Project Overview
South Coast Rail will be built in phases. Phase 1 service will provide a one-seat ride by extending the existing Middleborough/Lakeville commuter rail service from Boston to Taunton, Fall River and New Bedford.
Elements of Phase 1:
- Uses the Middleborough Secondary (currently a freight line) to provide service to Taunton, New Bedford, and Fall River. The Middleborough Secondary connects to Cotley Junction in East Taunton.
- From Cotley Junction, Phase 1 trains will join the New Bedford Main Line and continue to New Bedford, or they will branch off on the Fall River Secondary to Fall River (this area is known as the Southern Triangle).
Benefits of Phase 1:
- Reconstructs 12.1 miles of the Fall River Secondary
- Reconstructs 24.1 miles of Middleborough Secondary and the New Bedford Main Line.
- Improves freight service to the region and will provide redundancy for commuter rail riders once the Full Build is operating.
The Full Build Project will travel on the Stoughton Main Line and Northeast Corridor (north of Canton Junction). The Full Build presents more challenges related to wetland impacts, complex engineering, electrification and cost.
Phase 1 and Full Build
To provide service to southeastern Massachusetts, South Coast Rail will be constructed in phases.
Phase 1 Project
- Extends Commuter Rail service on the Middleborough/Lakeville Line to New Bedford, Fall River, and Taunton.
- Phase 1 is fully funded with $1B in State revenue bonds, and construction is complete.
Full Build Project
- Extends Commuter Rail service on the Stoughton Line to the New Bedford and Fall River lines, connecting more communities, including Easton and Raynham, to Boston.
- Funding has not yet been identified for the Full Build program.
For more details, see the Phase 1 and Full Build corridor maps.
Phase 1 station locations
Phase 1 will continue service to nine existing stations on the Middleborough/Lakeville line and will add six new stations including:
- Middleborough
- East Taunton
- Freetown
- Fall River Depot
- Church Street in New Bedford
- New Bedford
For the exact locations of each station see the Phase 1 and Full Build corridor maps.
All stations will comply with MBTA standards and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements, which include high-level platforms for "all-doors" boarding. Other amenities will include benches, canopies, bicycle storage and parking.
Phase 1 projected service
Line | Original Project Commitment | MBTA Delivery |
---|---|---|
East Taunton-South Station | 26 | 32 |
Fall River Line | 13 | 15 |
New Bedford Line | 13 | 17 |
Weekends | - | 26 |
*Direct trips to/from South Station*
- In addition to direct service, there will also be shuttles operating between each terminus point and East Taunton Station; this allows for even more frequent service, which is consistent with the All Day Service model across the rest of the Commuter Rail network
- Weekday Direct service will run approximately every 70 minutes
- Weekend Direct service will run approximately every 120 minutes
- Late Night Service will be offered to South Coast Rail stations with the last train leaving Boston just before mid-night
Noise program eligibility
MassDOT evaluated noise levels anticipated from South Coast Rail trains according to Federal Transit Administration (FTA) guidelines and detailed the results in the 2013 Final Environmental Impact Statement/Report and the 2018 Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Report. While freight trains currently operate along the existing railroad corridor, they are infrequent. The Commuter Rail trains will run multiple trips every day, which creates additional noise. The MBTA developed and implemented a noise mitigation program based on the FTA standards.
Based on this program, the MBTA has provided funding for a set of alternative noise mitigation measures to owners of properties that are affected by noise above the impact level. See the South Coast Rail Noise Program Frequently Asked Questions for more information.
Construction impacts, timeline and contracts
Early Action Construction
MassDOT began Early Action construction projects in 2019 on South Coast Rail to prepare for the larger Phase 1 main line rail construction contracts. The first visible active construction projects were drainage culvert replacement and a major railroad grade crossing update in New Bedford. This work also included the construction of 5 wetland mitigation areas in the corridor and was substantially completed in Summer 2020. Additional work to replace four railroad bridges was completed in Fall 2020. The Early Action took place in Berkley, Fall River, Freetown, Lakeville, Middleborough, New Bedford, Raynham, and Taunton.
More information can be found on the SCR Construction Activity page.
Early Demolition Contract
The Early Demolition contract was awarded to DW White Construction of Acushnet and was completed in Fall 2020. This work involved the demolition of buildings and other structures located on MBTA controlled property at nine separate locations in Middleborough, Taunton, Berkley, Freetown, Fall River, and New Bedford.
Fall River Secondary Line Construction
This construction contract was awarded to Skanska DW White JV on May 11, 2020. Work on the Fall River Secondary will include track, stations, bridges, and a layover facility. Construction began Summer 2020 and is complete.
New Bedford, Middleborough, Signal and Communications Contract
This construction contract was awarded to SCR Constructors JV on August 24, 2020. Work on the New Bedford Main Line to the Middleborough Secondary includes track, stations, bridges, a layover facility, and the signal and communications systems for all of Phase 1. Construction began in fall 2020 and is complete.
Public outreach
The South Coast Rail team has conducted numerous public meetings across the Phase 1 project communities. The project team will continue to meet with the cities and towns as needed.
MBTA community engagement & safety awareness
In addition to specific railroad safety measures, education is a key factor in addressing community safety. The South Coast Rail Project funded the development of instructive videos for railroad safety, geared to schools and the general public. This effort is supplemented by Operation Lifesaver volunteers. MassDOT and the MBTA work regularly with Operation Lifesaver, a national program sponsored by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), that provides community railroad safety education programs.
The MBTA and Keolis, the MBTA’s Commuter Rail operator, has been working with South Coast Rail community first responders to conduct regular emergency response drills and training.