South Coast Rail opens Fall River–New Bedford commuter service with new East Taunton station

East Taunton Station — Commuter rail service connecting Fall River and New Bedford with Boston began this morning at a ribbon-cutting in Taunton, state and local officials said, marking the return of passenger trains to the South Coast after decades without service.

The launch, attended by Governor Maura Healey, Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll and Transportation Secretary Monica Tibbits-Nutt, opens the Fall River–New Bedford line as part of the South Coast Rail project. Officials and regional leaders described the new service as a boost for transit access, local business and housing opportunities in southeastern Massachusetts.

The new service will offer regular direct trips to Boston, with the MBTA and project partners presenting the schedule and rider benefits at the East Taunton ceremony. MBTA General Manager Phil Eng said, "Starting today, we are offering 32 direct trips every 70 minutes between Boston and Fall River and New Bedford," adding that weekend service will run about every two hours. Eng also said the MBTA and contractor Keolis completed more than 1,000 functional safety tests to secure Federal Railroad Administration concurrence before opening the line.

Why it matters: The South Coast Rail launch restores passenger rail service to a region that has lacked direct commuter trains for decades, officials said. Speakers stressed immediate and longer-term impacts: shorter and more reliable travel options for commuters and students, increased access for visitors and shoppers, and the potential to spur transit-oriented development and housing near stations.

Governor Maura Healey framed the opening as the result of sustained advocacy across administrations and agencies. "After 67 years we got here on South Coast Rail," Healey said, praising local officials, labor and state staff who worked on the project. She noted a proposed $8.4 billion, 10-year transportation plan referenced during remarks and encouraged continued coordination on transportation and housing.

Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll, who said she had seen similar effects as mayor of a commuter-rail city, called the launch "a historic milestone for the communities on the South Coast" and said rail can expand local economies and support tourism and events.

Secretary of Transportation Monica Tibbits-Nutt said the project represents "greater accessibility" and emphasized connections with regional transit authorities. "With new services linking GATRA and SRTA, residents now have more ways to move and more ways to thrive," Tibbits-Nutt said.

Local and regional transit leaders at the event described planned coordination for first-mile/last-mile connections. Mary Ellen DeFries, administrator of the Greater Attleboro Taunton Regional Transit Authority (GATRA), said RTAs will work with the MBTA to link local bus routes and shuttle services to the new stations. Michael Sullivan, CEO of the South Coast Chamber, highlighted economic and tourism opportunities tied to the rail line.

Officials also announced temporary fare policies to encourage ridership: regular fares are free through the end of the month and weekend rides are free through April; MBTA commuter-rail parking lots will be free for the promotional period, the MBTA said at the ceremony. The MBTA and partners urged riders to plan trips during the promotional period.

Service details announced at the event include: - 32 direct weekday trips between Boston and the Fall River/New Bedford line, described by MBTA leadership as operating on roughly a 70-minute headway for direct trips. - Weekend service of about 26 trips per day at roughly two-hour intervals. - Shuttle trains to provide additional connections for riders who miss direct trains. - All six new stations described as fully accessible and equipped with modern coaches.

The day’s celebration included a gubernatorial proclamation naming the week "South Coast Rail Week"; officials presented the proclamation at East Taunton. No formal legislative or agency votes were recorded at the ceremony; agency leaders framed the event as the operational start of service and a coordinated public rollout.

The rollout follows years of planning, construction and testing. MBTA leadership thanked unions, contractors and the MBTA/Keolis workforce for training and certifications that enabled the early March start. Officials reiterated commitments to monitor operations, maintain safety standards and continue coordination with municipal leaders on transit-oriented development and housing near stations.

The ceremony emphasized immediate rider benefits — access to colleges, workplaces and tourist destinations — and broader goals of regional connectivity. Officials encouraged residents to use the new service during the free-fare promotional window and to provide feedback as operations begin.

A proclamation and the service start were the principal formal items at the event; no motions, ordinance votes or other legislative actions were taken during the ceremony. Organizers said detailed schedules, fare information and first/last-mile connections will appear on MBTA and regional transit authority websites.