MassDOT to begin track improvements in preparation for South Coast Rail service

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) is beginning construction to rehabilitate the Fall River and New Bedford rail lines as a necessary step toward providing South Coast Rail service, according to the agency's blog.

The department will install thousands of rail ties and spikes along 33 miles of right of way that leads to Fall River and New Bedford. The work began this fall and will continue until the winter freeze, then resume in spring 2014, MassDOT officials said.

About 42,000 ties and thousands of spikes will be installed along the 14 miles of track to Fall River and 19 miles of track to New Bedford. Massachusetts purchased the lines from CSX Transportation.

"The upgrades strengthen the track to provide safer operations for current freight service while getting the corridor ready for the complete rehabilitation required to provide higher speed passenger service," said South Coast Rail Project Manager Jean Fox.

The South Coast project aims to restore passenger-rail service from South Station in Boston to Massachusetts' southern coast.