Press Releases
06/18/2020
CTDOT Celebrates CTrail Hartford Line 2nd Anniversary
The Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) announced today that in the first two years of service operations, the Hartford Line has carried more than 1.2 million passengers. The service, running from New Haven to Hartford and Springfield, began June 16, 2018.
“This popular service has surpassed all expectations,” said CTDOT Commissioner Joseph J. Giulietti. “Prior to COVID-19, a survey of our riders showed a 91 percent satisfaction level with Hartford Line service, and more than 96 percent of customers said they would recommend the service to a friend or family member.”
CTrail and Amtrak Hartford Line services have seen a significant decline in ridership because of the pandemic and increased teleworking. As the state enters the next phase of reopening and with anticipation of increased ridership, CTDOT announced enhanced and more frequent cleaning of trains and station facilities to keep frontline employees and passengers as safe as possible. Rail passengers are asked to wear a mask and maintain the recommended six feet of social distancing while on board the trains and at the stations.
“I want to thank CTrail service provider Transit America Services / Alternate Concepts management and employees for their dedication in operating the service, and to all the passengers who traveled on Hartford Line the past two years,” said CTDOT Public Transportation Bureau Chief Richard W. Andreski.
The passenger rail service on the New Haven-Hartford-Springfield corridor provides important transportation, economic development and environmental benefits for local communities and the entire region. Most importantly, it provides travelers with a fast, safe and reliable public transportation alternative to the congestion that plagues our roads during rush hour each day and to the price of gasoline. By 2030, it’s estimated that some 1.15 million car trips will have been eliminated annually in the 62-mile I-91 corridor as a result of people switching to the train.
The Hartford Line has also prompted hundreds of millions of dollars in transit-oriented development (TOD) up and down the corridor.
For more information on the Hartford Line service and the most up to date schedule, customers should visit www.hartfordline.com
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:
OFFICE OF COMMUNICATIONS
TELEPHONE: (860) 594-3062
FAX: (860) 594-3065
WEB SITE: www.ct.gov/dot