Cape Cod Central Railroad wants to convince the state that it can provide a link from the Cape to the commuter rail that runs between Middleboro and Boston. The railroad, which runs excursion and freight trains on the Cape, would use existing freight tracks and small passenger train cars to run trips about eight times each day from Buzzards Bay through Wareham to the Lakeville/Middleboro station, where passengers could catch the states commuter rail to Boston. Company President and other transportation planners have talked for years about returning passenger service to the Cape. But now, with the current economic and environmental demands, the time has never been better. President said Plans to submit the proposal this month to the state Executive Office of Transportation for consideration. If the project works, the company would look to expand the service to Hyannis in 2010. The passenger trains would run until the state extends commuter rail service to the Cape. But state planners, who must approve of the project for it to move forward, arent ready to get rolling yet. Like everywhere else, money is tight in the state transportation office deputy secretary of rail and intermodal programs. Legislators have directed millions toward the current project of expanding commuter rail service into Fall River and New Bedford, expected to be completed by 2014. (October 8, 2008, TendersInfo)
Whither to Fall River and New Bedford? An argument against commuter rail expansion in Middleborough…
The Herald News
January 13, 2009
The Massachusetts Executive Office of Transportation is considering options for future public transportation from Boston to Fall River and New Bedford. It has whittled a large piece of lumber whose position hadn’t shifted much in the 50 years since passenger rail service ended in 1958 to five working options: improved bus service and four — recently reduced to two — possible routes for restoring train service.
Bus service doesn’t concern us here, though it could prove to be the only feasible alternative. Of the two remaining rail options, one is due to be chosen within a year. These are:
1) The Stoughton line extended on an abandoned right-of-way through Easton to a split south of Taunton, and thence to Fall River and New Bedford.
2) The current Lakeville line to Middleboro, and thence to Taunton and beyond.
Of the two, I favor the Stoughton route because it is the most direct, and reduced travel time is the more costly trains’ advantage over buses.
Read the rest of the article at: http://www.heraldnews.com/opinions/x1017436042/GUEST-OPINION-Whither-to-Fall-River-and-New-Bedford-01-13-09