South Coast Rail service has formally begun. Here is a primer

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For the primary time in over 65 years, trains from Fall River and New Bedford rolled into South Station this previous hour on the opening day of South Coast Rail service. As WBUR’s Andrea Perdomo-Hernandez experiences, roughly 40 years and $1 billion led as much as this present day. And the state is providing free rides (!) this week — and each weekend in April — to get folks to strive the newly prolonged commuter rail line.

Whether or not you’re a traffic-weary commuter or simply planning a day journey, listed here are the fundamentals to find out about South Coast Rail:

The place does it go? You recognize the MBTA’s Middleborough/Lakeville commuter rail line? It’s now known as the Fall River/New Bedford line. South Coast Rail provides 5 new stations to the road, extending west to Taunton earlier than forking to Freetown and Fall River on one department and New Bedford on the opposite. Right here’s a helpful map for reference.

How lengthy does it take? Simply over 90 minutes — each from New Bedford and Fall River — to South Station. (Sure, that’s slower than the standard automotive commute. And no, it doesn’t have Wi-Fi, so possibly convey a guide, take heed to a podcast or use a hotspot if you wish to do work.)

How usually does it run? Weekday trains will run each 70-ish minutes, with extra service scheduled round rush hours. Weekend trains will run each two hours. See the complete spring schedule right here.

How a lot will it value? $12.25 for a one-way fare after the present freebies finish — or $6 for these with reduced-fare playing cards. You can too purchase a Zone 8 commuter rail go for $388 a month for limitless journeys.

Psst: Driving on a Saturday or Sunday? Simply purchase the T’s $10 commuter rail weekend go for limitless journeys every weekend.

Is there parking? Sure, all six South Coast Rail stations have tons — and parking might be free by means of April. After that, charges might be $4 per day on weekdays and $2 per day on weekends and holidays.

What’s subsequent? Technically, that is simply the primary part of South Coast Rail. The “full construct” consists of extending the Stoughton commuter rail line by means of Raynham to the South Coast — a extra direct route that might be 15 to 25 minutes quicker. However it might additionally controversially run by means of protected swampland, amongst different issues. MBTA officers have mentioned it received’t occur till the 2030s on the earliest.

In different information:

Native politicians are paying tribute to former Massachusetts first girl Kitty Dukakis, who died Friday on the age of 88. Dukakis is remembered as an outspoken advocate for for folks dwelling with psychological sickness and dependancy, two points she was intimately accustomed to. She’s survived by her husband, former governor Michael Dukakis, aged 90, and their three kids.

Talking out: College students from North Andover Excessive Faculty are planning a walkout at this time at 10 a.m. in protest of staffing cuts throughout the district. North Andover Public Faculties introduced final week that it might be shedding 40 employees members and quickly shuttering the Kittredge Elementary Faculty to shut a $3.5 million price range shortfall within the district’s $68.2 million price range for the approaching fiscal 12 months. WBUR’s Cici Yongshi Yu experiences the layoffs will have an effect on employees throughout grade ranges.

Two youngsters have been fatally shot Saturday evening outdoors of Brockton’s Westgate Mall following experiences of a battle. Plymouth County District Legal professional Tim Cruz mentioned the victims have been “a 15-year-old male and an 18-year-old feminine,” however didn’t give extra particulars.

Offered: The downtown Boston workplace tower One Lincoln was auctioned off Friday — on the literal sidewalk — for simply $400 million, lower than half of its $1 billion valuation three years in the past. There was just one bidder: the financial institution that lent cash to the constructing’s former proprietor.

P.S. — This Friday, be part of WBUR reporter Simón Rios at CitySpace for a screening of “Flashpoint: Protests, Policing, and the Press,” an award-winning documentary specializing in the conflict-ridden relationship between police and the press on the frontlines. Snag your tickets right here.