Lakeville station
| Company type | Commuter rail and seasonal rail station |
|---|---|
| Industry | Transportation |
| Founded | September 29, 1997 |
| Headquarters | Lakeville and Middleborough , United States |
| Products | Passenger rail service |
| Website | www |
Lakeville station—previously known as Middleborough/Lakeville station—is situated at the boundary between Middleborough and Lakeville, Massachusetts. It is currently served by the seasonal CapeFlyer route, which links Boston with Cape Cod. The facility consists of a single, full-length high-level side platform positioned alongside the lone track of the Cape Main Line.
Historically, a station located in downtown Middleborough provided passenger rail service from 1846 until 1959 and later accommodated the Cape Cod and Hyannis Railroad from 1984 through 1988. The present-day Middleborough/Lakeville station commenced operations on September 29, 1997, functioning as the endpoint for the Middleborough/Lakeville Line of the MBTA Commuter Rail. The CapeFlyer service began stopping here in 2013. Commuter rail operations at this location were discontinued on March 24, 2025, coinciding with the inauguration of the new Middleborough station as part of the South Coast Rail initiative. Following this change, the station was renamed Lakeville and continues to accommodate passengers using the CapeFlyer.
Station layout
Positioned on Commercial Drive off South Main Street (Massachusetts Route 105) near the interchange with I-495, the station features a single curved high-level side platform roughly long along the west side of the single-track Cape Main Line. The adjacent parking area offers 769 spaces, with most of both the parking lot and platform located within Lakeville’s limits; however, the northern portion extends into Middleborough. Lakeville station provides full accessibility for all passengers.
Former service
The Fall River Railroad was constructed between South Braintree and Fall River over a period spanning June 1845 to December 1846. The original Middleborough station was positioned at Courtland Street on downtown’s western fringe. Another stop, initially called Haskins but renamed Lakeville by 1854, was situated on Bedford Street. Two additional stations along the 1856 Cape Main Line southeast of downtown included Rock (also known as Rock Meeting House) at Miller Street and South Middleboro at Spruce Street.
By the year 1892, Middleborough had evolved into a significant railroad hub with connections extending to Boston, Plymouth, Cape Cod, Fall River, and Taunton. The New Haven Railroad assumed lease control over the Old Colony Railroad, which owned all lines converging at Middleborough, in 1893. During this period, Lakeville station briefly adopted the name Montwait before reverting to its original designation.
Throughout the twentieth century, passenger rail service experienced a decline: routes to Taunton and Plymouth were terminated in 1927, while the original Fall River line ceased operations in 1931; these latter two lines were soon abandoned. The structure of the 1879 Lakeville station still stands today as a private residence. On July 17, 1938, both Rock and South Middleboro stations were closed amid a widespread shutdown of numerous stations.
Commuter rail service connecting Cape Cod to Boston via Middleborough ended on June 30, 1959. Freight operations northward, westward, and southeastward from Middleborough persisted under various operators: New Haven until 1969; Penn Central until 1971; Conrail until 1997; followed by CSX thereafter. Freight service heading southeast from Middleborough was managed by Bay Colony Railroad beginning in 1982 and has been operated by Massachusetts Coastal Railroad since 2007, exchanging freight with CSX at Middleborough Yard.
MBTA era
Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, proposals to reinstate passenger rail service surfaced sporadically. On October 15, 1979, a special train journeyed from Braintree to Middleborough to highlight the state's intentions for service restoration. A state evaluation conducted in 1974 identified the potential for reusing the Middleborough station. Between 1984 and 1988, the Cape Cod and Hyannis Railroad operated seasonal commuter and excursion trains that stopped at the former station, which was ultimately demolished during the 1990s.
In 1984, a study commissioned by the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) determined that reviving commuter rail service was practical. Subsequent environmental assessments included a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) in 1990 and a Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) in 1992, recommending a new Middleborough/Lakeville station located off Route 105 near the Lakeville border instead of utilizing the original site. Service on the MBTA Commuter Rail Middleborough/Lakeville Line commenced on September 29, 1997.
The station initially featured approximately 400 parking spaces; however, demand from nearby communities quickly exceeded capacity. By 2000, the parking lot had been expanded to accommodate 864 vehicles. In November 2003, a dirt parking area was closed due to safety issues and decreased usage following the completion of the Big Dig, reducing total parking availability to 769 spots. The presence of the station encouraged transit-oriented development in the vicinity, including new apartment complexes. A study conducted in 2007 suggested adding another stop near the former Rock station location. Starting May 24, 2013, CapeFlyer summer weekend service between Boston and Cape Cod included a stop at Middleborough/Lakeville. With an average of 867 daily boardings in 2018, this station was the busiest along its line.
South Coast Rail
The South Coast Rail initiative underwent revisions in 2017 due to budgetary constraints, proposing an initial phase of service through Middleborough by 2022 and full operations via an alternative route by 2030. Plans included constructing a new Middleborough station to replace the current Middleborough/Lakeville station, which would not be accessible to South Coast Rail trains. Local officials expressed concerns over discontinuing Middleborough/Lakeville or requiring shuttle transfers because of possible downtown traffic congestion.
The January 2018 Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Report examined three alternatives: performing a reverse move to serve the existing station, operating a shuttle between Middleborough/Lakeville and Bridgewater station, or building a new Middleborough station complemented by a bus shuttle from the current facility. The preferred solution was the new station option due to reduced travel times and eliminating the need for additional double tracking. This new facility will be situated at Pilgrim Junction where the Middleborough Main Line meets the Middleboro Secondary. The CapeFlyer service will continue stopping at Middleborough/Lakeville since the new station lacks a platform on the main line but is designed with space for a future shuttle platform serving Cape Cod. In August 2020, a $403.5 million contract was awarded for construction.
South Coast Rail service officially began on March 24, 2025, branded as the Fall River/New Bedford Line, at which time Middleborough/Lakeville station was renamed Lakeville station.