MBTA and Keolis Team Up To Boost Ridership

With Federal regulators again scolding the T over its safety failings, the timing but not be ideal, but the concept is laudable.

The MBTA and Keolis Commuter Services (Keolis), the MBTA’s operating partner for Commuter Rail, has launched the “Car-Free Sweepstakes” to highlight how "car-free is the carefree way to travel."  The sweepstakes is part of the larger “Car-free = Carefree” campaign, which educates the public about how you can get to your destination the carefree, eco-friendly way by taking Commuter Rail versus driving. More information about the campaign can be found at MBTA.com/massbytrain or by following #carfree and #massbytrain on social media. Passengers can also use this back-to-school guide to find convenient stops and routes near Boston-area schools.

“World Car-free Day is a great time to remind people of all of the environmentally-friendly alternatives to the automobile,” said MBTA General Manager and CEO Phillip Eng. “As the MBTA continues to make service improvements across the system, we encourage people to consider all of the mass transit options available to them and allow the T and Keolis to handle the driving.”

“For this back-to-school season and in recognition of World Car-Free Day, we want to encourage people to go car-free and enjoy a ride on the Commuter Rail, a reliable alternative to driving,” said Abdellah Chajai, CEO and General Manager of Keolis Commuter Services. “Our Car-Free Sweepstakes is a fun way for new and returning passengers to share why they are choosing to take public transportation and we encourage everyone to participate.”

Sweepstakes rules can be found online at MBTA.com/GoGreen. Entrants are required to complete the online form with their email address and are encouraged to document why they choose to go car-free with Commuter Rail. Entries are accepted through World Car-Free Day, September 22, 2023, at midnight. Everyone who enters will have the opportunity to win a Commuter Rail prize pack which includes a back-to-school pencil case, reusable bag, sunglasses, and more. One grand prize winner will receive a Commuter Rail pass (up to Zone 10) for any month of their choosing.

Keolis Commuter Services operates and maintains the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority’s commuter rail system, the sixth largest commuter rail operation in North America. Keolis Commuter Services delivers operational excellence to more than 400,000 MBTA Commuter Rail passengers a week, with a focus on safety, reliability, and excellent customer service. KCS is a subsidiary of Keolis North America (KNA), both headquartered in Boston, and employs approximately 2,400 people throughout the region. KCS and KNA are part of Keolis Group, an innovative global leader in transit services with more than a century of passenger transportation experience and operations in 13 countries.