Press Releases
09/07/2018
Gov. Malloy: Hartford Line Exceeds 69,000 Passenger Rides in First Six Weeks of Operation
Ridership in the Rail Corridor has More than Doubled the Previous Amtrak-Only Service
(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Dannel P. Malloy and Connecticut Department of Transportation Commissioner James P. Redeker today announced that the recently launched CTrail Hartford Line saw a total of 69,067 passenger trips during its first six weeks of operation through July 31, 2018 – not including the opening weekend of June 16 and 17 when service was free.
Ridership for the month of June 2018 was 19,767 passenger trips (again, not including the free, opening weekend of service). Ridership for July 2018 was 49,300 passenger trips. These figures are more than double the July 2017 ridership levels on the previous Amtrak-only service.
“Building a robust, convenient, and practical transportation system is critical to growing our economy and attracting business, and the Hartford Line is a key component of these efforts,” Governor Malloy said. “We are seeing not only strong demand for the service, but there has been a significant increase in economic development surrounding each station along the line. As with any new rail line, it will take time to fully mature and become part of the everyday lives of residents in the central Connecticut corridor, but what we are seeing will be critical to our growth over the coming years.”
To date, approximately $400 million has been invested in residential and commercial development along the rail line between New Haven and Windsor Locks.
The average weekday ridership on the Hartford Line is now at 1,860 riders, just 85 short of the first-year goal of 1,945 passenger trips per day. This puts Hartford Line on track to exceed the first year ridership goal well before June 2019, the end of the first full year of train service.
“We’ve already seen an explosion of interest in transit-oriented development in rail communities and we expect that will only grow as young people continue to make clear that they want transit at the heart of their hometowns,” Commissioner Redeker said. “The Hartford Line is the culmination of planning, cooperation, and partnering at all levels of government.”
Commissioner Redeker noted that Hartford Line ridership gains have been increasing through the summer, a period of time when rail ridership tends to decline due to vacations and schools being out of session. Ridership data for the month of August 2018 will be available in early October.
The expanded weekday service has trains running approximately every 45 minutes during the morning and evening peak periods. The expanded service is in addition to the existing Amtrak service in the corridor, and trains reach speeds of 110 miles per hour.
Daily passenger trip goals for the next five years are:
- End of year 1 – 1,945
- End of year 2 – 2,223
- End of year 3 – 2,418
- End of year 4 – 2,640
- End of year 5 – 2,779
For information about the CTrail Hartford Line, including schedules and fares, visit www.hartfordline.com. Additional information can be found on its social media pages via Facebook at facebook.com/hartfordline, through Twitter at @hartfordline, and through Instagram at @hartfordlinect. Up-to-the-minute alerts on the status of specific trains on the Hartford Line are made via Twitter at @HLalerts.
- Twitter: @GovMalloyOffice
- Facebook: Office of Governor Dannel P. Malloy