Despite South Coast Rail being pushed to 2025, MBTA announces weekend service, cost of fares

Boston, MA – The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority has provided more details on the progress of the South Coast Rail project, including a new milestone reached that brings the project closer to completion. The project, which spans across six stations, Middleborough, East Taunton, Freetown, Fall River Depot, Church Street, and New Bedford, will start running test trains on Monday, June 17, 2024. When complete, the project will restore rail service between Boston and the South Coast for the first time in over 70 years. 

The MBTA and General Manager Phil Eng hosted two public meetings on Thursday, June 13th, 2024 to update residents on the South Coast Rail project – one at Bristol Community College in Fall River and the other at the Whaling Museum in New Bedford. General Manager Eng provided an update on the South Coast Rail project’s current progress and future plans.

“The MBTA is deeply committed to delivering the South Coast Rail project while upholding the highest standards of quality and safety before launching passenger service,” said MBTA General Manager and CEO Phillip Eng. “We recognize this project is especially important for the Fall River, New Bedford, and Taunton communities, and the surrounding region. Through testing and quality control measures, we are dedicated to providing the public with a reliable and dependable railroad system they can count on.”

After a review of the project, General Manager Eng determined that new project leadership was needed to ensure the success and safety of the project. The timeline adjustment to Spring 2025 for passengers allows for more resources and attention to make the South Coast rail reliable on the first day of service and beyond. The MBTA stated that nationally, these projects are highly specialized and complex, requiring specific expertise, with the system testing phase being one of the most challenging aspects to ensure seamless integration of all components. 

“It’s clear how important South Coast Rail is to southeastern Mass. communities, and since taking over the Program, I’m more determined than ever to deliver on that commitment,” said MBTA South Coast Rail Program Executive Karen Antion. “Safety is our top priority for the project. Test trains, which start on Monday, will travel up to 79 mph, and I urge our Taunton, New Bedford, and Fall River neighbors to stay clear of track areas and abide by all warning lights and signs at grade crossings. Together, we can finish the testing period as safely as possible.”

Four locomotives have undergone a comprehensive overhaul and are now prepared to provide the necessary pulling power to operate the trains efficiently. Additionally, sixteen modern bi-level coaches have been specifically acquired to serve passengers on the South Coast Rail. Bi-level coaches offer increased passenger capacity with comfortable seating arrangements on two levels, ideal for commuter routes..

Four stations are now complete: Fall River, Freetown, Middleborough, and Church Street. Two stations are nearing completion:

• New Bedford is 97% finished and expected to be fully complete by July 2024. The contractor is currently finalizing minor details (punch list work).
• East Taunton is 75% complete and anticipated to be finished in August 2024. Construction crews are focusing on completing the elevator installation and paving work.

Following the successful completion of Automatic Train Control testing and the transfer of dispatch to Keolis, the South Coast Rail project will progress to Positive Train Control system testing. ATC acts as the foundation for PTC, like a traffic control system for trains. It communicates with trackside signals and automatically regulates a train’s speed to ensure safe stopping distances. PTC is a safety technology that acts as a digital guardrail for trains. It can automatically prevent collisions, stop trains from entering unauthorized work zones, ensure they don’t proceed through misaligned switches, and enforce speed limits. This federally mandated testing will begin in August and continue through January.

Once all components – stations, layover facilities, tracks, ATC, and the PTC system – are built, tested, and approved, the project will move to the final phase of “New Start” implementation with the Federal Railroad Administration’s. This phase involves certifying train operators, final inspections, and running demonstration services without passengers. The timeline for this final stage depends on the FRA’s review and requirements. This intensive, multi-phased process designed specifically for first-time rail activation projects to achieve compliance with Federal regulations governing the movements of passenger trains over new territory ensures railroad operators meet the prescribed regulatory standards prior to the commencement of new commuter rail service. The “New Start” process, is comprised of many key components, including the requirement to implement a System Safety Program, a rigorous qualification program for personnel who will be engaged in the operations of the railroad, adherence to industry design and construction standards, and a comprehensive safety certification process all completed and approved prior to the start of revenue or passenger service. The MBTA stated that additionally, a robust Quality Assurance and Quality Control program will be implemented to ensure operations run smoothly.

