MBTA celebrating plan for battery-electric trains on Commuter Rail line
TRAINS. MATT. WELL, JESSICA STATE OFFICIALS ARE CELEBRATING THIS $54 MILLION PLAN TO BRING THOSE BATTERY ELECTRIC TRAINS HERE TO THE FAIRMONT COMMUTER RAIL LINE. NOW, LAST MONTH, THE MBTA BOARD OF DIRECTORS APPROVED THAT PLAN. THE TRANSPORTATION OFFICIALS SAY NOT ONLY WILL REDUCE AIR POLLUTION, BUT WILL PROVIDE FASTER, QUIETER AND MORE RELIABLE SERVICE. THE MBTA ANTICIPATES THAT THESE TRAINS WILL RUN EVERY 20 MINUTES ON WEEKDAYS, COMPARED TO THE 30 MINUTES WHICH THEY DO CURRENTLY. THE TRAINS WILL USE A HYBRID POWER WITH AN ONBOARD BATTERY THAT CHARGES WHEN OVERHEAD WIRES ARE AVAILABLE. NOW, MBTA OFFICIALS SAY THAT WHILE IT WILL TAKE BILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO FULLY ELECTRIFY THE ENTIRE MBTA SYSTEM, THIS IS A MAJOR FIRST STEP. THEY SAY, ESPECIALLY FOR THIS COMMUNITY. IT’S ALSO A BIG WIN FOR COMMUNITIES THAT FOR FAR TOO LONG HAVE BORNE THE BRUNT OF ENVIRONMENTAL INJUSTICES FROM AIR POLLUTION TO NOISE POLLUTION. DATA DOES TELL US THAT TRANSPORTATION, INCLUDING AUTOMOBILE TRAVEL, MAKES UP 38% OF THE TOTAL EMISSIONS FROM MASSACHUSETTS. THAT’S A TOP CONTRIBUTOR. AND WHILE THE T IS RESPONSIBLE FOR 1% OF THAT, WE WANT TO DO BETTER AND WE KNOW WE CAN DO BETTER. NOW, THE FAIRMONT COMMUTER RAIL LINE IS THE SHORTEST OF THE COMMUTER RAIL LINES, WITH NINE STATIONS, INCLUDING SOUTH STATION IN READVILLE. MAYOR WU SAYING IN HER REMARKS THAT AS OF TODAY, THE FAIRMONT LINE HAS RECOVERED 160% OF ITS PRE-COVID RIDERSHIP. MBTA GENERAL MANAGER PHIL NG ADDING THAT THE PROVIDENCE LINE ALREADY HAS SOME ELECTRIFICATION, BUT THAT T OFFICIALS ARE LOOKING AT IMPROVING SERVICE ON THE NEWBURYPORT, ROCKPORT LINE, INCLUDING POTENTIALLY GOING ELECTRIC. KEOLIS OFFICIALS, WHICH OPERATE THE COMMUTER RAIL, SAYING THIS BATTERY ELECTRIC FLEET HERE ON THE FAIRMONT LINE WILL EXPECT TO BEGIN SERVICE IN 2028. REPORTIN
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MBTA celebrating plan for battery-electric trains on Commuter Rail line
The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority is celebrating a $54 million plan to bring battery-electric train service to the Fairmount Commuter Rail Line.The new battery-electric multiple-unit trains are expected to begin service in early 2028, providing faster, quieter, and more reliable service while significantly reducing air pollution.The MBTA anticipates the trains will run every 20 minutes on weekdays, compared to 30 minutes which they do now. The trains will use hybrid power with an onboard battery that charges when overhead catenary wires are available. "It’s also a big win for communities that for far too long have borne the brunt of environmental injustices from air pollution to noise pollution," Gov. Maura Healey said."Data does tell us that transportation, including automobile travel, makes up 38% of the total emissions for Massachusetts. That’s a top contributor, and while the T is responsible for 1% of that, we want to do better, and we know we can do better," MBTA General Manager Phillip Eng said. The Fairmount Commuter Rail Line is the shortest of the Commuter Rail Lines, with nine stations, including South Station and Readville. Wu said the Fairmont line has recovered 160% of its pre-COVID-19 ridership. The Providence Line already has some electrification, Eng said. Keolis officials, who operate the Commuter Rail, said the battery electric fleet on the Fairmont Line is expected to begin service in 2028.
BOSTON —
The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority is celebrating a $54 million plan to bring battery-electric train service to the Fairmount Commuter Rail Line.
The new battery-electric multiple-unit trains are expected to begin service in early 2028, providing faster, quieter, and more reliable service while significantly reducing air pollution.
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The MBTA anticipates the trains will run every 20 minutes on weekdays, compared to 30 minutes which they do now. The trains will use hybrid power with an onboard battery that charges when overhead catenary wires are available.
"It’s also a big win for communities that for far too long have borne the brunt of environmental injustices from air pollution to noise pollution," Gov. Maura Healey said.
"Data does tell us that transportation, including automobile travel, makes up 38% of the total emissions for Massachusetts. That’s a top contributor, and while the T is responsible for 1% of that, we want to do better, and we know we can do better," MBTA General Manager Phillip Eng said.
The Fairmount Commuter Rail Line is the shortest of the Commuter Rail Lines, with nine stations, including South Station and Readville.
Wu said the Fairmont line has recovered 160% of its pre-COVID-19 ridership. The Providence Line already has some electrification, Eng said.
Keolis officials, who operate the Commuter Rail, said the battery electric fleet on the Fairmont Line is expected to begin service in 2028.
