Phase 1 work begins on US South Coast Rail project
Posted: 4 July 2019 | Global Railway Review | No comments yet
Commuter rail service between Boston and south-eastern Massachusetts is to be restored as construction work for Phase 1 of South Coast Rail project begins.
Work has begun on Phase 1 of the US South Coast Rail project.
The project will connect passengers by rail from the south station in Boston to the south coast of Massachusetts, U.S..
Phase 1 is due to start service in 2023.
Phase 1 work will include extending the Middleborough/Lakeville commuter rail service from Boston to Taunton, Fall River and New Bedford, and using the Middleborough Secondary (currently a freight line) to connect South Coast passengers with service on the aforementioned line. In turn, the existing Middleborough Secondary track from Pilgrim Junction to Cotley Junction (a distance of 7.1 miles) will also be upgraded. Phase 1 will also see reconstruction of 17.3 miles of the New Bedford Main Line and 11.7 miles of the Fall River Secondary.
Work was inaugurated at a ground-breaking ceremony attended by the Governor of Massachusetts Charlie Baker, Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito, Massachusetts Department of Transport (MassDOT) Secretary and CEO Stephanie Pollack and Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) General Manager Steve Poftak.
“South Coast Rail Phase 1 will connect Taunton, Fall River, New Bedford, and the surrounding areas to Boston, giving people more options to get to and from south-eastern Massachusetts,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “We are proud to advance South Coast Rail further than it’s ever been as part of our administration’s $8 billion MBTA infrastructure investment plan over the next five years.”
“After years of advocacy, the day when this expansion project will provide service to south-eastern Massachusetts communities is finally in sight,” said MassDOT Secretary and CEO Stephanie Pollack. “This is a proud moment for MassDOT and the MBTA, and a proud moment for the Commonwealth. I look forward to watching the infrastructure in this corridor take shape and am eager for the day in 2023 when the very first train operates on this route carrying passengers.”
In April 2019, MassDOT and the MBTA announced that the project’s finance plan had been completed and that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) had approved the final federal permit required for the program to advance.
With a total programme cost of $1.047 billion, Phase 1 of the South Coast Rail Program will be funded 100 per cent by the Commonwealth.
NEW REPORT FROM GLOBAL RAILWAY REVIEW: Track Insight – Track Maintenance | Transforming Track Maintenance Through Technology
Our latest expert-led Track Insight explores how industry leaders are revolutionising the future of track maintenance through cutting-edge innovation and real-world strategies.
From automation and robotics now streamlining inspections and repairs, to predictive maintenance powered by IoT sensors and advanced analytics, the rail sector is entering a new era of precision and efficiency. Companies like Goldschmidt, Bentley Systems, and MxV Rail are leading the charge, redefining how infrastructure is managed with AI, machine learning, and digital twins to reduce downtime and extend asset life.
In this new data-rich landscape, organisations such as Amtrak and the Rail Accident Investigation Branch are demonstrating how to turn vast streams of information—from track geometry to environmental monitoring into actionable intelligence for safer, smarter networks.
Download this insightful, practical guide for FREE and see how your operations can evolve – READ FOR FREE NOW!
Related topics
Related organisations
Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA), Massachusetts Department of Transport (MassDOT)
Related regions
Related people
Charlie Baker, Karyn Polito, Stephanie Pollack, Steve Poftak
