South Coast Rail Update

Construction Updates for April & May 2024

The schedule for this infrastructure project is weather dependent and subject to change without notice.

Middleborough/Lakeville Line Service Alert for April 27 to May 5

From Saturday, April 27 through Sunday, May 5, buses will replace train service between Middleborough/Lakeville and Bridgewater to allow for work on the South Coast Rail Project. Please see MBTA alerts for updates.

Middleborough, Lakeville, Raynham,Taunton:

Middleborough Line Overnight Work and Test Trains

The work connected to the above service alert will require overnight hours along the Middleborough Line including the running of test trains.

Location of work: Railroad right-of-way along the Middleborough Line from Middleborough to Taunton

Dates/Hours of Work: •Wednesday, April 24 to Thursday, April 25 and Thursday, April 25 to Friday, April 26, 11:00 PM to 7:00 AM •Saturday, April 27 through Sunday, May 5, 10:00 PM to 5:00 AM

 Berkley, Freetown, Fall River:  Brush Cutting and Tree Trimming along the Railroad

Crews continue to clear vegetation along the railroad right-of-way and at railroad access easements across the MBTA South Coast Rail lines. This work will improve the safety and visibility for trains operating along these lines.

Dates/Hours of Work: Monday to Sunday, 6:00 AM to 7:00 PM

Middleborough, Lakeville, Raynham, Taunton, Freetown, Fall River, and New Bedford:

Signal System Installations and Testing

Installations and testing for the railroad signal system for the entire South Coast Rail Phase 1 is ongoing along the railroad right-of-way and at railroad crossings. Please be advised that during this work, signals may be disabled.  In those instances, railroad workers known as flaggers will be in place to safely direct train traffic through crossings, and drivers should heed the flaggers' directions. 

The project will also be continuing to run test trains along the South Coast Rail lines to make sure the new signal systems are properly working. Abutters to the railroad may notice the increased train traffic and crossing signal usage.  

Daytime Work across the South Coast Rail Lines 

Construction, primarily on punch list items, is ongoing at station and layover sites and along the railroad right-of-way from Middleborough to New Bedford and Fall River.

Location of Work: New Middleborough Station site, 161 South Main Street, Middleborough •East Taunton Station site, 1141 County Street, Taunton •Church Street Station site, 387 Church Street, New Bedford •Wamsutta Layover Facility site, 217 Herman Melville Boulevard, New Bedford •New Bedford Station Site, Acushnet Avenue (at Whale’s Tooth Parking Lot), New Bedford •Weaver's Cove Layover Facility, 2680 North Main Street, Fall River •Middleborough Line, New Bedford Line, and Fall River Line right-of-way

Dates/Hours of Work: Monday to Sunday, 6:00 AM to 7:00 PM 

Please note that although regular daytime construction hours begin at 6:00 AM, abutters may notice crews arriving at the construction sites prior to this time.