Commuter Rail Extending to New Bedford and Fall River (Taunton: bus, train station)

[OutdoorLover]

I know there are a lot of mass transit advocates on the forum. Read this morning about extensions on the Commuter Rail line that currently terminates at Middleborough - these extensions will go to Fall River and New Bedford. It looks like service is expected to begin by the end of this year.

For more details:
https://newbedfordlight.org/after-de...-what-to-know/

[lrfox]

Originally Posted by OutdoorLover

I know there are a lot of mass transit advocates on the forum. Read this morning about extensions on the Commuter Rail line that currently terminates at Middleborough - these extensions will go to Fall River and New Bedford. It looks like service is expected to begin by the end of this year.

For more details:
https://newbedfordlight.org/after-de...-what-to-know/

This is one of those projects that's essential in the abstract, but has been heavily watered down by politics, high costs, and delays. After fighting tooth and nail with communities along the preferred route (through Hockomock Swamp), the state went with a "2-phase" approach with phase 1 (this current one) being routed via the Old Colony Line through Middleborough/Lakeville. That corridor is already congested, circuitous, and it doesn't stop at Back Bay. So the service at launch will be a good deal slower than the preferred route, but it was the quickest way to get trains rolling.

Still, it will be an improvement over coach bus service or driving. But if Phase 2 doesn't happen, it'll never have the impact that officials have spent decades saying it will have.

[yesmaybe]

It's a waste of money. Nobody's gonna ride it because it's too far away.

[msRB311]

of all the places to put the commuter rail....

[GeoffD]

Originally Posted by yesmaybe

It's a waste of money. Nobody's gonna ride it because it's too far away.

The Whales Tooth lot in New Bedford where they're building the train station is only 48 miles to South Station.

[massnative71]

Originally Posted by GeoffD

The Whales Tooth lot in New Bedford where they're building the train station is only 48 miles to South Station.

Driving mileage, or the proposed route?



The trip is a total sell if <1 hour, but 90 minutes (no delays) on 1950s technology choo choo trains is nothing more than an empty (and very expensive) gesture. This alone took 30+ years, I have zero confidence that our state government possesses the will or competency to bring the fast electrified rail that this should have been in Phase One. They can't even do this on the Providence line and that infrastructure has been in place for over 20 years!

[GeoffD]

Originally Posted by lrfox

But if Phase 2 doesn't happen, it'll never have the impact that officials have spent decades saying it will have.

There's also an option to run it from Taunton/Raynham up the I-495 median strip to the Northeast Corridor at Mansfield. 10 miles of new track with no grade crossings.

[lrfox]

Originally Posted by GeoffD

There's also an option to run it from Taunton/Raynham up the I-495 median strip to the Northeast Corridor at Mansfield. 10 miles of new track with no grade crossings.

Is this something that's been proposed? I don't think I've seen that suggested before.

[GeoffD]

Originally Posted by lrfox

Is this something that's been proposed? I don't think I've seen that suggested before.

I’ve seen it written about. The technical issue is something about where it meets the electrified Northeast Corridor tracks.

[yesmaybe]

Originally Posted by massnative71

They can't even do this on the Providence line and that infrastructure has been in place for over 20 years!

I think there was some talk of electrifying Fairmount.