South Coast Rail
Status: Phase 1 construction is complete along the Fall River Secondary Line, Middleborough Secondary Line, and New Bedford Main Line. A new pedestrian bridge connecting to the New Bedford station will be completed by spring 2025. Service is anticipated to open to the public by spring 2025.
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Test Trains Are Operating
On June 17, 2024, test trains began running on the South Coast Rail. Trains are operating at speeds of up to 79 miles per hour.
Stay safe and remember:
- Practice caution when crossing the tracks. This applies to residents, pedestrians, and drivers.
- Don’t walk on or along the tracks. It’s both illegal and life-threatening.
The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has certified trains to operate and has authorized the MBTA to run test trains at the maximum speed.
View the related resources section to learn more about test trains
About This Project
The South Coast Rail project will offer a reliable transit connection between southeastern Massachusetts and Boston. Riders will be able to take a one-seat trip for the first time since the late 1950s.
This project creates connections between Boston and the Southeastern Massachusetts communities of Taunton, New Bedford, and Fall River, the only three major cities within 50 miles of Boston that previously didn’t have Commuter Rail Access.
The project will be rolled out in phases:
- Phase 1: Extends a secondary line west from the existing Middleborough/Lakeville Line, and create the New Bedford and Fall River lines
- Full Build: Extends the Stoughton Line south to connect more communities to the New Bedford and Fall River lines
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.
Phase 1
See a full map of the Phase 1 Corridor
Commuter Rail service on the Middleborough Secondary Line will provide a one-seat ride between Boston and New Bedford, Fall River, and Taunton. Connecting shuttle trains will run between the terminal cities and East Taunton.
Phase 1 broke ground in July 2019, with major construction beginning in 2020. The MBTA has completed construction of the stations, track, and signals. We are conducting rigorous testing to meet safety certifications and qualifications that precede passenger service.
Construction was divided into two contracts, with early action work preceding both:
- Construction of the Fall River Secondary Line, which will connect Fall River to Boston
- Construction of the New Bedford Main Line, the Middleborough Secondary Line, and the signal system for the entire Phase 1 corridor, which will connect Taunton, New Bedford, and Fall River to Boston
Related Materials
View progress videos and updated fact sheets about the South Coast Rail project.
- Contract Awarded: August 24, 2020
- Construction completion: Spring 2025
- Budget: $403.5 million
- Status: Complete
The Middleborough Secondary Line extends from Middleborough through Taunton and into New Bedford to provide direct service between New Bedford and Boston. Service schedules will be finalized in the near future.
The new Commuter Rail line includes four stations and a layover facility adjacent to the existing one in Wamsutta.
Completed Work
Crews reconstructed 24.1 miles of Middleborough Secondary and the New Bedford Main lines, which are currently active freight lines, to lift speed restrictions and allow for Commuter Rail service. The right-of-way (ROW) was also reconstructed, resulting in improved freight service in the region.
Construction included:
- Six rail bridges, constructed to meet state-of-good-repair guidelines
- 18 grade crossings and 14 interlockings
- Four new stations and a layover facility for storing trains overnight
- Signal systems and positive train control (PTC) for the entire Phase 1 corridor
Work took place in Middleborough, Taunton, Lakeville, Freetown, and New Bedford. Testing for the entire South Coast Rail occurred under this contract.
Work has been completed on the Fall River Secondary Line to overlay signals and communications.
See a map of the Middleborough Secondary and New Bedford lines
The Completed Freetown Station during the ribbon-cutting event celebrating the substantial completion of the Fall River Secondary Line contract (December 2022) - Contract Awarded: May 11, 2020
- Project Completion: End of 2024
- Budget: $159 million
- Status: Complete
The Fall River Secondary Line extends to Fall River through Freetown and Taunton, providing direct service between Fall River and Boston. Final service schedules will be developed in the near future.
This new Commuter Rail line includes two stations in Freetown and Fall River, and a layover facility at Weaver’s Cove in Fall River.
