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Shuttle trains will be an essential part of South Coast Rail service when the project launches on March 24.

These trains will only run between stations south of East Taunton Station. Some shuttles will go between Taunton and Fall River, while others go between Taunton and New Bedford. Here’s a breakdown of how they work.

Why is the MBTA running shuttle trains?

Shuttle trains allow the MBTA to add more service along the two new branches without adding more traffic north of East Taunton Station.

Departures are scheduled throughout the day from both the New Bedford and Fall River branches. Oftentimes, a train will leave Fall River Depot within a few minutes of another train leaving New Bedford Station.

Instead of having both trains go all the way to Boston at around the same time, the MBTA has decided to make one of the trains a shuttle train — that means it will stop at East Taunton station and passengers will have to get off. The schedule is built so that the train going to Boston will leave a few minutes after the shuttle train arrives at the station, giving passengers time to make the transfer.

Click the + and – icons to zoom in and out of the schedule ↓

What does it mean for me as a rider when I’m headed to Boston?

Most trains leaving New Bedford and Church Street stations will not be shuttle trains, so they will go straight to Boston.

But if you’re boarding the inbound weekday 6:22 a.m. train at New Bedford station, you’ll be boarding a shuttle train. This train is scheduled to arrive in East Taunton at 6:46 a.m. You’ll get off the train and be able to board an inbound train coming from the Fall River branch, which is scheduled to leave at 6:54 a.m.

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The trains leaving New Bedford Station at 4:28 p.m. and 7:07 p.m. on weekdays are also shuttle trains. 

How does it work coming back from Boston?

Most trips from South Station to New Bedford on weekdays will require a transfer in East Taunton, though there are some direct trains during evening rush hours.

The 3:42 p.m. weekday train leaving South Station will be headed for Fall River, but you can board it and get off at East Taunton when you arrive at 4:55 p.m. Then, you’ll transfer to a shuttle train headed for New Bedford leaving at 5:02 p.m.

Email Grace Ferguson at gferguson@newbedfordlight.org

Editor’s note: This article was modified on Monday, March 17, 2025, to correct the location of a shuttle train stop.

8 replies on “What’s a shuttle train?”

    1. It will be very convenient for people who want to go to Boston.
      The fully burdened cost of operating a car is over $1.00 a mile.
      Parking. in Boston is $20 plus a day.
      It is not convenient for people who who do not go to Boston.

  2. It seems that New Bedford gets the short end of the stick with most trips to and from Boston require a changeover in East Taunton while the trip from Fall River to Boston is direct and the return trip to Fall River is also direct. Doesn’t seem fair.

  3. Pants on fire.
    New Bedford to Boston, 14 trains, 3 require a change in East Taunton.
    3 is not most of 14.
    The change adds about 4-6 minutes to the trip length.
    Fall River to Boston, 15 trains, 11 require a change in East Taunton.
    11 is most of 15.
    Who got the short end of the stick?
    Who is train schedule challenged?

  4. I think that there is an error in your story. It says the shuttle transfer is in East Freetown, but the chart says East Taunton.

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