These changes will likely make the situation worse, leading to increased overcrowding and even less dependable service,” one reader wrote.

BOSTON — Massachusetts’ South Coast Rail commuter operation is now officially in service. The 37-mile addition to the MBTA commuter rail network launched today (March 24, 2025), with the Fall River Herald News reporting that well over 100 people were on hand to catch the first train,

Like all other Commuter Rail trips, the first train Monday morning on the MBTA’s new Fall River/New Bedford line set off with a jolt. But unlike the rest, it was followed by an unfamiliar sound for the early hour: applause.