The Kraft family is close to finalizing a deal that would bring direct commuter rail service to Gillette Stadium, made possible by the state Transportation Department’s recent purchase of a freight line running between Framingham and Mansfield. It seems a foregone conclusion that the deal–one reportedly conceived behind closed doors by the Krafts and MassDOT officials, without taxpayer input–will get done soon, with or without support from local and state officials.

MassDOT has already signed an agreement to buy the freight line–the “CSX” line–for $23 million, MassDOT executive planning director David Mohler announced at town meeting in Walpole Tuesday night. The new CSX line could potentially be used to provide daily MBTA service back and forth between Boston and Patriot Place. To do so, an extra $35 million would need to be be spent to convert the freight tracks for passenger train service, according to The Foxboro Reporter .

The Krafts and MassDOT both inked a letter of intent to bring commuter rail service to Gillette last March, after secret talks began last January. The framework of the plan would have the Krafts cover all extra cost needed to convert the existing freight line, using stadium parking revenue.

Foxboro leaders reportedly didn’t have a clue about any of this until October.

On Nov. 21, Mohler announced MassDOT had inked its purchase of the CSX line. The $23 million agreement does not cover added costs to convert the CSX into tracks capable of providing service to Gillette.

If the Kraft-MassDOT side-deal gets done, trains would run between Boston South Station and Readville on the Fairmount Line; trains would then be switched over to the CSX line in Walpole to complete the final trip into Gillette.

Walpole and Foxboro residents, specifically, have taken issue with the plan, because daily Gillette train service would benefit the Krafts first and foremost. State and local officials against the deal have suggested the commuter rail needs of Sharon, Walpole, Mansfield and Norfolk should take precedent.

The elephant in the room: Is daily service to Gillette Stadium part of a much larger plan to bring the 2024 Olympics to Boston? The Krafts or MassDOT would never admit to that even if it were true. Then again, it’s really not to hard to connect the dots, if one knows how to Google.

For example, the The Foxboro Reporter story noted that officials were informed of MassDOT’s plan to purchase the CSX line at a November 18 meeting in Foxboro. The story on the front page of the Boston Globe that morning revealed that the Krafts are reportedly eyeing South Boston for a potential new soccer stadium/2024 Olympic venue.

Three days later, it was announced MassDOT had agreed to the purchase of the CSX line.

Since there’s little to no chance of the Krafts’ deal with MassDOT not getting done, let’s speculate. New Revs soccer stadium venue in South Boston, plus a new commuter rail line between South Station and Gillette Stadium in Foxboro: that’s how to connect two potential 2024 Boston Olympic venues.

Photo via @BWard3

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