South Coast Rail Link
Encyclopedia
South Coast Rail is a project to build a new branch of the MBTA Commuter Rail
system, upon discontinued rail lines. The line has been proposed to restore service through the towns of Taunton
, Berkley
, Fall River
, Freetown
, and New Bedford
, on the south coast of Massachusetts. When finished, it will become part of the Providence/Stoughton Line
. It would restore some of the lines of the Old Colony Railroad
.
network. From 1893 to 1959 the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad
operated passenger rail service throughout southeastern Massachusetts as part of its lease of the Old Colony system. The South Coast Rail route was first proposed in the 1980s to spur development of the New Bedford and Fall River areas. It was scheduled to open in 2016 under earlier proposals, though Commonwealth Treasurer Tim Cahill in May 2009 called the chances of this happening "bleak," given the economic climate in Massachusetts at the time.
In June 2010, the state of Massachusetts finished purchasing track from freight company CSX. Governor Deval Patrick
then announced that the project would break ground soon with work beginning first on bridge repairs.
On 17 February 2010, it was announced that the MBTA had received $20 million in TIGER
grants from the federal government to rebuild bridges in New Bedford for the future rail line, the first construction on the line.
On 22 March 2011, an environmental report on the South Coast Rail project by the US Army Corps of Engineers was released. It recommended the service be routed through Stoughton, Massachusetts
, before continuing south via an abandoned New Haven Railroad right-of-way, then splitting south of Taunton with branches to Fall River and New Bedford. The other option studied was rail service to Attleboro, Massachusetts
and bus service on to the southern termini. Federal funding for the project was contingent on the completion of the study.
MBTA Commuter Rail
The MBTA Commuter Rail serves as the regional rail arm of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, in the United States. It is operated under contract by the Massachusetts Bay Commuter Railroad Company a joint partnership of Veolia Transportation, Bombardier Transportation and Alternate...
system, upon discontinued rail lines. The line has been proposed to restore service through the towns of Taunton
Taunton, Massachusetts
Taunton is a city in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States. It is the seat of Bristol County and the hub of the Greater Taunton Area. The city is located south of Boston, east of Providence, north of Fall River and west of Plymouth. The City of Taunton is situated on the Taunton River...
, Berkley
Berkley, Massachusetts
Berkley is a town in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 5,749 at the 2000 census, making it the least populated town in the county.-Geography:...
, Fall River
Fall River, Massachusetts
Fall River is a city in Bristol County, Massachusetts, in the United States. It is located about south of Boston, southeast of Providence, Rhode Island, and west of New Bedford and south of Taunton. The city's population was 88,857 during the 2010 census, making it the tenth largest city in...
, Freetown
Freetown, Massachusetts
Freetown is a town in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 8,870 at the 2010 census.Freetown is one of the oldest communities in the United States, having been settled by the Pilgrims and their descendants in the latter half of the 17th century. The town once included...
, and New Bedford
New Bedford, Massachusetts
New Bedford is a city in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States, located south of Boston, southeast of Providence, Rhode Island, and about east of Fall River. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 95,072, making it the sixth-largest city in Massachusetts...
, on the south coast of Massachusetts. When finished, it will become part of the Providence/Stoughton Line
Providence/Stoughton Line
The Providence/Stoughton Line is a line of the MBTA Commuter Rail system running southwest from Boston, Massachusetts, USA. The main line was originally built by the Boston and Providence Rail Road, and now carries service between Boston and T. F. Green Airport, Rhode Island...
. It would restore some of the lines of the Old Colony Railroad
Old Colony Railroad
The Old Colony Railroad was a major railroad system, mainly covering southeastern Massachusetts and parts of Rhode Island. It operated from 1845 to 1893. Old Colony trains ran from Boston to points such as Plymouth, Fall River, New Bedford, Newport, Providence, Fitchburg, Lowell and Cape Cod...
.
History
The lines proposed for commuter rail service date from 1840 and were later part of the Old Colony RailroadOld Colony Railroad
The Old Colony Railroad was a major railroad system, mainly covering southeastern Massachusetts and parts of Rhode Island. It operated from 1845 to 1893. Old Colony trains ran from Boston to points such as Plymouth, Fall River, New Bedford, Newport, Providence, Fitchburg, Lowell and Cape Cod...
network. From 1893 to 1959 the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad
New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad
The New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad , was a railroad that operated in the northeast United States from 1872 to 1968 which served the states of Connecticut, New York, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts...
operated passenger rail service throughout southeastern Massachusetts as part of its lease of the Old Colony system. The South Coast Rail route was first proposed in the 1980s to spur development of the New Bedford and Fall River areas. It was scheduled to open in 2016 under earlier proposals, though Commonwealth Treasurer Tim Cahill in May 2009 called the chances of this happening "bleak," given the economic climate in Massachusetts at the time.
In June 2010, the state of Massachusetts finished purchasing track from freight company CSX. Governor Deval Patrick
Deval Patrick
Deval Laurdine Patrick is the 71st and current Governor of Massachusetts. A member of the Democratic Party, Patrick served as an Assistant United States Attorney General under President Bill Clinton...
then announced that the project would break ground soon with work beginning first on bridge repairs.
On 17 February 2010, it was announced that the MBTA had received $20 million in TIGER
Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery
Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery is a supplementary discretionary grant program included in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009...
grants from the federal government to rebuild bridges in New Bedford for the future rail line, the first construction on the line.
On 22 March 2011, an environmental report on the South Coast Rail project by the US Army Corps of Engineers was released. It recommended the service be routed through Stoughton, Massachusetts
Stoughton, Massachusetts
Stoughton is a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 26,962 at the 2010 census. The town is located approximately from Boston, from Providence, and from Cape Cod.-History:...
, before continuing south via an abandoned New Haven Railroad right-of-way, then splitting south of Taunton with branches to Fall River and New Bedford. The other option studied was rail service to Attleboro, Massachusetts
Attleboro, Massachusetts
Attleboro is a city in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States and is immediately north of Pawtucket, Rhode Island. Once known as "The Jewelry Capital of the World" for its many jewelry manufacturers, Attleboro had a population of 42,068 at the 2000 census, and a population of 43,645 as of...
and bus service on to the southern termini. Federal funding for the project was contingent on the completion of the study.