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Providence/Stoughton Line

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Providence/Stoughton Line
An inbound Providence/Stoughton Line train approaching Canton Junction in April 2016
Overview
OwnerMBTA (within Massachusetts)
Amtrak (within Rhode Island)
LocaleSoutheastern Massachusetts
Rhode Island
Termini
Stations18
Websitewww.mbta.com/schedules/CR-Providence
Service
SystemMBTA Commuter Rail
Train number(s)800–841, 860–893 (weekday)
1800-1819 (Saturday)
2800-2819 (Sunday)
Operator(s)Keolis North America
Daily ridership17,648[1]
Technical
Line length62.9 miles (101.2 km) (South Station–Wickford Junction)
18.9 miles (30.4 km) (South Station–Stoughton)[2]
Track gauge4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)
Route map

Legend
0.0 mi
0 km
 South Station
Silver Line (MBTA) Red Line (MBTA) MBTA Commuter Rail Amtrak
Greenbush Old Colony
Fairmount
 Orange   to Oak Grove
1.2 mi
1.9 km
 Back Bay
Orange Line (MBTA) MBTA Commuter Rail Amtrak
 Framingham/Worcester 
 Massachusetts Avenue
2.2 mi
3.5 km
 Ruggles
Orange Line (MBTA) MBTA Commuter Rail
 Roxbury Crossing
Jackson Square
Stony Brook
Green Street
Forest Hills
Orange Line (MBTA)
Needham
6.5 mi
10.5 km
Mount Hope (closed 1979)
8.4 mi
13.5 km
Hyde Park
Fairmount
9.5 mi
15.3 km
Readville
Dedham Branch
Franklin/Foxboro
11.4 mi
18.3 km
 Route 128
Amtrak
14.8 mi
23.8 km
 Canton Junction
Stoughton Branch
15.6 mi
25.1 km
 Canton Center
18.9 mi
30.4 km
 Stoughton
Stoughton Layover
South Coast Rail (Phase 2)
17.9 mi
28.8 km
 Sharon
24.7 mi
39.8 km
 Mansfield
31.8 mi
51.2 km
 Attleboro
Attleboro Layover
36.8 mi
59.2 km
 South Attleboro
MA
RI
39.5 mi
63.6 km
 Pawtucket/​Central Falls
Pawtucket Layover
43.6 mi
70.2 km
 Providence
Amtrak
51.9 mi
83.5 km
 T. F. Green Airport
T.F. Green Airport
62.9 mi
101.2 km
 Wickford Junction
Northeast Corridor
to Washington, D.C.
This diagram:

The Providence/Stoughton Line is an MBTA Commuter Rail service in Massachusetts and Rhode Island, primarily serving the southwestern suburbs of Boston. Most service runs entirely on the Northeast Corridor between South Station in Boston and Providence station or Wickford Junction station in Rhode Island, while the Stoughton Branch splits at Canton Junction and terminates at Stoughton. It is the longest MBTA Commuter Rail line, and the only one that operates outside Massachusetts. The line is the busiest on the MBTA Commuter Rail system, with 17,648 daily boardings in an October 2022 count.

The portion between Boston and Providence was originally built by the Boston and Providence Railroad between 1834 and 1847. The portion south of Providence was built by the New York, Providence and Boston Railroad in 1837, while the Stoughton Branch was built by the Stoughton Branch Railroad in 1845. The lines were acquired by the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad in the 1890s.

The MBTA began subsidizing service in the 1960s, and purchased the infrastructure and rolling stock from Penn Central in 1973. Service was cut back to Attleboro in 1981, but rush-hour service returned as far as Providence in 1988 under an agreement with the state of Rhode Island. Off-peak service to Rhode Island resumed in 2000. An extension south from Providence opened to T. F. Green Airport in 2010 and to Wickford Junction in 2012. All stations have been made accessible with high-level platforms. Newer stations like T.F. Green Airport, as well as stations shared with Amtrak, largely have full-length high level platforms; older stations have mostly been retrofitted with "mini-high" platforms one car length long.

