LAKEVILLE — No one wants to imagine the worst when a commuter rail train travels through a community.

But if a derailment or other disaster happens with the train in Lakeville, equipment provided by state funding will allow the fire department to access the tracks.

When the state approved $900,000 in late 2024 to provide rail response equipment to fire departments along the South Coast Rail project, Lakeville was initially overlooked, State Sen. Michael Rodrigues noted.

The funding was allocated to Bristol County communities. But as Lakeville Fire Chief Michael O’Brien pointed out to Rodrigues, Lakeville is also along the South Coast Rail project, despite its location in Plymouth County.

Lakeville Fire expressed particular concern over the remote stretch of rail line between Malbone and County streets, Fire Chief Michael O’Brien said.

Rodrigues added Lakeville to the funding package. 

For Lakeville, the effort provided the town with a Polaris Utility Terrain Vehicle with an EMS patient transport capability, hydraulic rescue equipment, and remote patient retrieval/rescue equipment. O’Brien estimated the cost of the equipment at about $75,000.

The region was provided with a heavy rescue vehicle with specialized equipment intended to support rail rescue operations. The heavy rescue vehicle will be used to respond to any rail accident in the area

“You hope this equipment is never used,’’ Rodrigues said. “But you have to prepare for the worst….You don’t want to go in there blind.’’