Freight Trains Return To Milford In February

MILFORD, MA — A long-dormant stretch of freight rail tracks in Milford came back to life on Monday as the Grafton and Upton Railroad returned to service.

The freight line has been unused in Milford for years. The entire line runs from the MBTA tracks in Grafton near the intersection of Westboro Road and Route 30 south through Upton and Hopedale before curving north to South Main Street in Milford. The route then continues along another freight line that runs from downtown Milford south toward Bellingham.

A plan to revitalize the rail line was born in 2009, when Grafton and Upton Railroad CEO Jon Delli Priscoli bought the right-of-way. He wanted to foster the development of a "linear industrial park" between I-90 and southeast along I-495.

The Grafton and Upton Railroad owners notified the Milford Select Board on Jan. 25 about the return to service in the area, and urged residents to be careful at crossings in town.

Grafton and Upton Railroad President Michael Milanoski told the Select Board in a letter to expect up to three trips per week along the line. Trains will most likely travel during daylight hours, Milanoski said, but the railroad does have approval to operate at night. The freight trains will be hauling plastic pellets and lumber products to start.

Residents can expect to see trains crossing the following roads: Cape Road (Route 140); South Main Street and Depot Street on either side of PiNZ Bowl; Vernon Street; South Cedar Street; Depot Street at the Depot Street Tavern; Howard Street east of the Big Lots plaza; Howard Street near Phillips Brothers Memorial Field; and Mellen Street at the Hopedale line.