MBTA Reaches Significant Milestone for South Coast Rail: Keolis Has Assumed Dispatcher Duties

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) announced that the dispatching responsibilities for the South Coast Rail territory has been transferred to MBTA’s Railroad Operations division and will now be performed by its operating partner Keolis Commuter Services, marking a significant milestone in the project’s progress.

The upcoming transition includes preparations for Keolis to assume maintenance responsibilities effective February 1, 2025, further consolidating operational oversight under MBTA management.

Currently, Massachusetts Coastal Railroad manages dispatch operations and is actively facilitating the transition to Keolis, ensuring a seamless integration into the Commuter Rail system.

The shift to Keolis for dispatch operations underscores the project’s evolution and its alignment with established timelines. Initiated in 2019, the South Coast Rail project aims to restore passenger rail service between Boston and Southeastern Massachusetts, after over 65 years of hiatus.

Passenger service is anticipated to commence in Spring 2025 and the fare structure for all South Coast Rail stations will align with Zone 8 pricing of the existing Commuter Rail fare structure.

Some trains may pass at speeds up to 79 miles per hour. The MBTA emphasizes public safety, urging caution near rail tracks and underscoring the importance of avoiding trespassing.

With Automatic Train Control (ATC) testing completed, additional testing is underway, including testing of over 800 Positive Train Control (PTC) functions. Beginning in August, two test trains will be testing simultaneously.

-via Press Release

Plan to Provide $460M to Modernize Washington Metro, Transform Regional Transit

The Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG) and the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) boards jointly endorsed recommendations from the DMVMoves Task Force and called on regional leaders to advance funding solutions to support Metro’s long-term modernization and strengthen coordination among the region’s 14 transit operators, including Metro, MARC, VRE, and local bus systems.

Norfolk Southern Shareholders Approve Transaction with Union Pacific

Norfolk Southern Corporation today announced that its shareholders voted overwhelmingly, with nearly 99% of the shares cast in favor, to approve its previously announced transaction with Union Pacific at the company’s Special Meeting of Shareholders (the “Special Meeting”) held earlier today.