South Coast Rail service has officially begun. Here's a primer

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For the first time in over 65 years, trains from Fall River and New Bedford rolled into South Station this past hour on the opening day of South Coast Rail service. As WBUR’s Andrea Perdomo-Hernandez reports, roughly 40 years and $1 billion led up to this day. And the state is offering free rides (!) this week — and every weekend in April — to get people to try the newly extended commuter rail line.

Whether you’re a traffic-weary commuter or just planning a day trip, here are the basics to know about South Coast Rail:

Where does it go? You know the MBTA’s Middleborough/Lakeville commuter rail line? It’s now called the Fall River/New Bedford line. South Coast Rail adds five new stations to the line, extending west to Taunton before forking to Freetown and Fall River on one branch and New Bedford on the other. Here’s a handy map for reference.

How long does it take? Just over 90 minutes — both from New Bedford and Fall River — to South Station. (Yes, that’s slower than the typical car commute. And no, it doesn’t have Wi-Fi, so maybe bring a book, listen to a podcast or use a hotspot if you want to do work.)

How often does it run? Weekday trains will run every 70-ish minutes, with more service scheduled around rush hours. Weekend trains will run every two hours. See the full spring schedule here.

How much will it cost? $12.25 for a one-way fare after the current freebies end — or $6 for those with reduced-fare cards. You can also buy a Zone 8 commuter rail pass for $388 a month for unlimited trips.

Psst: Riding on a Saturday or Sunday? Just buy the T’s $10 commuter rail weekend pass for unlimited trips each weekend.

Is there parking? Yes, all six South Coast Rail stations have lots — and parking will be free through April. After that, rates will be $4 per day on weekdays and $2 per day on weekends and holidays.

What’s next? Technically, this is just the first phase of South Coast Rail. The “full build” consists of extending the Stoughton commuter rail line through Raynham to the South Coast — a more direct route that would be 15 to 25 minutes faster. But it would also controversially run through protected swampland, among other complications. MBTA officials have said it won’t happen until the 2030s at the earliest.

In other news:

Local politicians are paying tribute to former Massachusetts first lady Kitty Dukakis, who died Friday at the age of 88. Dukakis is remembered as an outspoken advocate for for people living with mental illness and addiction, two issues she was intimately familiar with. She’s survived by her husband, former governor Michael Dukakis, aged 90, and their three children.

Speaking out: Students from North Andover High School are planning a walkout today at 10 a.m. in protest of staffing cuts across the district. North Andover Public Schools announced last week that it would be laying off 40 staff members and temporarily shuttering the Kittredge Elementary School to close a $3.5 million budget shortfall in the district’s $68.2 million budget for the coming fiscal year. WBUR’s Cici Yongshi Yu reports the layoffs will affect staff across grade levels.

Two teenagers were fatally shot Saturday night outside of Brockton’s Westgate Mall following reports of a fight. Plymouth County District Attorney Tim Cruz said the victims were “a 15-year-old male and an 18-year-old female,” but did not give additional details.

Sold: The downtown Boston office tower One Lincoln was auctioned off Friday — on the literal sidewalk — for just $400 million, less than half of its $1 billion valuation three years ago. There was only one bidder: the bank that lent money to the building’s former owner.

P.S. — This Friday, join WBUR reporter Simón Rios at CitySpace for a screening of “Flashpoint: Protests, Policing, and the Press,” an award-winning documentary focusing on the conflict-ridden relationship between police and the press on the frontlines. Snag your tickets here.