This page describes official plans by MBTA, MassDOT and other municipal agencies of regional rail implementation and electrification of the present-day commuter rail system.
This page is part of the “Official Projects” series.
Note: This page does not include the North-South Rail Link (NSRL), despite its close links with regional rail. Projects specific to NSRL will be added to the “Official Projects: Transit Expansion” page in the future.
Last updated: March 31, 2024 (created page)
Table of Contents
Operating Contracts
Regional Rail Future Innovative Operating Contract
Status: Request for Information (RFI) made
In March 2024, MBTA released a Request for Information (RFI) for the Regional Rail Future Innovative Operating Contract. The RFI lists potential roles involving operations, rolling stock, infrastructure and capital works. (Full details of its objectives and requested information are in the document under “File Attachments”, which I have archived on this site here.)
The primary goal of this contract is to replace the operating contract with Keolis that expires in June 2026. However, the RFI has a heavy focus on building and operating “decarbonized, clockface, high frequency, all-day, two-way” regional rail service. The document also makes an explicit mention of electrification (with many questions for interested parties inquiring their prior experience in electrification).
Note: ArchBoston user F-Line to Dudley expressed his opinion of the contract’s link to the 2014-26 Keolis contract here. In his view, the RFI aims to set expectations for the eventual renewal bid given the “substantial change in responsibilities in the operator” with regional rail.