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Readers: How will the South Coast Rail delay affect you?

The project to extend commuter rail service to Southern Massachusetts is facing its third delay.

Scott Eisen for The Boston Globe

By Kristina DaPonte

1 minute to read

The South Coast Rail Project, which aims to extend the Middleborough/Lakeville Line of the commuter rail, has been delayed for a third time. Service is now slated to begin in May 2025.

Phillip Eng, the general manager of the MBTA, traveled to Southern Massachusetts last week to update residents on the project, which aims to extend commuter rail service to Taunton, Fall River, and New Bedford. The project was initially set to open in late 2023 before being pushed back to this summer. The latest delay moves service start back to next spring.

Eng said he wanted to announce the new timeline for the South Coast Rail Project at public meetings because “it became apparent that the schedule does not match what we had publicly advertised,” the Fall River Herald News reported.

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After reviewing the progress of the project, Eng opted to find new project leadership to ensure its overall success. Shifting the service timeline to spring 2025 will allow for more reliable first-day service, according to a statement from the MBTA.

“The MBTA is deeply committed to delivering the South Coast Rail project while upholding the highest standards of quality and safety before launching passenger service,” Eng said in a statement. “We recognize this project is especially important for the Fall River, New Bedford, and Taunton communities, and the surrounding region.”

Once completed, the project will provide commuters from the South Coast a straight trip to Boston for the first time in 70 years. Service will still go through Middleborough/Lakeville, but will split after Taunton to travel through Fall River and New Bedford.

We want to know: How will the service delays affect you?

If you’re a South Coast resident reliant on the commuter rail or you travel there for work, how will the delays in the route’s construction affect your day-to-day? Tell us by filling out the form or e-mailing us at [email protected], and your response may appear in a future Boston.com article.

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