Community
South Coast Rail to begin running test trains next week, but passenger date pushed back
![](https://fallriverreporter.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/south-coast-rail-1-31-2023.jpg)
While the MBTA made an announcement today that brought optimism, another is likely to elicit groans.
Beginning on June 17, test trains will run along the South Coast Rail Right-of-Way (ROW). The MBTA will test and commission Commuter Rail trains to and from Middleborough, East Taunton, Freetown, Fall River and New Bedford for the first time in decades. The test trains will travel the corridor, reaching speeds of up to 79 mph, much faster than current freight trains at 25 mph.
Due to this milestone, the MBTA would like to remind everyone in the area-whether you live, work, drive by, or cross the tracks-to get ready for high- speed trains, as they will become a common sight in the region. Only trains should be on the right-of-way as it is illegal and life threatening to walk on or along the tracks.
-The only safe place to cross train tracks is ONLY at designated pedestrian or roadway crossings – obey warning signs and signals posted there.
-Trains are quieter and faster than you think! And the average train traveling 55 mph can take a mile or more to stop.
-Using the railroad ROW to hunt, fish, operate snowmobiles or ATVs, or for any other recreational purpose is trespassing and extremely dangerous.
Shifting gears a little, in an update, at a meeting on Thursday, the General Manager of the MBTA Phillip Eng appeared to push back the timeline that passengers will be able to use South Coast Rail to Spring 2025.
Despite South Coast Rail being pushed to 2025, MBTA announces weekend service, cost of fares.
It appears that we will all have to wait a little longer to experience South Coast Rail.
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Ozzy
June 13, 2024 at 8:18 pm
They are prolonging the failure that it will be..
Amy Beaulieu
June 20, 2024 at 4:19 pm
True. Here’s a good one, Financially the MBTA isn’t doing well and maybe go under, leaving people, cities/towns as well as the state in a big lurch.
Not to mention all of the lines that are constantly breaking down.
RedPilled
June 14, 2024 at 7:07 am
Come spring 2025 they will come up with another reason to delay the start. I really am curious to see how many people actually use it. The drug dealers should be able to make their deliveries quicker.
Oliver Surpless
June 14, 2024 at 8:42 am
Is how popular mass transit is a reason it exists to you?
Morgan Long
June 14, 2024 at 6:54 pm
It is most popular where it has been done right! Too bad Canadian Pacific Viarail couldn’t have done ours here.
JB
June 15, 2024 at 8:12 am
To me popular = how many people use the system and I personally can not see how it is going to be financially viable. There just is not going to be enough of traffic between Fall River and Boston due to cost and inconvenience. Hope I’m wrong but I don’t think so.
John Sharland
June 14, 2024 at 3:54 pm
The horns on these trains are incredibly loud and thus can be heard way before the train reaches a street crossing. However, this train line runs through some towns with a lot of inbreds…..