Millis Branch

Millis Branch
Company type	Rail line
Industry	Transportation
Founded	1861
Defunct	1967-04-21
Fate	Service discontinued; portions converted to rail trails; limited freight operations remain
Headquarters	United States
Area served	Dover, Medfield, Millis, Medway, Massachusetts
Products	Commuter rail service, freight service (historically)
Owner	Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (historically)

The Millis Branch was a former extension of today's MBTA Commuter Rail system in Massachusetts, diverging from the operational Needham Line at . This line provided service to the communities of Dover, Medfield, Millis, and Medway. Due to inadequate funding and low passenger numbers, service was reduced to in April 1966 and completely terminated on April 21, 1967, except for limited freight operations on certain portions.

History

Between 1861 and 1863, the Charles River Branch Railroad extended from to Woonsocket, Rhode Island under the ownership of the New York & Boston Railroad. Initially, it connected to Boston via the Highland branch. Although there were intentions to extend the line as a direct air-line railroad to New York City, these plans never materialized; however, a segment opened as the Woonsocket and Pascoag Railroad in 1891. This segment operated as an extension of the Charles River Branch with through trains running from Pascoag to Boston, albeit with schedules that were not convenient for commuters. Ownership passed through various railroads before ultimately becoming part of the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad ("New Haven Railroad"). After the inauguration of the Needham cutoff in 1906, services to Woonsocket were rerouted via this new path.

With the Midland Line (currently known as the Franklin/Foxboro Line) serving as New Haven's primary route to Woonsocket, the Charles River Branch was relegated to secondary status. After 1926, Woonsocket service was provided by shuttle trains running between Woonsocket and ; other routes connected Boston to Franklin through Needham and Bellingham Junction or combined segments of the Charles River Branch and Midland Line. Service beyond Bellingham Junction ceased in 1930, and the stretch from Woonsocket to the Rhode Island border was abandoned in 1934. All operations past Needham Junction ended on July 13, 1938.

A brief revival occurred in 1940 with a daily round trip between Boston and Franklin via the Charles River Branch; however, this was soon scaled back and by September 1941 had been truncated to West Medway. West Medway remained the endpoint for more than a quarter-century. By 1955, service had diminished to a single-car round trip that combined with Needham Heights trains at Needham Junction.

Following the establishment of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) in August 1964 to subsidize suburban commuter rail lines, the West Medway Branch was already experiencing decline. Subsidies commenced in April 1966 for several lines including Needham and West Medway; nonetheless, Medway declined additional financial support, resulting in service being cut back to Millis and rebranded as the Millis Branch. Due to persistently low ridership levels, all remaining trips to Millis and Dedham were discontinued on April 21, 1967.

The former Dover station building has been repurposed as a Dunkin Donuts outlet; meanwhile, Millis station currently accommodates town administrative offices. Stations located west of Needham Junction have been dismantled.

A six-mile portion extending from Needham Junction to Ice House Road in Medfield is undergoing transformation into a stone dust multi-use trail as part of the seven-mile Bay Colony Rail Trail. The Needham segment (1.7 miles) opened on May 1, 2016. In July 2020, funding amounting to $100,000 was allocated for constructing the Medfield Rail Trail (1.3 miles), which officially opened on October 1, 2022. As of late 2022, plans for developing the Dover section remain underway.

Occasional freight traffic still operates along the line from Medfield Junction to Millis under the management of the Massachusetts Coastal Railroad. Previously, freight rights were held by Bay Colony Railroad until November 2023 when Massachusetts Coastal Railroad announced its intention to acquire and operate this remaining portion of the Millis Branch. Despite initial regulatory delays from the Surface Transportation Board concerning the line's status, approval for this transfer was granted in June 2024.