CSX Framingham Secondary Discussion

[dbperry]

Starting a dedicated Framingham (Massachusetts) Secondary discussion to break away from burying posts about the Framingham Secondary in the Fitchburg Secondary and/or general New England discussions.

Just for clarity, the Framingham Secondary is the freight only track that goes south from Framingham to Mansfield (as opposed to the Fitchburg Secondary, which goes north from downtown Framingham towards Fitchburg).

Framingham Secondary wikipedia article here

The Framingham Secondary is now owned by MassDOT and CSX retains freight rights over it.

[dbperry]

Apologies if I've posted this in the wrong place, but does anyone know how often, and roughly at what times, the freight trains run through Sherborn on the Framingham Secondary line? I'm looking at buying a house in that area and the plot is right near the tracks. If the train runs very early in the morning or late at night that would be an issue.

I've also learned that the state bought this line and are upgrading it to possibly increase the frequency of freight trains and maybe run a passenger service from Framingham to Foxborough on game days. Does anyone have a sense of how likely these two things would be?

Thanks in advance.

Freight trains generally operate once daily in each direction, but I don't think it is all 7 days per week. The southbound train usually departs Framingham around 11:30 PM and the northbound train usually arrives in Framingham around 7:30 AM. So yes, depending on where you are in Sherborn and what you consider late at night or very early in the morning, trains may operate in those times.

The state is upgrading the line with new railbed, tracks, and ties, but there are no realistic plans to operate passenger service between Framingham and Walpole (either as regular service or 'special' event trains). the discussions about operating regular commuter service to Foxboro would not be via Sherborn. Also, I don't think there is any realistic chance of increased frequency of trains through Sherborn - there just isn't enough demand / customers for more trains. Freight traffic has dropped as businesses departed the area or found other modes of transport, although I would guess that tonnage has stabilized in the recent past.

[F-line to Dudley via Park]

The recent rail/tie/resurfacing work also gave the line a makeover. Class 2 rating, 286K loading capacity end-to-end, and lots of grade crossing replacements. In addition to the Framingham-Walpole freight schedule remaining flat long-term, abutters should notice the trains moving at a faster clip and making a lot less noise as they rumble past vs. a year ago. CSX never put any maintenance into that line, so MassDOT's renewal of the shot trackbed will significantly reduce the noise and air quality impacts of that relatively meager freight schedule.

[Sprinter611]

Current trains that run on the secondary as of 8/2/17

CSXT B725- On duty 8pm in Framingham, runs to Attleborough to swap trains with B726 and back to Framingham. Usually out by 10pm and back in around 6-7am

CSXT B731- On duty 8am in Readville, runs via MBTA's Franklin Line to Walpole. Makes a pickup at Walpole, then brings everything to Nevins Yard in Framingham, typically arriving around 12. Once they drop their train, they run to North Yard and grab their outbound train. They then leave around 2pm and setout at Walpole before shooting back to Readville. When needed this train also interchanges with BCLR at Medfield Jct

CSXT B733- On duty at 7am in Walpole, runs to Mansfield and does all Mansfield work before returning to Walpole.

CSXT B735- On duty 7pm in Walpole, runs to Foxborough Terminal 3 days a week.

[Clo131]

Thank you all so much for the replies and info - this is really helpful!

[connor4521]

Anyone have an updated schedule for CSX on the Framingham Secondary?

[Sprinter611]

connor4521 Here you go


B731- Same as listed before
B733- Now runs out of Readville and not Walpole
B725- On at 9:30pm in Framingham, usually out around 10-11pm and back around 8am from Attleborough. Now works Mansfield (drops off cars for B733)
B735- On at 6pm now, everything pretty much the same as listed before

[AmtrakLocomotiveEngineer]

FR35 (B725) was always a "feeder train" and made set offs in Walpole and Mansfield.