MBTA: South Coast Rail will run on weekends. Here's why it's important and what it'll cost

FALL RIVER — South Coast Rail’s schedule is now a little bit clearer, with an MBTA spokesperson confirming to The Herald News that it will offer service on weekends.

But it is still unknown how often during the weekend that service will run.

“Seeing as ... South Coast Rail is an extension of the Middleborough line commuter rail service, on which weekend service is already scheduled and offered, it is not a question of whether weekend service will be provided, but rather at what levels,” said Maya Bingaman, MBTA communications manager.

Bingaman said the MBTA is still developing and evaluating South Coast Rail’s overall schedule.

“We will be sure to share the finalized details as soon as they’re available,” she said.

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Previous statements on weekend service were unclear

South Coast Rail aims to connect Fall River, New Bedford and Taunton to Boston by regular passenger train service for the first time since the late 1950s. It is estimated to start running passengers in May 2025.

But it had previously been unclear if commuter trains would run on weekends, or if service would be limited to the work week as a way of alleviating rush hour traffic.

MBTA officials had not committed to a simple yes-or-no in earlier statements. At a public meeting in April, South Coast Rail Director of Community Engagement Jean Fox said weekend service was likely, saying, “Right now, there’s weekend service on the Middleboro line. I would expect it to happen — but again, that’s a different department.” But at another public meeting in June, when asked point-blank if South Coast Rail would run on weekends, MBTA Chief Operating Officer Ryan Coholan did not answer the question.

The MBTA’s latest statement seems to confirm that trains will run on the weekends at some level.

Why commuter rail weekend service is important — and popular

Ken Fiola, executive vice president of Bristol County Economic Development Consultants, said he has been frustrated by not hearing definitive answers about scheduling, including the weekends.

He said people in the region might want to use the train to avoid fighting traffic on the Southeast Expressway and in the city, and the expense of parking in the city, to visit Boston on weekends for entertainment — sports games, museums, restaurants, sightseeing and more. Fiola said at least a minimum level of weekend service is a must.

“I don’t think anyone’s looking for continuous service during the weekend,” he said. “But having a morning train, an afternoon train and an evening train, I don’t think is too much to have.”

Jackson Moore-Otto, the regional rail lead at the Boston nonprofit advocacy group TransitMatters, said weekend service is key for projects like South Coast Rail to be successful.

After an initial drop in ridership due to the COVID pandemic, the MBTA refocused its service to be less centered around the 9-to-5 work schedule and has offered more service throughout the day, including late nights and on weekends. By one measure, weekend commuter rail ridership is 150% of what it was pre-pandemic.

“We have seen that the [MBTA] commuter rail has been the fastest-recovering commuter rail system in North America," Moore-Otto said. “We’ve seen ridership on the weekends set records.”  

Given the success, he said, he was confident the MBTA would stick to its word.

“When the T looks at how well weekend ridership has done on the rest of the commuter rail network, and considers things like the $10 weekend pass, which has been a huge hit which allows unlimited travel, I think there’s an operation consideration, a financial consideration and an equity consideration to make sure the SouthCoast gets the weekend service that has been such a hit on the rest of the network.”

What will South Coast Rail's weekend service cost?

At its June meeting, MBTA General Manager Philip Eng announced that all new South Coast Rail stations would be Zone 8 in terms of the fare — $12.25 each way if traveling all the way to Boston.

But on weekends and federal holidays, the fare is $10 and offers unlimited travel anywhere on the commuter rail network.

The $10 weekend pass was first introduced in 2018 to increase weekend ridership; it resulted in a significant boost in ridership and became permanent the next year.

Whether on weekends or during the week, the fare is free for children 11 and younger, the legally blind, military personnel in uniform, and police officers and firefighters. 

Dan Medeiros can be reached at [email protected]. Support local journalism by purchasing a digital or print subscription to The Herald News today.

This article originally appeared on The Herald News: MBTA: South Coast Rail will run on weekends, but schedule unknown