East Taunton is a proposed commuter rail station, to be built in East Taunton, Massachusetts as part of the MBTA Commuter Rail South Coast Rail project. Under plans released in 2017, it would open in 2022 as part of the project's first phase, then continue to be serviced when the second phase would be completed in 2030.HistoryIn September 2008, MassDOT released 18 potential station sites, including two potential East Taunton sites: one just west of Route 24 if trains were routed through Middleborough, and one to the north off Route 140 if trains were routed through Stoughton or Attleboro. Neither was located near the former location of the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad's East Taunton station, which was located several miles east in the village center along the Middleboro Subdivision.By 2013, Taunton Depot station was proposed for the northern site, using the Stoughton routing. It was to have an island platform flanked by two passenger tracks, with a freight passing track on the western side.In 2017, the project was re-evaluated due to cost issues. The new proposal calls for early service via Middleborough by 2022, followed by full service via Stoughton by 2030. The proposed Taunton Depot station site was too far north to serve the Middleborough routing, and a station near Taunton was needed because that routing does not run through downtown Taunton. The proposed East Taunton station would be at the previously proposed southern site. However, the 2017 proposal has attracted criticism from local officials across the route, including Taunton officials unhappy that the downtown Taunton station would be delayed until 2030.
