New 7.5‑Mile Mass Central Rail Trail Segment Opens in Sudbury, Stow, Hudson
A new 7.5‑mile section of the Mass Central Rail Trail (MCRT) has officially opened in MetroWest, connecting Sudbury, Stow, and Hudson and expanding recreational access across the region Yahoo+1.
Route and Features
The trail runs from the Assabet River Rail Trail parking area in Hudson through Stow and ends at the Eversource substation in Sudbury Yahoo. It includes:
- Safe road crossings
- Benches and signage
- Native landscaping
- A restored Diamond Junction site, where the Framingham and Lowell Railroad once intersected with the Massachusetts Central Railroad Yahoo
- Connection points to the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail in Sudbury and the Assabet River Rail Trail in Hudson, enabling trips to downtown Hudson’s shops and restaurants WBZ NewsRadio 1030.
Project Background
The segment was built atop a 9‑mile underground transmission line installed as part of the Sudbury–Hudson Transmission Reliability Project by Eversource Yahoo. This project, which faced years of community debate and opposition in Sudbury, was designed to improve grid reliability while repurposing the inactive MBTA corridor for recreation sudburyweekly.com.
Community Impact
The ribbon‑cutting ceremony on July 16, 2026 in Sudbury brought together state leaders, local officials, and project partners WBZ NewsRadio 1030+1. Residents praised the trail’s potential for walking, running, and biking, with some already using it for multi‑day trips from Boston to Northampton WBZ NewsRadio 1030. DCR Commissioner Nicole LaChapelle called it a step toward a 104‑mile statewide trail network linking 26 communities Yahoo.
Broader Vision
Once complete, the MCRT will connect Boston to Northampton, offering a continuous shared‑use path for recreation, wellness, and exploration across Massachusetts Yahoo+1.
If you’re in the area, the new Sudbury–Hudson segment is now open for use, with connections to other trails making it part of a growing regional network.
