New Early Morning Train Added on Waterbury Branch

CONNECTICUT DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

NEWS RELEASE

2800 BERLIN TURNPIKE P.O. BOX 317546
NEWINGTON CONNECTICUT, 06131-7546

FOR RELEASE: April 4, 2008

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:
   OFFICE OF COMMUNICATIONS
   TELEPHONE: (860) 594-3062
   Fax: (860) 594-3066
   Web site:www.ct.gov/dot

The Connecticut Department of Transportation (ConnDOT) today reminded customers that the New Haven Line rail service will be providing an additional train to the Waterbury branch service beginning on Monday, April 7, 2008.

A new early morning peak train will be added to the Waterbury Branch to accommodate growing ridership in this region. The new train will depart Waterbury at 5:57 a.m. connecting at Bridgeport for an 8:18 a.m. arrival at Grand Central Terminal (GCT). Customers may also stay on this new express until it terminates at Stamford and connect with a 7:27 a.m. express that arrives in GCT at 8:16 a.m.

In the afternoon, a new limited-stop express train will depart Stamford at 3:47 p.m. and arrive at GCT at 4:41 p.m. This new afternoon reverse peak train will also accommodate increased ridership during this time period. Minor schedule adjustments to off-peak and weekend trains for installation of concrete ties will occur between Milford and New Haven.

“Our customers are looking for flexibility, expanded options and additional service to provide for improved public transportation. The Department is committed to pursuing and providing rail service on all levels. With our operators, Metro-North Railroad, the Department continues to improve schedules and expand service to meet our growing ridership,” said Acting Commissioner H. James Boice.

Consult an updated timetable for schedule changes. New timetables are available at train stations. For the New Haven and Branch Lines call 800-METRO-INFO or at www.mta.info.

The New Haven Line, operated by Metro-North Railroad, is among the most heavily traveled in the country, with 36 million passenger trips per year and more than 120,000 daily commuters. Metro-North Railroad operates the New Haven Line and Branch Line Service for ConnDOT.

Shore Line East (SLE) will continue to operate under the existing time schedule; however, it is anticipated that SLE schedule changes and additional service expansion will occur in the next few months. Consult the timetable for the Shore Line East at www.ShoreLineEast.com or call 800 ALL-RIDE.

Shore Line East trains are owned and operated by ConnDOT, under contract with Amtrak, to provide daily rail operations. SLE commuter operations began in 1990, serving seven stations along the 33-mile segment of Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor between New Haven and Old Saybrook. The service was extended to New London in 1996. SLE provides nearly 2,000 passenger trips each day, and nearly 484,000 trips in 2007.