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- The North–South Rail Link (NSRL) is a proposed rail tunnel, or pair of tunnels, that would connect North Station and South Station in downtown Boston, Massachusetts. The project would build new underground stations near the existing stations, connect them with about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) of tunnels, and add other tunnels to link up with existing surface tracks. The NSRL would connect Amtrak and MBTA Commuter Rail lines that terminate either at North or South Station. For MBTA, it would link northern lines to South Station, Back Bay Station, and lines beyond Back Bay, including the Framingham/Worcester Line and the Northeast Corridor; one option under consideration would also link to commuter lines to the south. The project would also link Amtrak's various trains into and out of the city; for example, the Downeaster line from Maine currently has no direct connection with Northeast Corridor trains to New York City and beyond. In June 2018, MassDOT's North South Rail Link Feasibility Reassessment described the costs and benefits of several alternatives, including adding tunnels in various configurations or doing nothing. The tunnel options included a $21.5 billion four-track maximum-service plan and three double-track routes ranging in cost from $12.3 billion to $14.7 billion. (These costs are in 2028 dollars and include purchasing additional rolling stock, other required infrastructure improvements, and a 3.5% annual inflation.) The presentation noted that a planned expansion of South Station would cost an estimated $4.7 billion, not including the purchase of rolling stock, electrifying the system, and renovating Tower 1. (en)
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