MBTA Looking to Buy Freight Lines for Commuter Rail Stop at Gillette Stadium

An old idea returned to forefront this week as town manager Bill Keegan announced this week that the MBTA is interested in buying the freight lines near Gillette Stadium.

Keegan told the selectmen this week that MBTA and MassDOT officials told him during a meeting last week that they are looking at possibly acquiring train lines owned by CSX in Foxborough and turning the train platform at Gillette Stadium into a daily commuter rail stop.

Currently, rail service to the stadium is provided only during Patriots game and for some major stadium events.

Service would start and end in Foxboro and would get to Boston by connecting to the Franklin line in Walpole. The trains would not go through the center of town.

Commuters can expect eight roundtrips daily if the MBTA buys the lines.

The MBTA is also looking to create a small depot that would house the train located near the former site of Spooky World behind the stadium.

The idea of a daily commuter rail stop in Foxborough has been floated around in the past but never made it past the planning stage.

Keegan said he hopes to have MassDOT and MBTA officials attend a future selectmen meeting for a public hearing on the proposal on Oct. 21 or 28.