Franklin Line
|
Franklin Line
|
|
|---|---|
 The Franklin Line's Norwood Central Station |
|
| Overview | |
| Type | Commuter rail line |
| System | Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority |
| Status | Operating |
| Locale | Southeastern Massachusetts |
| Termini | Boston South Station Franklin |
| Stations | 16 |
| Daily ridership | 12,966[1] |
| Operation | |
| Operator(s) | MBCR |
| Character | Elevated and surface-level |
| Technical | |
| Track gauge | 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) |
The Franklin Line of the MBTA Commuter Rail runs from Boston's South Station in a southwesterly direction toward Franklin, Massachusetts. Most Franklin Line trains connect to the Providence/Stoughton Line at Readville though some weekday trains use the Fairmount Line to access South Station. Most weekday trains do not stop at Hyde Park or Plimptonville with no trains stopping at these stations on weekends. A few weekday trains originate and terminate at Norwood Central. Trains only serve Foxboro from Boston during special events at Gillette Stadium.
Contents |
[edit] History
The earliest predecessor to the Franklin Line began in 1835 when the Boston and Providence Railroad built a branch from Dedham to Readville, connecting with the main line from Boston to Providence. This was followed, in 1848, by the Norfolk County Railroad, which ran from Dedham to Walpole.[2] After various mergers and acquisitions the line become part of the New York and New England Railroad until 1898, the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad until 1968, and ultimately the Penn Central until its bankruptcy. Between 1973 and 1976, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts bought almost all track assets in Southeastern Massachusetts, including the Franklin Line, from the Penn Central's bankruptcy trustees.
Originally, MBTA services terminated at the Franklin/Dean College stop. Upon the completion of the Forge Park/495 Station in 1988 service was extended, but the line maintained its original name.[3]
[edit] Proposed expansions
In September 2010, the MBTA completed a study to determine the feasibility of extending regular commuter rail service to Foxboro via the Franklin Line. The study looked at extending some Fairmount Line service to Foxboro, running shuttle trains from Foxboro to Walpole, or a combination of both. No determination has been made as to if or when this service would begin.[4]
In July 2011, the Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization began studying the viability of extending Franklin Line commuter rail service to Hopedale and Milford. The study would update a 1997 MBTA evaluation that concluded costs outweighed the benefits of a possible expansion. Local officials believe increased population and track upgrades to the Grafton and Upton Railroad may increase the viability of an extension. [5]
[edit] References
- ^ http://www.mbta.com/uploadedfiles/documents/Bluebook%202009.pdf
- ^ "Dedham Historical Society". Dedham Historical Society. http://dedhamhistorical.org/history/. Retrieved 2010-08-10.
- ^ Howe, Peter J. (1988-06-02). "FRANKLIN MBTA OPENS NEW STATION SERVICE SLATED TO BEGIN TODAY; 700 PARKING SPACES PLANNED". Boston Globe. http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/boston/access/59631488.html?dids=59631488:59631488&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Jun+02,+1988&author=Peter+J.+Howe,+Globe+Staff&pub=Boston+Globe+(pre-1997+Fulltext)&desc=FRANKLIN+MBTA+OPENS+NEW+STATION+SERVICE+SLATED+TO+BEGIN+TODAY;+700+PARKING+SPACES+PLANNED&pqatl=google. Retrieved 2010-08-10.
- ^ "Foxborough Commuter Rail Feasibility Analysis". MBTA. http://www.mbta.com/about_the_mbta/t_projects/default.asp?id=20111. Retrieved 2010-12-09.
- ^ "Franklin rail line could expand to Milford and Hopedale". Milford Daily News. http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/x920808681/Franklin-rail-line-could-expand-to-Milford-and-Hopedale. Retrieved 2011-08-14.
[edit] External links
Media related to MBTA Franklin Line at Wikimedia Commons
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
