South Coast Rail to Offer Free Rides on Weekends Through April

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) is celebrating the return of passenger train service to southeastern Massachusetts by offering free weekend rides and parking through April.

Pending final approval by the Federal Railroad Administration, commuter rail service to Fall River and New Bedford will begin on March 24. Train schedules will be published during the week of March 3. Weekday service is expected to start at 4:30 a.m. and end with trains departing from Boston's South Station at midnight.

Passengers can ride for free on weekends between March 29 and April 27 if they board or end their train trip at one of the six South Coast Rail stations. Free rides to and from these stations will also be available on Patriots Day, according to a report by WJAR-TV NBC 10.

The MBTA has also announced that its Commuter Rail parking will be free from March 24 through the end of the day on April 30 at the following South Coast rail station parking lots: Church Street, East Taunton, Fall River Depot, Freetown, Middleborough, and New Bedford. If parking lots fill up, however, this free promotion may end.

“Providing free weekend service and parking through April is something we are pleased to offer riders to encourage more people to experience the convenience of this valuable transportation expansion,” said MBTA's general manager, Phillip Eng, in a news release shared with the New Bedford Guide.

Once the rail service officially launches, the weekend fares will be $10. Parking will be $4 on weekdays and $2 on weekends.

With its launch on March 24, South Coast Rail will return passenger train service to southeastern Massachusetts for the first time in nearly 65 years.