Gov. Maura Healey plans to board a train in Fall River Monday morning, marking a seemingly improbable dream ride for southeastern Massachusetts residents who had expected commuter rail service to be restored to the area decades ago.

Alongside MBTA General Manager Phil Eng, Healey plans to travel to the rail station in East Taunton, where she will catch up with Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll and Transportation Secretary Monica Tibbits-Nutt, who are journeying inbound from New Bedford. It’s the last leg in the long quest for South Coast Rail, which former Gov. Bill Weld had once promised would begin service in 1997.

The region has lacked rail service for the past 65 years, and the new line joins a string of others into Boston.

Sen. Mark Montigny, a New Bedford Democrat and former president of the Fall River Chamber of Commerce, has served in the Legislature since the 1990s. As Montigny reflected on the “political capital spent” over the years on commuter rail, he said Friday that “it’s the strangest emotional feeling” to prepare for opening day.

Monday marks the launch of the $1.1 billion first phase of South Coast Rail, with six new train stations opening along the Fall River/New Bedford Line. Rides are free through the end of March, and there will be fare-free service on weekends through April, Healey’s office said.

The project extends service on the Middleborough/Lakeville Line to Taunton, New Bedford, and Fall River. The line will be renamed the Fall River/New Bedford Line when service begins, according to the T.

On weekdays, trains will run every 70 minute, with 32 direct trips to or from South Station including 15 trips between South Station and Fall River and 17 trips between South Station and New Bedford. On weekends, there will be 26 total trips with trains running every two hours.