MBTA Sets Opening Date for South Coast Rail Line
The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) has announced the tentative opening date for the South Coast Rail Line for March 24. This date is pending approval from the Federal Railroad Administration.
The new rail service will directly connect several cities, including Fall River, Freetown, Middleboro, New Bedford, and Taunton, to Boston and other destinations. All South Coast Rail platforms will be located within fare Zone 8. A one-way trip to Boston’s South Station will be priced at $12.25 and $6 for reduced fares. On holidays and weekends, fares will be $10 each way.
During a public meeting on Monday, Feb. 10, MBTA officials, including MBTA General Manager Phillip Eng, said the agency anticipates the commuter trains operating every 70 minutes on weekdays and every two hours on weekends.
The Fall River Herald News noted that the service will offer 32 weekday trips between South Station and East Taunton, 15 to and from Fall River, and 17 to and from New Bedford. On weekends, the service will offer 26 trips between the two stations. A late-night service will have the last trains departing from Boston just before midnight.
Officials also said the current Middleboro/Lakeville Line will be renamed the Fall River/New Bedford Line.
While MBTA officials confirmed some specifics at Monday’s meeting, they have not shared details on a daily or weekend train schedule. For more questions about the new rail initiative, email the South Coast Rail group at .
