East Taunton is a pretty important station on South Coast Rail. In fact, it’s important enough to be given an island platform rather than a side. Things can also get a little congested as well… Nevertheless, here’s East Taunton!
The station is a relatively simple island configuration with 2 tracks given access. Track 1 is typically utilized for through trains to Boston, while track 2 is typically used for shuttles between the two outbound termini that terminate here. As for the platform setup, it’s pretty standard with benches and departure boards. You have a ramp, elevators, and stairs heading up to the various bridges. Hell, the OVERPASSES even have departure boards. That’s actually very helpful. As for the parking situation, there’s a lot of parking and it’s clear that this is intended to be the main Rt.24 park and ride station. As for things nearby, you don’t have a lot. Across the tracks down County St., you have a GATRA bus connection about a mile away, with a Target, Ocean State Job Lot, and Home Depot among other things. Yeah, not a lot around here annoyingly. You can, however, get some cool shots of trains making the curve at the Cotley wye, though!
The good: It’s a park and ride for Rt.24! Furthermore, the existence of the station is expected to spur development of the surrounding land, if the political stuff Taunton’s mayor spat out during the presser on opening day is to go by. It’s also got two tracks and is otherwise your standard affair modern-day fully accessible Commuter Rail station.
The bad: GATRA service is shit and sucks. YOU HAVE TO CALL BY 3:30 PM THE PREVIOUS DAY TO USE THE WEIRDASS SERVICE. The area is in the middle of nowhere. It’s undeveloped. Silver City Galleria is gone. The nearest thing of interest (Target) is about a mile away on foot. This area can also get VERY CONGESTED VERY QUICKLY WITH TRAIN TRAFFIC.
Nearby points of interest: Not a lot. You have a shopping center with Target and OSJL nearby, kinda? It’s a mile walk though, so that’s stretching it…
Transit connections:
Commuter Rail (Fall River, New Bedford)
GATRA (“Temporary Commuter Service To The East Taunton Station”)
Overall, while the station isn’t bad, it does have some questionable qualities and it being good in the future is on political will mainly. Also, GATRA, just fucking extend the 8. And, MBTA, double track the entire fucking line. PLEASE.
Rating: 6.5/10
