Chronology of the Commuter Rail

restoration project

1976 - Commuter rail to Newburyport is terminated in March, temporarily ending a passenger service that first started in 1840.

Early 1980s - Local communities show strong support for refurbishing the line between Ipswich and Newburyport largely because of congestion on highways into Boston. Redevelopment of downtown Newburyport, population growth and growing popularity of other commuter-rail lines also spurs interest.

1984 - The Boston and Maine Railroad ends limited freight service to Newburyport, following a fire that destroyed a bridge in Beverly.

1985 - Study by Merrimack Valley Planning Commission gives thumbs up to restoration.

1987 - MBTA issues final report on project, finding that existing public transit for commuters in the region is extremely limited. MBTA estimates that renovation of line will cost $25 million.

1988 - Former Gov. Dukakis signs transportation bill with money for rail extension to Newburyport.

1988 - Vice President George Bush easily wins election as president. Bush defeats Dukakis, the Democratic nominee who ran on strength of local economy, called the Massachusetts Miracle.

1989 - Officials discover that the state budget is plagued by $1 billion deficit. State is on verge of worst recession in 50 years, imperiling funding for rail project.

1990 - Sen. James Jajuga, a Methuen Democrat, is elected after pledging to push for restoring rail service to Newburyport. Bill Weld, a Republican and former federal prosecutor, is elected Massachusetts governor.

1992 - MBTA board of directors votes to spend $3.4 million for design of project.

1992 - Frank Cousins, former Newburyport city councilor, is elected as state representative on platform supporting rail extension.

1993 - Former Gov. Weld promises completion of rail extension during visit to Newburyport.

1993 - Final design of project is complete.

1993 - Former MBTA general manager John Haley writes to Jajuga, saying that removal of existing track and signals will begin in September 1993. Haley says, however, that funding for remainder of project still is uncertain.

1994 - Weld signs transportation bill in December with $52.3 million for the Newburyport project including $20 million remaining from prior bills.

1995 - MBTA says start of construction of project will begin in spring, 1996.

1996 - Weld appoints Cousins as Essex County sheriff. Rep. Kevin Finnegan is elected to replace Cousins and immediately goes to work on rail extension.

1996 - MBTA in January accepts $36.4 bid from Middlesex Corp. of Chelmsford.

But several labor unions and the next lowest bidder challenge the bid.

Opponents said that a former acting interim general manager of the MBTA who now works for Middlesex may have helped his employer submit the low bid.

1996 - In November, the state Ethics Commission clears Middlesex of a possible conflict. The MBTA board in December votes to award the contract to Middlesex Corp. An entire construction season was lost because of the bid dispute.

1997 - Work begins in March.

1997 - Work continues through the summer including track restoration, signals and gate crossings at nine intersections and five concrete bridges.

1998 - Test runs for Amtrak engineers and crews begin in May.

1998 - Acting Gov. Paul Cellucci signs a transportation bill in July with another $22.7 million for completing commuter rail to Newburyport. Bill is needed partly because state diverted some money when project was stalled by ethics dispute.

1998 - MBTA in July awards $2.1 million for new train depot in Newburyport.

1998 - Paid service to start on Oct. 26.

1999 - In May, MBTA is scheduled to complete the Newburyport depot and layover facility for overnight storage of trains.