Aerial view of the MBTA Fall River Line crossing Richmond Road, Route 79, in the Assonet section of Freetown, with the single track running diagonally beside the road through woods and a few houses and yards along the east side
The Fall River Line crosses Richmond Road (Route 79) in Freetown, one of two places the line crosses the road, in MassGIS aerial imagery from spring 2023, not the scene on Wednesday. Image: MassGIS aerial imagery

FREETOWN Developing, 11:10 a.m. Nov. 11, 2026.

The MBTA cancelled Fall River Line Train 8166, the 10:28 a.m. departure from Fall River Depot, on Wednesday because of a road vehicle on the right of way, and told riders on the Fall River and New Bedford lines to expect delays of up to 20 minutes in both directions, according to MBTA service alerts posted at about 10:46 and 10:49 a.m.

The delay alert says the vehicle was on the right of way near East Taunton. NBC 10 News reported at 10:38 a.m. that its crew saw police and other crews on the tracks with a vehicle near Richmond Road in Freetown, with a tow truck getting ready to help.

The MBTA told Fall River riders they could take Train 8168, which leaves Fall River Depot at 11:43 a.m.

As of 11 a.m., both alerts were still posted, and the MBTA had updated the delay alert at 10:58 a.m. and set it to run until 1 p.m.

What we do not know yet

How the vehicle got onto the tracks, whether anyone was hurt, whether a train was involved, and when service will be back on schedule. South Coast 360 is asking the Freetown Police Department, the Freetown Fire Department and the MBTA for details.

Label: Reported by us, from the town's posted records.

Notes

The cancellation, the delay and the location near East Taunton come from the MBTA's own service alerts for the Fall River/New Bedford Line, read from the MBTA V3 alerts feed at about 10:58 a.m. and again at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2026 and saved. The Richmond Road location and the crews on scene come from NBC 10 News, credited by name, whose crew saw them. No radio traffic for this call was heard on the feeds South Coast 360 monitors. South Coast 360 is asking Freetown police and fire and the MBTA for details.

Corrections

No corrections to this story. If something here is wrong, tell us. Every correction is dated on the story and listed in our public log.

Sources (2)
  1. MBTA service alerts, Fall River/New Bedford LineTrain 8166 cancellation alert posted 10:48:58 a.m. and delay alert updated 10:46:03 a.m. and again 10:58:29 a.m. Nov. 11, 2026, read from the MBTA V3 alerts feed at about 10:58 a.m. and again at 11:00 a.m.
  2. NBC 10 News (WJAR)Freetown first responders assist a vehicle that drove onto the railroad tracks, published 10:38 a.m. Nov. 11, 2026.