Residents of Massachusetts’ South Coast now have a new transportation option as the MBTA’s South Coast Rail service begins on Monday. This marks the first time in more than 60 years that residents can take a train from Boston to Taunton, Fall River, and New Bedford. The South Coast Rail will run 15 trips a day between Fall River and Boston, and 17 trips per day between New Bedford and Boston.
The project extends service on the Middleborough/Lakeville line, which will now be known as the Fall River/New Bedford line. Trains will run every 70 minutes on weekdays and every two hours on weekends. The East Taunton station will serve as a transfer point between direct trains to Boston and connecting trains to Fall River and New Bedford.
All new South Coast Rail stations will be located in Zone 8 of the MBTA, with a one-way ticket costing $12.25 and a reduced fare ticket costing $6. A round-trip ticket for the average rider will cost $24.50. Massachusetts Transportation Secretary Monica Tibbits-Nutt expressed excitement about the new service, stating that it will reduce the number of cars on the road and provide many people with the convenience of public transportation.
With the start of service, the MBTA aims to provide more frequent service to the South Coast region, aligning with the all-day service model of the Commuter Rail network. This development is expected to benefit residents of Taunton, Fall River, and New Bedford by offering them a more convenient and sustainable mode of transportation to and from Boston.
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