Governor Questions Planned Purchase of Train Tracks for Proposed Foxborough Commuter Rail Stop

Sign up for the Foxborough Patch Newsletter.

After a very rough week for the T, Governor Charlie Baker is questioning the Department of Transportation’s decision to pursue a full-time Commuter Rail stop in Foxborough.

Speaking to the Boston Globe about the transit system’s woes, the governor wondered why the department chose to purchase freight tracks from CSX to expand rather than focus on their current aging fleet and infrastructure.

“Why is the Department of Transportation, why is the T, buying a $25 million spur to Foxborough when we obviously have real issues with our existing infrastructure that’s associated with things like switches and heating systems and all the rest?” Baker wondered out loud while talking to the Globe.

The past week has certainly been one the MBTA would prefer to forget. Amidst a two-week period of some of the worst winter weather to come through metro Boston, the MBTA has seen shutdowns, delay, and power failures on the Commuter Rail and subway. After attempting to operate on Monday, the decision was made later that afternoon to cease all rail operations that evening, with trains not resuming service until Wednesday.

While Foxborough town officials have questioned the deal and process to bring full-time rail service to the train platform at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, some residents have spoken favorably about the possibility of a train to Boston in Foxborough. About two-thirds of those that responded to a non-scientific poll conducted by the Foxborough Planning Department and the Foxboro Reporter in December said they would like to see frequent train service to Boston.