History

[edit]
An Attleboro/Stoughton Line train in 1982
South Attleboro station opened in 1990. This photograph was taken in 2013.

The Boston and Providence Railroad (B&P) opened between Boston and Sprague Mansion in 1834, and on to Providence in 1835. A new line between Providence and East Junction via Central Falls, shared with the Providence and Worcester Railroad south of Central Falls, opened in October 1847. The B&P was leased by the Old Colony Railroad in 1888; the Old Colony was in turn leased by the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad in 1893.[3]

At the peak of service around the turn of the century, weekday service included six Boston–Providence local round trips, seven round trips from Taunton and New Bedford via Mansfield, 62 Boston–Forest Hills round trips running every 15 minutes, 12 Boston–Dedham round trips via Readville and 24 via West Roxbury, and 11 intercity round trips from beyond Providence. Connections to additional branch line trains were made at Canton Junction, Mansfield, and East Junction.[3] Forest Hills service was soon decimated by the competing Washington Street Elevated; branch line service declined in the 1920s and 1930s. Further reductions occurred after World War II; cuts in July 1959 reduced Providence service from 12 to nine round trips, Dedham service to one round trip, and Stoughton service to two round trips.[3][4]

MBTA era

[edit]

On December 31, 1968, the recently formed Penn Central bought the failing New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad. The MBTA bought the section of the Providence–Boston line in Massachusetts, as well as many other lines including the Stoughton Branch, from Penn Central on January 27, 1973. On April 1, 1976 Conrail took over Penn Central and the commuter rail equipment was sold to the MBTA. Conrail continued to operate the line under contract to the MBTA until 1977, when the Boston and Maine Railroad became the sole contractor for all MBTA commuter rail service. Full subsidies by the MBTA for the Providence and Stoughton lines began on September 28, 1976, before which the Federal government helped. On March 31, 1977, the Greater Attleboro Taunton Regional Transit Authority and Rhode Island Department of Transportation began to subsidize service beyond the MBTA district, and Stoughton began to pay to keep its station open, that cost later going to the Brockton Area Transit Authority.

On November 3, 1979, the line was closed north of Readville for long-term reconstruction as part of the Southwest Corridor project. All trains began using what is now the Fairmount Line, and special shuttle trains connected South Station to Back Bay. The new line, rebuilt below grade with space for three tracks (the old one had been above grade with room for four tracks), opened on October 5, 1987.[5] The Orange Line shares the corridor between Back Bay and Forest Hills.

After Rhode Island cut back its subsidy, Sunday service was truncated to Attleboro in October 1977, with off-peak and Saturday service following suit in April 1979. On February 20, 1981, the MBTA stopped serving Rhode Island altogether after that state declined to renew its subsidy.[5] On September 17, 1986, Massachusetts and Rhode Island reached an agreement to resume service.[6] Rush-hour service to Rhode Island was restored on February 1, 1988. On June 20, 1990, a new stop opened in South Attleboro and most trains were extended to the station; regular Sunday service returned in 1992.[5]

In 1990, a northbound commuter train was involved in a collision with a northbound Night Owl train. The accident, which occurred to the west of Back Bay station, injured over four hundred people, although there were no fatalities.[7]

Some off-peak weekday trains were extended to Providence starting on December 11, 2000.[5] On July 24, 2006, the MBTA increased weekday Providence service from 11 to 15 daily round trips. Weekend service to Providence resumed on July 29, and a new layover facility was opened in Pawtucket.[8][9][10]

Extensions

[edit]
Map of South County Commuter Rail project, showing the extension to T.F. Green Airport and Wickford Junction

As part of the South County Commuter Rail initiative, a 20-mile extension past Providence to T. F. Green Airport and Wickford Junction in Rhode Island is now fully open. The T. F. Green Airport part of the extension opened in December 2010, with Wickford Junction service beginning in April 2012.[11] An infill station at Pawtucket/​Central Falls opened on January 23, 2023.[12][13]

