WORCESTER, Mass. - The MBTA's new Framingham/Worcester commuter rail schedule has started and passengers should notice the differences.

All inbound and outbound trains depart on-the-hour on weekdays between Worcester and South Station in Boston.

The changes hope to improve ridership and service.

The new schedule also includes weekday trains every half hour between Framingham and Boston during peak times. 

Operating partner Keolis Commuter Services says this has been requested by passengers for some time.

Keolis spokesperson Justin Thompson said, “Now, passengers, if they need to get home from Boston in the middle of the day to a sick child or whatever they have at home, there are going to be train options in the middle of the day to get them there. There's even more frequency to a number of our gateway cities. So cities like Lynn, Framingham."

Keolis also says the new schedule better fits the needs of commuters as the state recovers from the pandemic.

The schedule is available at mbta.com.