The name was changed to "New Bedford and Taunton Railroad" in 1839 before service began in 1840.
[1] The line ran 20 miles between Taunton and New Bedford.
In 1875, the Boston, Clinton and Fitchburg Railroad began leasing the New Bedford line.
The two companies merged in 1876 to become the Boston, Clinton, Fitchburg and New Bedford Railroad.
[3] The original 1840 alignment of the New Bedford and Taunton Railroad is currently part of the South Coast Rail project from New Bedford to Boston.