A further 24-mile extension is under consideration by the Rhode Island Department of Transportation. Possible stops include Cranston and East Greenwich, plus existing Amtrak stations in Kingston and Westerly. Rhode Island eventually plans to have its own statewide commuter service along the Northeast Corridor that would connect with MBTA service and an extension of Shore Line East.[14] This would be the first commuter service to Westerly since the last state-sponsored train was run in December 1979.[5] A passing siding and new platforms at Kingston, completed in 2017, may enable extension of some trains there in the near term.[15]

Amtrak electrified the Providence Line in 2000, but the MBTA has not utilized this. In 2019, the MBTA had preliminary discussions with Amtrak about leasing Siemens ACS-64 electric locomotives to test on the Providence Line.[16] A 1.7-mile (2.7 km) section of non-electrified platform sidings at Attleboro, not included in the initial Amtrak electrification, was planned for electrification in mid-2022 to support future electric MBTA operations.[17] In June 2022, the MBTA indicated plans to pilot electric service on the line using Amtrak locomotives around 2024. Full electric service (including the Stoughton Branch) using battery electric multiple units would take place in 2028–29.[18]

Phase 2 of the South Coast Rail project, planned to open in 2030, would extend the Stoughton Branch south over the abandoned Dighton and Somerset Railroad. It would join Phase 1 (scheduled to open in late 2023) near East Taunton station and replace the section of the Phase 1 route through Middleborough.

Special event service

[edit]

In August 1971, the MBTA began operating Boston–Foxboro and Providence–Foxboro service for events at the new Foxboro Stadium.[5][19] Providence service ended early in the 1973 season due to insufficient ridership; Boston service ended that October.[20] Boston service via the Franklin Line resumed in 1986.[21] It was rerouted over the Providence/Stoughton Line in 1989, with intermediate stops at Back Bay, Hyde Park, Route 128, Canton Junction, Sharon, and Mansfield; a reverse move was made at Mansfield to access the Framingham Secondary.[22] Boston–Foxboro service was again rerouted over the Franklin Line in 1995.[23][24] Providence–Foxboro event service resumed for the 1997 season, with intermediate stops at South Attleboro, Attleboro, and Mansfield.[25][26] Event service was extended to T.F. Green Airport in 2012, but cut back to Providence in 2019.[27][28]

COVID-19 pandemic

[edit]

Substantially reduced schedules were in effect from March 16 to June 23, 2020.[5] Service changes effective November 2, 2020, shifted some peak service to off-peak, providing 60-minute all-day headways between Providence and Boston.[29] Reduced schedules were again put in effect on December 14, 2020.[30][5] As part of a schedule change on January 23, 2021, Sunday morning Boston–Providence service began operation for the first time since the New Haven era.[31] On February 26, 2021, South Attleboro station was temporarily closed due to structural deterioration.[5] Full service was restored on April 5, 2021.[32] As part of that schedule change, all Providence/Stoughton Line trains began stopping at Ruggles station after an additional platform there was completed.[33][34] Additionally, the final Providence-bound train on weekdays began stopping at Forest Hills station to provide a transfer to a shuttle train to Needham.[35][36] During the closure of the Orange Line from August 19 to September 18, 2022, additional Providence/Stoughton Line trains stopped at Forest Hills.[37] One of these trains – a midday Providence outbound – continued to stop after September 19.[38]

Daily ridership reached 17,648 in October 2022 – 69% of pre-COVID ridership.[1] On October 2, 2023, the last evening Stoughton-bound train began operating via the Fairmount Line – the first such service since 2004.[39] South Attleboro station reopened with limited weekday service – three northbound and four southbound trains – on May 20, 2024. All weekend service and some weekday service began stopping at Readville station to provide timed transfers with Franklin/Foxboro Line trains operating over the Fairmount Line.[40][41]

Service

[edit]

As of February 2022, weekday service has 20 Boston–Providence round trips, half of which run to Wickford Junction, and 16 Boston–Stoughton round trips. Weekend service has nine Boston–Providence round trips, with no Wickford Junction or Stoughton service.[42]

The main branch forms the far northern leg of Amtrak's Northeast Corridor. All Acela Express trains and all Northeast Regional routes between Boston and New York City run along this line. South Station, Back Bay, Route 128 and Providence have long ranked among the busiest Amtrak stations in the country. With fast and frequent MBTA and Amtrak service, the Providence-Boston share of the Northeast Corridor is one of the busiest rail lines in the country.

