one in Fall River.
Construction milestones as of August 2022 include:
- Work is on track to be finished by December 2022/January 2023
- Crews have installed 10.7 miles of train tracks
- Crews have completed work on culverts, nine bridges, 10 grade crossings, walls, and sidings
Next, crews will finish paving and striping parking lots, installing parking lot lights, testing signals and fiber optics, and grading and seeding landscaped areas.
Middleborough Secondary Line
The Middleborough Secondary Line will include Middleborough station. The station's platform is currently under construction. The next steps include paving the parking lot and setting the lights.
Workers are also constructing the station entrance and making upgrades at Routes 105 and 28, including a pedestrian crossing signal.
New Bedford Main Line
The New Bedford Main Line will include New Bedford station and Church Street station in North New Bedford. Both stations are under construction.
Crews have shaped the ground at Church Street station and underground utility work is ongoing. Crews are also preparing for the arrival of the new station platforms.
For the New Bedford station, an ADA-compliant pedestrian bridge is in the final stages of design.
What We're Working on Next
The project team will prepare to train crews and test equipment and infrastructure in summer 2023.
The Fall River Secondary Line, Middleborough Secondary Line, and New Bedford Main Line will be open for service by late 2023.
For More Information
To learn what we're doing about dust, noise, rodents, and safety, read our fall 2022 fact sheet.
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Related Projects
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.