Fall River Railroad (1874)
| Company type | Rail freight line |
|---|---|
| Industry | Rail transport |
| Predecessor | Fall River Railroad |
| Founded | 1874 |
| Headquarters | Massachusetts , United States |
Area served | Southeastern Massachusetts |
| Owner | Massachusetts Department of Transportation |
| Parent | Massachusetts Coastal Railroad (operator since 2023) |
The Watuppa Branch—also referred to as the North Dartmouth Industrial Track and previously known as the Fall River Branch—is an approximately six-mile-long freight rail corridor located in southeastern Massachusetts. It originates at Mount Pleasant Junction, branching off from the New Bedford Secondary, and extends through Dartmouth, Massachusetts before terminating in northern Westport, Massachusetts. This line is owned by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation and operated by the Massachusetts Coastal Railroad, which took over operational control from Bay Colony Railroad in late 2023. The route primarily supports local freight transportation needs. The western segment of the former rail bed has been converted into the Quequechan River Rail Trail.
Route
Starting in New Bedford, the Watuppa Branch diverges from the New Bedford Secondary and passes underneath Massachusetts Route 140. It continues through the western section of downtown New Bedford, crosses into Dartmouth near the area known as "Dartmouth Business Park II," and proceeds onward into Westport. After traveling just over a mile past Interstate 195, the line passes beneath Massachusetts Route 88, marking the end of active rail service. Beyond this point lies only abandoned track, which concludes near Watuppa Ponds. The former rail corridor in this area has been transformed into the Quequechan River Rail Trail.
History
Chartered in 1874 and inaugurated in 1875, the Fall River Railroad connected New Bedford to Fall River via Dartmouth and Westport. This line primarily served industrial mills located along the Quequechan River valley and ended at Watuppa station close to Front Street. In 1882, it was leased to the Old Colony Railroad under a 99-year agreement and was fully acquired by them in 1896. The segment between Westport and Fall River was ultimately dismantled; present-day track terminates shortly after crossing Massachusetts Route 88 within Westport.
Freight service was operated by Bay Colony Railroad beginning in 1982. While most Bay Colony operations were transferred to Massachusetts Coastal Railroad in 2007, control of the Watuppa Branch remained with Bay Colony until November 2023, when Massachusetts Coastal acquired the line and assumed operational responsibilities later that year.
In 2008, the initial portion of the Quequechan Rail Trail opened along South Watuppa Pond on a former rail right-of-way, with development costs totaling $462,000. The trail was subsequently extended westward to Britland Park and Rodman Street. In 2022, state funding was secured to support a 550-foot eastward extension reaching toward the Westport town boundary.