NEW BEDFORD — "I've been taking the train for six years," said James Brooks from East Freetown. He's an iron worker in Boston. He was at the Middleboro/Lakeville train station catching the 1:58 p.m.

Reporter Frank Mulligan and senior digital producer Dan Medeiros each went from New Bedford to Boston -- one by car, one by train. We measured their results based on time, cost, safety and comfort.

NEW BEDFORD — It’s been more than three generations since New Bedford commuters could hop a commuter train into Boston and back. Well, the service is back after a three decades-long effort to make it ...