Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority has shortlisted three bidding teams to compete for its next commuter rail operations and maintenance contract, marking the second phase of a two-step procurement process.
The agency issued a request for proposals in late December 2025 to three qualified groups following an earlier request for qualifications released in July. The current operator, Keolis Commuter Services, has managed the system since 2014 and continues service under an extended contract through June 30, 2027.
One shortlisted team pairs Keolis America with Alstom Transport USA. A second team, operating under the name Mass Regional Rail, includes Alternate Concepts Inc., TransitAmerica Services Inc., and RATP Développement. The third group consists of Transdev North America and Transport UK Holdings Limited.
The upcoming contract will include a base term of nine years with five optional extension years. The final contract value will be determined through the bidding process. The existing Keolis contract, including base and extension periods, carries an estimated value of approximately $5 billion.
The contract scope covers commuter rail operations and maintenance, parking operations, delivery and operation of battery-electric multiple unit service on the Fairmount Line, and upgrades to support a transition toward higher-frequency regional rail service.
As of October 2025, the commuter rail system carried an average of just over 104,000 weekday riders, representing about 11% of total MBTA weekday ridership across all modes.
Bidders will participate in a competitive dialogue and due diligence process over the next nine months. Final proposals are due in fall 2026, with the MBTA planning to select an operator by the end of the year to allow time for mobilization before the transition in 2027.