Ownership and financing

[edit]

The MBTA owns the section from Boston to the Rhode Island border (called the Attleboro Line), while Amtrak owns all track in Rhode Island.[43] The entire line is part of the Northeast Corridor.

As part of the 1988[44] Pilgrim Partnership Agreement, Rhode Island provides capital funding (including some of its federal formula funds) for MBTA expansion in the state. Massachusetts (through the MBTA) provides the operating subsidy for MBTA Commuter Rail service in return.[45] Rhode Island also pays Amtrak to allow the MBTA to use its tracks.[46]

Station listing

[edit]
Commuter rail platform at Ruggles station
Platforms and station building at Mansfield
Former station at Pawtucket/Central Falls, last used in 1981
Fare zone Location Miles (km)[2][47] Station Connections and notes
1A Boston 0.0 (0.0) Disabled access South Station Amtrak Amtrak: Acela, Lake Shore Limited, Northeast Regional
MBTA Commuter Rail: Fairmount, Framingham/Worcester, Franklin/Foxboro, Greenbush, Old Colony, and Needham lines; CapeFlyer (seasonal)
MBTA subway: Red Line; Silver Line (SL1, SL2, SL3, SL4)
Bus transport MBTA bus: 4, 7, 11
Bus transport Intercity buses at South Station Bus Terminal
1.2 (1.9) Disabled access Back Bay Amtrak Amtrak: Acela Express, Lake Shore Limited, Northeast Regional
MBTA Commuter Rail: Framingham/Worcester, Franklin/Foxboro, and Needham lines
MBTA subway: Orange Line
Bus transport MBTA bus: 10, 39
2.2 (3.5) Disabled access Ruggles MBTA Commuter Rail: Franklin/Foxboro and Needham lines
MBTA subway: Orange Line
Bus transport MBTA bus: 8, 15, 19, 22, 23, 28, 43, 44, 45, 47, CT2, CT3
5.0 (8.0) Disabled access Forest Hills Limited service
MBTA Commuter Rail: Franklin/Foxboro and Needham lines
MBTA subway: Orange Line
Bus transport MBTA bus: 16, 21, 30, 31, 32, 34, 34E, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 42, 50, 51
6.5 (10.5) Mount Hope Closed November 2, 1979
1 8.4 (13.5) Disabled access Hyde Park MBTA Commuter Rail: Franklin/Foxboro Line
Bus transport MBTA bus: 24, 32, 33, 50
2 9.5 (15.3) Disabled access Readville MBTA Commuter Rail: Fairmount and Franklin/Foxboro lines
Bus transport MBTA bus: 32, 33
Westwood 11.4 (18.3) Disabled access Route 128 Amtrak Amtrak: Acela Express, Northeast Regional
3 Canton 14.8 (23.8) Disabled access Canton Junction Split with Stoughton Branch
4 Sharon 17.9 (28.8) Disabled access Sharon
Foxborough 23.0 (37.0) East Foxboro Closed November 1977
6 Mansfield 24.7 (39.8) Disabled access Mansfield Bus transport Blue Apple Bus
7 Attleboro 31.8 (51.2) Disabled access Attleboro Bus transport GATRA: 10, 12, 15, 16, 18
36.8 (59.2) Disabled access South Attleboro Limited service
Bus transport GATRA: 11, 16
Bus transport RIPTA: 1, 35
Pawtucket, RI 39.0 (62.8) Pawtucket–​Central Falls Closed February 19, 1981
8 39.5 (63.6) Disabled access Pawtucket/​Central Falls Bus transport RIPTA: R-Line, 1, 71, 72, 73, 75, 76, 78, 80, QX
Providence, RI 43.6 (70.2) Disabled access Providence Amtrak Amtrak: Acela Express, Northeast Regional
Bus transport RIPTA: R-Line, 3, 4, 50, 51, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 66, 72
9 Warwick, RI 51.9 (83.5) Disabled access T.F. Green Airport Bus transport RIPTA:
10 North Kingstown, RI 62.9 (101.2) Disabled access Wickford Junction Bus transport RIPTA: 14, 65x, 66
  Currently operating station

