Losing Mass. Commuter Rail Bidder Vows Appeal

The loser in the battle for a $2.68 billion state contract to operate the Massachusetts commuter rail trains says it plans to appeal the decision.

Executives from the Massachusetts Bay Commuter Railroad Co. tell The Boston Globe they will argue that the winning bidder, Keolis Commuter Services, failed to provide crucial and required information to the state during the selection process.

An MBCR official says if the state rejects the appeal, the company intends to seek a restraining order to block Keolis from taking over as scheduled on July 1.

MBCR has operated the Massachusetts commuter rail system since 2003.

A Keolis spokesman had no comment on the MBCR position.

Joe Pesaturo, a spokesman for the state transit agency, said the accusations of unfair proceedings were untrue.