Foxboro station
| Company type | MBTA Commuter Rail station |
|---|---|
| Industry | Transportation |
| Founded | 1971 |
| Headquarters | Foxborough, Massachusetts , United States |
| Products | Commuter rail services |
Foxboro station serves as an MBTA Commuter Rail stop in Foxborough, Massachusetts, positioned next to Gillette Stadium and the retail complex Patriot Place. It features a single side platform alongside the primary track of the Framingham Secondary. This station functions as the endpoint for a branch of the Franklin/Foxboro Line and accommodates trains arriving from Boston via the Franklin/Foxboro Line, as well as from Providence through the Providence/Stoughton Line (Northeast Corridor) during events held at Gillette Stadium.
Passenger rail service along this route operated between 1870 and 1933, with multiple stops located within Foxborough. Special event trains for New England Patriots games were offered from 1971 to 1973 and resumed service in 1986. Studies on establishing regular weekday service took place in 2010, followed by proposals in 2014. A pilot initiative commenced in 2017, leading to ten daily round trips beginning October 2019. This pilot was halted in November 2020 but reinstated with four midday round trips starting May 23, 2022. A new one-year pilot launched on September 12, 2022, which was later made permanent in October 2023. Planned upgrades include a permanent full-length high-level platform and a temporary second platform to support operations for the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Station design
Situated on the eastern side of the Gillette Stadium complex, Foxboro station is separated from the stadium by the Neponset River. A pedestrian passage runs beneath an access road leading to the stadium’s northern entrance. The station consists of a single side platform equipped with a mini-high section at its southern end to ensure accessibility; a passing siding enables freight trains to move past passenger trains that are stopped.
On weekdays, trains operate between Foxboro and Boston’s South Station via the Franklin Branch, making local stops and connecting at . During events, trains bound for South Station travel along the Franklin Branch but only stop at and . Event services to Providence station utilize the Northeast Corridor, stopping at , , and .
Previous stations
The Mansfield and Framingham Railroad began operations in 1870 and was promptly leased to the Boston, Clinton and Fitchburg Railroad, which later became the Boston, Clinton, Fitchburg and New Bedford Railroad. In 1879, it was absorbed into the Old Colony Railroad, which itself was acquired by the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad in 1893. Foxborough once had three stations: Foxvale located at Spring Street, Foxboro at Bird Street, and North Foxboro on North Street; additionally, South Walpole station was situated just beyond the border in Walpole.
The initial Foxboro station was originally a repurposed coffin workshop featuring a Mansard-style roof. It was replaced in 1911 by a two-story brick building topped with a Spanish-style roof. South Walpole station suffered fire damage caused by a chimney blaze in 1911 but was rebuilt shortly afterward. Due to limited use, North Foxboro and Foxvale stations were closed in 1928. Passenger service along this line dwindled to a single daily round trip between and Framingham before ceasing entirely in 1933.
Freight operations persisted under Penn Central starting in 1969 and subsequently under Conrail from 1976 onward. Special train services were provided for events such as the opening of the Bay State Raceway in 1948. While none of the original three Foxborough station buildings remain today, the former South Walpole station continues to function as a post office.
MBTA event service
The commencement of service coincided with the inauguration of Schaefer Stadium (later known as Sullivan Stadium and subsequently Foxboro Stadium) on August 15, 1971, operating trains from both Boston and Providence. Due to insufficient ridership, trains from Providence were discontinued early in the 1973 season, followed by the termination of Boston service that October. Efforts to reinstate Boston service in 1982 were thwarted by both a railroad strike and an NFL strike. Service connecting Boston to Foxboro via the Franklin Line resumed in 1986. Beginning with the 1989 season, operations shifted to the Providence/Stoughton Line, making stops at Back Bay (which was eliminated by 1993), , , , and Mansfield.
In 1995, Boston service once again utilized the Franklin Line, incorporating additional stops at and ; by 1996, an accessible platform had been constructed. Providence service was restored in 1997 with stops at South Attleboro, Attleboro, and Mansfield. From 1994 through 1999, MBTA-arranged private buses provided transportation to Foxboro Stadium from , (only in 1994), , and . The replacement of Foxboro Stadium by Gillette Stadium occurred in 2002; by 2005, average ridership per event reached approximately 1,567 passengers. The Norwood Central stop was removed from service in 2011. Between 2012 and 2018, Providence trains extended their route to , located in Warwick, Rhode Island.
Weekday service
In September 2010, the MBTA finalized a study exploring the possibility of extending regular commuter rail service to Foxboro via the Franklin Line. The study evaluated alternatives such as extending Fairmount Line operations or running shuttle trains between Foxboro and Walpole. Providing direct Boston service would necessitate installing a second track and converting Foxboro station into an island platform.
By January 2014, state officials entered discussions with the Kraft Group, owners of Gillette Stadium, regarding use of parking facilities. In June of that year, MassDOT acquired the Framingham Subdivision from CSX for $23 million, renaming it the Framingham Secondary. By November, MBTA had proposed five daily round trips between Boston and Foxboro; however, some local leaders expressed concerns about inadequate community consultation.
In February 2017, Robert Kraft agreed to subsidize pilot service expenses up to $200,000 annually while providing 500 parking spaces. The pilot received support from Foxborough officials but faced opposition from Walpole representatives. In August 2017, MBTA approved an eleven-month pilot program scheduled to begin in late 2018 or early 2019, projecting approximately 210 daily riders predominantly shifting from other stations. Most trips would be extended Fairmount Line trains, raising issues related to overcrowding and operational reliability.
Initially planned for May 20, 2019, service commencement was delayed while approximately 4.3 miles of track between Walpole and just south of Foxboro underwent upgrades, including installation of a freight passing track and signal enhancements. The pilot eventually launched on October 21, 2019, offering ten daily round trips including peak and midday services; seven trips were extensions of Fairmount Line trains. By December of that year, average daily boardings reached only about 70—roughly one-third of initial forecasts.
Due to declines in ridership caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the pilot was suspended on November 2, 2020, with plans to resume in spring 2021. Four midday round trips to Foxboro resumed on May 23, 2022; however, peak period services remained suspended. A new one-year pilot began on September 12, 2022 featuring ten weekday round trips between Boston and Foxboro.
On October 2, 2023, this service was made permanent under the name Franklin/Foxboro Line. At that time, Foxboro station recorded average daily boardings between 112 and 133 passengers. Both MBTA and the Kraft Group intend to pursue funding for constructing a full-length high-level platform at Foxboro station; however, this project is not yet included in the current MBTA Capital Investment Plan.
In May 2025, MBTA announced plans to expand Foxboro station ahead of the Gillette Stadium-hosted matches for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The existing platform will be reconstructed as an 800-foot permanent high-level platform complemented by a temporary adjacent high-level platform measuring approximately 600 feet across the tracks. The MBTA anticipates accommodating up to 20,000 passengers per match during the event. These platform improvements are targeted for completion by April 2026.