March 25, 2025 marked the opening of the South Coast Rail commuter line, bringing service to Southeastern Massachusetts for the first time in 65 years.
Advisory Board staff had the great honor of riding the Fall River/New Bedford Commuter line from Boston to East Taunton for the Opening Day celebration. Hundreds of elected officials, state officials, and South Coast riders gathered on a rainy Monday to mark this milestone in Massachusetts public transportation.
Among the officials in attendance were Governor Healey, Lieutenant Governor Driscoll, Taunton Mayor O’Connell, Transportation Secretary Tibbits-Nutt, MBTA General Manager Eng. Speaking to attendees, officials praised the hard work of those involved with the decades-long project, and commended the rail’s positive impacts on local economies, sustainable commitments, and the quality of life of South Coast residents.
For the Advisory Board, this extension of service marks the addition of two new members, and the AB warmly welcomes New Bedford and Fall River!
The Fall River/New Bedford line will bring service to the communities of Taunton, Freetown, New Bedford, Middleboro, and Fall River. The service will run 32 trips between South Station and East Taunton on weekdays (15 trips on the Fall River line and 17 trips on the New Bedford Line) and 26 trips between South Station and East Taunton on the weekends. The trains will run every 70 minutes on weekdays and every 2 hours on the weekends. Riders will be charged Zone 8 fares with a full fare of $12.25 and a reduced fare of $6. To celebrate the new service, weekend service on the line will be free through April.