Completed Work
Crews reconstructed 12.1 miles of the Fall River Secondary Line, which was previously a freight line, to lift speed restrictions and allow for Commuter Rail service. Work also included tree clearing, erosion control, and survey work along the tracks. The tracks were reconstructed, resulting in improved freight service in the region.
Construction included the following:
- Nine rail bridges
- 10 new grade crossings and four interlockings
- Two new stations and a layover facility for storing trains overnight
Trains on the completed Fall River Secondary Line will travel through Berkley, Freetown, and Fall River.
- Contract Awarded: October 2019
- Project Completion: Summer 2023
- Budget: $69 million
- Status: Complete
In October 2019, the Fiscal and Management Control Board (FMCB) approved the purchase of 16 bi-level coaches to meet the needs of the South Coast Rail project. The refurbishment of two locomotives required for South Coast Rail service is also complete. These vehicles are ready and are now part of the state's commuter rail system inventory.
- Contracts Awarded: Summer 2019
- Project Completion: Fall 2020
- Budget: $51.2 million
- Status: Complete
Our crews completed early action work in preparation for Phase 1 construction. This work included the following:
- Replaced four railroad bridges
- Installed 46 culverts as part of the drainage system
- Ordered and stored long-lead special track materials in advance to reduce construction delays
- Constructed five wetland mitigation areas and began monitoring their success
Full Build
The Full Build will extend Commuter Rail service on the Stoughton Main Line and Northeast Corridor (north of Canton Junction). It will bring service to Taunton and connect more communities in the region.
This stage presents more challenges related to wetland impacts, complex engineering, electrification, and cost. The next steps include starting conceptual design work, preliminary engineering, and securing funding.
Fares and Schedules
South Coast Rail service will follow a Zone 8 fare structure. Full fares will be $12.25 each way, and a reduced fare will be $6.00. This is consistent with the current fare to Middleborough/Lakeville station.
The operating schedule is being finalized. There will be 32 trips to and from South Station each weekday. Shuttles will also operate between each terminus station and East Taunton station. This will allow for all-day service, in keeping with the service schedule across the rest of the Commuter Rail network.
Safety First Program
Safety First is a program that educates people on how to stay safe around train tracks. Our goal is to bring an understanding of safety rules to all residents in every Southeastern Massachusetts city and town.
Through presentations, brochures, videos, meetings, and conversations, you’ll learn safety basics. You can watch and share our Safety Video Series developed for children, teens, and the general public to learn about the importance of safety for everyone throughout the region.
As we near final testing and service, we are sharing these and other safety basics with schools, libraries, organizations, and neighborhoods. In the meantime, watch our safety videos, and please think Safety First.
For more information or to request a presentation, send us an email at SouthCoastRail@dot.state.ma.us with “Safety First” in the subject line.
Download a Safety First fact sheet (PDF, 926 KB)
Related Resources
Recent Updates
Past Events
Photo Gallery
East Taunton station, the largest in the South Coast Rail system (July 2024)
New Bedford pedestrian bridge under construction (November 2024)
East Taunton platform (July 2024)
East Taunton station (July 2024)
The new Church Street station in north New Bedford (June 2024)
Enhanced road crossing on South Coast Rail to alert drivers to the importance of safety barriers (December 2024)
Platform at New Bedford station (September 2024)
Accessible ramp at East Taunton station (September 2024)
Construction on the new East Taunton station and platform elevators (April 2024)
Construction workers meeting at a construction site at New Bedford station
Construction on the East Taunton platform and view of its ramp entrance to the platform (April 2024)
New parking lot at New Bedford station for riders with disabilities (April 2024)
Parking area for electric vehicles at New Bedford station (April 2024)
Newly constructed Fall River station platform (December 2022)
Construction workers and a close up view of piping materials at the New Bedford construction site
Commuter Rail coach at Freetown Station during the ribbon-cutting event celebrating the substantial completion of the Fall River Secondary Line contract (December 2022)
Front entrance of the Fall River station (December 2022)
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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.
Related Materials
View progress videos and updated fact sheets about the South Coast Rail project.