Stoughton Branch

[edit]
State Fare zone Location Mile (km)[2] Station Connections and notes
MA 3 Canton 14.8 (23.8) Disabled access Canton Junction Splits from main line (Northeast Corridor)
15.6 (25.1) Disabled access Canton Center Bus transport MBTA bus: 716
4 Stoughton 18.9 (30.4) Disabled access Stoughton Bus transport BAT: 14
  Currently operating station

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Poftak, Steve (October 27, 2022). "GM Report" (PDF). Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. p. 6.
  2. ^ a b c "Ridership and Service Statistics" (PDF) (14th ed.). Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. 2014.
  3. ^ a b c Humphrey, Thomas J.; Clark, Norton D. (1985). Boston's Commuter Rail: The First 150 Years. Boston Street Railway Association. pp. 29–37. ISBN 9780685412947.
  4. ^ "Alpert Lops Off 18 Providence to Hub Trains". Boston Globe. July 3, 1959. p. 7 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i Belcher, Jonathan. "Changes to Transit Service in the MBTA district" (PDF). Boston Street Railway Association.
  6. ^ Sanborn, George M. (1992). A Chronicle of the Boston Transit System. Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. Archived from the original on 2015-08-18. Retrieved 2019-10-22 – via Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
  7. ^ Railroad Accident Report RAR-92-01: Derailment and Collision of Amtrak Passenger Train 66 with MBTA Commuter Train 906 at Back Bay Station, Boston, Massachusetts, December 12, 1990. National Transportation Safety Board. February 25, 1992.
  8. ^ "MBTA Expanding Train Service To Providence On Weekdays, Introducing New Service On Weekends" (Press release). Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. July 14, 2006.
  9. ^ Castellucci, John (25 April 2006). "Planned rail yard will expand routes, relieve neighbors". Providence Journal. Archived from the original on 24 September 2009.
  10. ^ "MBTA, U.S. Senator Jack Reed, RI Governor Carcieri, RIDOT Officially Open Pawtucket Layover Facility" (Press release). Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. August 2, 2006.
  11. ^ Samantha, Turner (4 November 2010). "Commuter Rail Station To Open In 2012". North Kingston Patch. Archived from the original on 25 April 2012. Retrieved 2 October 2011.
  12. ^ Shorey, Ethan (December 14, 2023). "Opening in January, new Pawtucket/CF train station set in motion two decades ago". The Valley Breeze. Retrieved December 14, 2022.
  13. ^ "Alerts: Providence/Stoughton Line". Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. December 23, 2022. Archived from the original on December 23, 2022.
  14. ^ Edwards and Kelcey, Inc (July 2001). "South County Commuter Rail Service: Operations Plan" (PDF). Rhode Island Department of Transportation. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 April 2009. Retrieved 2 October 2011.
  15. ^ Barrett, Chris (31 December 2009). "Kingston MBTA stop project proposed". Providence Business News. Retrieved 8 April 2013.
  16. ^ Vaccaro, Adam (March 21, 2019). "Take the E-train? MBTA mulling electric locomotives". Boston Globe.
  17. ^ Sawers, Alistair (January 25, 2021). "Regional/Urban Rail Transformation Update" (PDF). Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. p. 10.
  18. ^ Sawers, Alistar (June 23, 2022). "Regional Rail Transformation Update: Traction Power Planning for Regional and Urban Rail Services" (PDF). Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. p. 9.
  19. ^ "Special trains planned for Patriots' stadium". Boston Globe. July 17, 1971. p. 19 – via Newspapers.com.
  20. ^ "Patriots halt train service". Boston Globe. October 25, 1973. p. 50 – via Newspapers.com.
  21. ^ "MBTA to run trains to Patriots' games". Boston Globe. September 2, 1988. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.
