For the first time in 65 years, cities and towns in southeastern Massachusetts will have passenger rail service

Boston (March 24, 2025) - Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), a member of the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, released the following statement celebrating the formal opening of South Coast Commuter Rail service. South Coast Rail will offer reliable public transit between Boston and communities in southeastern Massachusetts, including Taunton, New Bedford, Fall River, Middleborough, Freetown, and the surrounding region. It represents the first time since the late 1950s that riders on the South Coast can take a one-seat rail trip to Boston. Now, all major cities within 50 miles of Boston have Commuter Rail access.

“We are one stop closer to transit justice with daily Commuter Rail service to southeastern Massachusetts,” said Senator Markey. “The opening of South Coast Rail represents a long-awaited celebration for Taunton, Fall River, New Bedford, and beyond. I am grateful to Governor Healey, the MBTA, the Massachusetts Department of Transportation, and all the leaders and advocates on the South Coast who are making this project a reality. This milestone represents a major leap in addressing a critical gap in our state’s public transit system. Together, we are expanding rail service, reducing congestion, increasing economic opportunity, and more equitably connecting our Commonwealth. I look forward to continuing to work with state and local officials, community members, and our federal delegation to expand public transit throughout the South Coast and across Massachusetts.”

Senator Markey is a long-time advocate for expanding rail transit. He previously introduced the Building Rail Across Intercity Networks To Ride Around Interior of the Nation (BRAIN TRAIN) Act, which established a new $25 billion passenger rail grant program and required the Federal Railroad Administration to prioritize projects that connect historically under-connected areas such as the South Coast. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law established a new Corridor Identification and Development Program aligned with, and that includes language from Senator Markey’s BRAIN TRAIN Act. Last Congress, he introduced the All Aboard Act, which would dedicate $200 billion over five years to build high-speed rail, expand existing passenger rail service, and electrify the most heavily polluting railyards and corridors. The legislation also includes critical labor protections for the existing union labor workforce and creates a rail personnel training grant program for rail workers. Senator Markey has also been a strong advocate to secure funding for West-East passenger train service running through Boston, Worcester, and Western Massachusetts, helping to secure a $108 million grant for the project, followed by a second $36.8 million grant.

###