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Hartford Line Improvement Program

Regional vision

Regional Vision

The Vision for the New England High-Speed and Intercity Rail Network collectively developed by the Departments of Transportation in the six New England states provides a vision for rail in the region and a commitment to work together. The rail system as envisioned will provide a foundation for economic competitiveness and promote livable communities through a network of High-Speed and Intercity Passenger rail routes connecting every major city in New England with smaller cities and rural areas and internationally to Montreal. This vision will be revisited as part of the Service Development Plan (SDP) in coordination with the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), Amtrak, Massachusetts, Vermont and other stakeholders. SDP planning will begin in Spring 2026, with anticipated completion in 2027.

The Hartford Line Rail Program provides significant regional passenger rail service options as a key component of a robust and vibrant multi-modal regional transportation system. The Hartford Line provides fast and frequent passenger rail connections between central and southern New England, the Northeast Corridor (including New York City), soon Boston and Worcester, and eventually even Montreal.  The combination of CTrail Hartford Line and Amtrak train service connects communities, generate sustainable economic growth, helps build energy independence, and provide links to travel corridors and markets within and beyond the region.

The New Gateway to New England

As the gateway to New England, the Hartford Line Rail Program also facilitates improved service to Massachusetts, Vermont, and eventually Montreal.

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New Hartford Line benefits
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New Hartford Train Line benefit
Hartford Rail

CTrail Hartford Line

The CTrail Hartford Line passenger rail service launched on June 16, 2018, more than doubling train trips serving the corridor.  Related line improvements allow regional trains, like Amtrak’s Vermonter service, to operate at speeds up to 110 mph, cutting travel time between Springfield and New Haven to as little as 81 minutes.  Modern stations were added, and new stations are in development at North Haven, Newington, West Hartford, and Enfield.

The Hartford Line Rail Program is a key and necessary component of a broader New England passenger rail vision developed by the Governors in the Northeast.

Vision

The vision calls for a significant expansion of intercity passenger rail service across New England and the Northeast linking into the high-speed Northeast Corridor spine.  New passenger rail service would serve key Northeast markets:

  • Washington-New Haven-Springfield-White River Junction-Essex Junction, with future service to Montreal
  • Boston-Springfield-Vermont-Montreal
  • Boston-Springfield-New Haven along the Inland Route
  • New Haven-Hartford-Springfield service expansion
  • Boston-Portland-Brunswick, on the Downeaster corridor
  • New service connecting Boston and Concord, NH

Many of these new services will operate over the Hartford Line corridor.  As a result, upgrades in the Hartford Line corridor to accommodate the planned service enhancements are a pre-condition to this regional service expansion.  This vision will be updated through ongoing planning processes funded through the Federal Railroad Administration’s Corridor Identification and Development (CID) program.  12 separate funded corridor studies in the northeastern U.S. will advance specific service plans for future enhancements, with the Hartford Line being one of these corridors.  Other CID studies within the Hartford Line service area include the Amtrak Vermonter corridor between Washington, DC and Montreal, and a corridor linking Springfield with Boston and Albany.  Connecticut is working closely with Massachusetts and Vermont to coordinate the planning and funding to implement the vision for New England.

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