The testing phase will involve a comprehensive array of safety measures, including track testing, signaling system testing, integration testing, and safety inspections. During this time, residents may notice increased train activity along the South Coast Rail corridor. These MBTA trains will not carry passengers and are being operated solely for testing and training purposes. They will reach speeds of up to 79 miles per hour, up from the current 30 miles per hour limit for freight trains. This certification was completed through a rigorous safety process put in place by the MBTA and approved by the Federal Railroad Administration.

With the track safety certification in place, the focus has shifted to testing the signal system. Initial testing was conducted at slow speeds of 25 miles per hour, and the results have been successful. The next phase involves testing the railroad crossings, ensuring that the gates function properly within the guidelines set by federal regulators. These tests will be conducted at multiple speeds, in both directions, and on all routes. 

“I extend my sincere appreciation to the public for their patience and understanding throughout this process,” said General Manager Eng. “As we continue to progress, I urge the community to remain vigilant and exercise caution near railroad crossings. It is crucial to obey all warning signs, signals, and gates, and never attempt to cross the tracks when a train is approaching. Safety is our priority, and we rely on the cooperation of the public to help safely transform the way people travel and connect in the region.”

In addition to testing, the MBTA will focus on qualifying train operators, maintenance personnel, and other staff on the new rail line’s specific characteristics and safety protocols. The MBTA will continue its public awareness campaign to educate the community about rail safety and the upcoming service. The commencement of revenue service will depend on successfully completing the testing phase and achieving performance and safety clearances as outlined in the “New Starts” process. The MBTA will continue to work closely with the FRA and other stakeholders to ensure a safe and successful launch of passenger rail service. 

The MBTA strongly emphasizes the crucial role of residents and visitors in the South Coast region in helping ensure safety around railroad crossings. With increased rail activity during the testing phase, pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists must remain vigilant and adhere to all safety guidelines and signals at crossings. Since April 2023, the MBTA has made efforts to enhance safety at its 246 surface grade crossings, including improvements to road infrastructure as well as technology partnerships with companies like Waze. Crews have added features such as new lane and fog lines, reflective bollards and road markers, and brighter LED lights on crossing gates intended to make crossings more visible to drivers. The MBTA has also collaborated with Waze so that Commuter Rail crossings now appear on the Waze application’s maps. Drivers using Waze are alerted in advance when they are approaching a railroad crossing. These efforts improve visibility and driver awareness around Commuter Rail grade crossings.

After careful consideration of factors such as trip distance, competitiveness, operating costs, quality of service, access, and affordability, the MBTA has determined that the fare structure for all stations in the South Coast Rail project will be priced in Zone 8. This means that passengers will pay a full fare of $12.25 and a reduced fare of $6.00. The decision to place these stations in Zone 8 aligns with the existing fare structure of the Commuter Rail, which is organized into zones ranging from 1A (the core metro area) to 10, as well as Interzone fares for trips that do not enter Zone 1A. The placement of the new Middleborough Station and the similarly distanced East Taunton Station in Zone 8 is consistent with the current Zone 8 designation of the Middleborough/Lakeville station, which will be replaced by the new Middleborough Station. Furthermore, a comparison of the straight-line distances of the new stations (Freetown, Fall River Depot, Church Street, and New Bedford) with existing Commuter Rail stations across various lines supports their placement in either Zone 8 or 9. 

Setting fares for new service is at the discretion of the General Manager, who has taken into account the principles of trip distance, competitiveness, operating costs, quality of service, access, and affordability in making this decision.

Also, according to Chief Communications Officer Gabrielle Mondestin, “seeing as though the South Coast Rail is an extension of the Middleborough Line Commuter Rail service, on which weekend service is already scheduled and offered, it is not a question of whether weekend service will be provided but rather at what levels as service schedules and levels are still under evaluation as part of the overall service schedule development. We will be sure to share the finalized details as soon as they’re available.”

Some have been waiting for South Coast Rail for decades, so what’s another year?