BOSTON – The MBTA and Keolis Commuter Services (Keolis), the operations and maintenance partner for the MBTA’s Commuter Rail, has completed a project to replace over 28 miles of rail on the Fairmount Line. They thank the public for their patience throughout the project and flexibility while regular schedules were impacted. The work prepares the line for the introduction of battery-electric trains in the coming years, while ensuring a reliable and safe ride for passengers today. This project alone replaced more rail than is typical across the entire Commuter Rail network in a year. 

On December 1, 2025, the Fairmount Line will return to its normal schedule, with 30-minute service throughout most of the day. The schedule will be available soon at mbta.com/cr.    

The current Providence/Stoughton and Franklin/Foxboro schedules will remain in effect until further notice to allow for additional Amtrak repair work to take place.  

In July 2024, the MBTA Board of Directors approved a Keolis proposal to electrify the Fairmount Line with battery-electric trains. The rail replacement work is the first step in bringing these trains to the line. The new trains will provide faster, quieter, more reliable service with notably less air pollution in the environmental justice corridor served by the Fairmount Line. Additionally, passengers will benefit from smoother rides, more space, and a modernized, quieter travel experience with less noise and vibration. These trains use hybrid power, with an onboard battery that charges when overhead catenary wires are available. The rail replacement work is the first step in bringing these trains to the line.   

“Battery-electric trains and the infrastructure supporting them will deliver a quieter, cleaner, and more reliable ride for our passengers. I'm thankful to our riders that use the Fairmount Line for their patience as we accelerated significant track renewal work critical towards bringing battery-electric trains for our riders and neighbors along this corridor. Under the leadership of the Healey-Driscoll Administration we are committed to delivering safe, reliable and sustainable service that the public deserve," said Interim Secretary and MBTA General Manager Phillip Eng. “We thank our operating partner, Keolis, for their efforts to accomplish this work in an accelerated schedule."   

"I want to thank our Keolis crews who delivered in record time the largest rail replacement project we have ever done in one construction season," said John Killeen General Manager and CEO of Keolis Commuter Services. “Crews replaced an average of a quarter of a mile a day, and on some days as much as a half a mile, so that we could quickly update Fairmount Line infrastructure for the new Battery Electric trains and return the tracks to full service for passengers. I also want to thank Fairmont line passengers and community members for their support throughout this project." 

“The Maintenance of Way employees of Keolis are some of the best in the industry, with this project being a prime example of what their hard work and dedication can accomplish,” said David Ostrum, Vice Chairman of the Alliance System Federation, the union representing maintenance of way employees.  

Crews replaced nearly 158,000 feet of rail after the $12 million project began in June. The record pace ensured that the work could be finished on time while still operating trains on the line during peak travel periods.   

While the construction schedule was in place, crews also completed other important projects, including power washing and deep cleaning all stations and platforms, removing graffiti, cleaning trash from the right of way, brush clearing, and improving drainage.   

[Pictured above: A signal bungalow in Readville impacted by fire. The bungalow was significantly damaged by fire August 1, 2025, when an Amtrak electrified overhead wire came down on top of it. This impacted all trains that travel through the major rail area. The bungalow was repaired by the MBTA, and the damaged wire is being repaired by Amtrak, but the damage to the bungalow is significant.] 

Keolis Commuter Services has operated and maintained the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority’s commuter rail system, the sixth largest commuter rail operation in North America, for over ten years. KCS is a subsidiary of Keolis North America (KNA), both headquartered in Boston, and employs approximately 2,500 people throughout the region. KCS and KNA are part of Keolis Group, an innovative global leader in transit services with more than a century of passenger transportation experience and operations in 13 countries.   

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