At a public meeting in Freetown last night, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) General Manager and CEO Phillip Eng officially announced that service to Fall River and New Bedford via SouthCoast Rail will likely begin on March 24.
The MBTA confirmed that from Fall River there will be 15 weekday total trips (to and from Boston) with a split with New Bedford of 26 total trips on weekends. A more detailed schedule will be available in early March, anticipating the first-weekday train leaving Fall River between 4:30 am and 5:00 am and the last train leaving Boston just before midnight.
Weekday trains will run approximately every 70 minutes while, on weekends, trains will operate approximately every 120 minutes.
Fares will be within the MBTA’s Zone 8 structure of $12.25 each way with a reduced fare of $6.00. Weekend rates are $10 for unlimited trips. Parking at the Fall River Depot will be $4.00 per day on weekdays and $2 on Saturdays and Sundays.
Most comments at the public meeting were positive although some residents on the train route expressed concerns.
Mr. Eng says the MBTA plans improvements to all service lines, highlighting the benefits of mass public transportation.