  22. ^ Ackerman, Jerry (September 18, 1989). "The latest words from the streets". Boston Globe. p. 15 – via Newspapers.com.
  23. ^ "How to get to the game". Boston Globe. December 4, 1994. p. 63 – via Newspapers.com.
  24. ^ "How to get to the game". Boston Globe. September 10, 1995. p. 93 – via Newspapers.com.
  25. ^ "[Advertisement]". Boston Globe. October 11, 1996. p. 90 – via Newspapers.com.
  26. ^ "If you're going to the game..." Boston Globe. September 14, 1997. p. 64 – via Newspapers.com.
  27. ^ "Riding the T: Patriots". Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. Archived from the original on September 19, 2012.
  28. ^ "Gillette Stadium". Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. Archived from the original on August 22, 2019.
  29. ^ DiAdamo, Rob (September 14, 2020). "Fall 2020 Commuter Rail Schedule Changes" (PDF). Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority.
  30. ^ "Commuter Rail to Temporarily Operate Reduced Service Schedule Starting December 14" (Press release). Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. December 10, 2021.
  31. ^ "Providence/Stoughton Line 2021 Winter Schedule" (PDF). Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. January 23, 2021.
  32. ^ "Reminder: Spring 2021 Commuter Rail Schedules Take Effect April 5" (Press release). Keolis Commuter Services. April 1, 2021. Archived from the original on June 3, 2021. Retrieved June 4, 2021.
  33. ^ "Ruggles Elevators and Commuter Rail Platform Now Complete" (Press release). Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. April 7, 2021.
  34. ^ "Ruggles/Back Bay/South Station: Spring 2021 Schedule" (PDF). Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. April 5, 2021.
  35. ^ "Needham Line Spring 2021 Schedule" (PDF). Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. April 5, 2021.
  36. ^ "Providence/Stoughton Line Spring 2021 Schedule" (PDF). Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. April 5, 2021.
  37. ^ "Hyde Park - Forest Hills - Ruggles - Back Bay - South Station: 2022 Orange Line Surge Schedule" (PDF). Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. August 19, 2022.
  38. ^ "Alerts: Providence/Stoughton Line". Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. September 15, 2022. Archived from the original on September 16, 2022.
  39. ^ "Providence/Stoughton Line: Fall/Winter Schedule" (PDF). Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. October 2, 2023.
  40. ^ Coholan, Ryan (April 25, 2024). "Spring 2024 Transportation Schedule Changes" (PDF). Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. p. 7.
  41. ^ "Providence/Stoughton Line Spring/Summer Schedule" (PDF). Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. May 20, 2024. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 7, 2024.
  42. ^ Belcher, Jonathan (January–February 2022). "MBTA Vehicle Inventory as of February 28, 2022". Rollsign. Vol. 59, no. 1–2. Boston Street Railway Association. p. 17.
  43. ^ "Amtrak to continue providing service to the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority under new agreement" (Press release). Amtrak. August 7, 2017. Archived from the original on June 6, 2020.
  44. ^ "COMMUTER RAIL SERVICE TO WARWICK'S T.F. GREEN STATION UNDERWAY". Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. 8 December 2010. Retrieved 2 October 2011.
  45. ^ "South County Commuter Rail". Federal Transit Administration. 2011. Archived from the original on 27 September 2011. Retrieved 2 October 2011.
  46. ^ Bierman, Noah (10 September 2009). "Vote set on T link to R.I. airport". Boston Globe. Retrieved 2 October 2011.
  47. ^ Held, Patrick R. (2010). "Massachusetts Bay Colony Railroad Track Charts" (PDF). Johns Hopkins Association for Computing Machinery. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 8, 2013.
[edit]

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