Layover Station Remains Point of Debate in Foxborough Train Station Talks

FOXBOROUGH, MA — Town officials want more information concerning a layover station that could be constructed near Gillette Stadium if permanent commuter rail service is brought to Foxborough.

While no vote was taken during Tuesday night’s selectmen's meeting, some officials showed concern over the lack of information made available about possible overnight train storage in town.

The discussion was a response to a Dec. 20 letter from MassDOT Rail and Transit Administrator Astrid Glynn that stated that a layover station is an essential part of permanent service in Foxborough. She wrote that while a layover is not planned for the pilot program, layover capacity is at the end of nearly all commuter rail lines, according to the letter. At-grade crossing would also be required. During a December vote, the board voted 4-1 to support the program if there were no at-grade crossing, no layover station, and an oversight committee.

Chairman David Feldman said he went to the Scituate layover station and found that the trains didn’t idle overnight and noted that there is a 14-foot sound wall for a neighborhood only 65 feet away.

“(Neighbors) said they don’t even hear the train. They hear it idling at the station but they don’t hear it at the layover and they don’t hear it in the summer because it’s plugged in,” Feldman said.

According to Feldman, trains would have to remain on overnight only where the temperature falls below 10 degrees.

Citing a 2010 feasibility study and a memorandum of understanding between the MBTA and the Kraft Group, Selectman Ginny Coppola continued to oppose the project. She said that Foxborough would become a regional overlay station based on information in the study. Late night work on the tracks and the impact of the layover station on the North Street neighborhood were also concerns for Coppola.

“Every commuter rail loses money and the study says it will lose more money than the others. You’re inviting the MBTA to come in. You are giving them the right to put a layover facility and you go to other areas that have layover facilities and they would love to get rid of them,” Coppola said. “I’m really opposed to this because of the layover. It’s going to destroy this part of town.”

“When you do feasibility studies, things change. It doesn't make sense for them to use Foxborough as a regional facility. We can schedule a layover to see what it would be like and I assume do a sound study,” Feldman said.

While opposed to the layover station, Selectman Jim DeVellis remained supportive of the project, but called for more information from the Kraft Group and state officials.

“I’m looking at a month ago when the MBTA says we’re not sure about a layover. Someone is not being truthful or the MBTA is sending the B team. We owe it to the town to ask to hear where it’s going to be,” DeVellis said.

The MOU indicates that the layover station could be in the area of the stadium property that was formerly home to Spooky World. An at-grade crossing would be required to allow the trains to cross North Street and come back to enter the layover facility.

If it moves forward, the pilot program would consist of four round-trips from Foxborough to South Station.

The discussion was continued to a future meeting that Kraft Group and MBTA officials will be invited to.

Image: File Photo