Welcome to the webpage for Project No. 0320-0008, Hartford Line Rail Program Phase 3B in West Hartford & Hartford.
An in-person public informational meeting for the project was held on Wednesday, October 22, 2025, at Elmwood Community Center at 1106 New Britain Avenue in West Hartford at 6:00 p.m.
This meeting aims to inform the community about the proposed project, gather feedback, and answer any questions. A question and answer (Q&A) session will immediately follow the presentation.
The purpose of this project is to improve safety and capacity for the Amtrak Hartford Line corridor by establishing a double track from West Hartford to Hartford.
Right-of-way impacts are expected to occur at several properties in the project area, with acquisition types including permanent slop easements, construction easements, and partial takes.
Construction is expected to start summer 2026, depending on funding, right-of-way acquisition, and permits. The estimated cost is $61 million, with 63% federal funds and 37% state funds.
The proposed project plans can be viewed here:
Comments and questions can be submitted to:
- Submit your comment here
- (860) 594-2020
- info@NHHSrail.com or (860) 594-2754
Please reference State Project No. 0320-0008 in the email or voicemail.
0320-0008 Phase 3B in West Hartford & Hartford Comment Response
| Comment | CTDOT Response |
|---|---|
| 1: "The Amtrak train's horn is extremely loud when it goes through Elmwood. The horn blares all day and all night. With the increased traffic, how will y'all address the train horn? It's quite a disturbance to the residents of West Hartford, particularly in the Elmwood neighborhood." | 1: Thank you for your comment. Trains are required to sound their horns at certain points along the track. Municipalities, like West Hartford, have the ability to apply for a Quiet Zone designation. A Quiet Zone is a designated section of public rail line where trains are not required to sound their horns at public grade crossings. These zones are established to reduce noise in residential or sensitive areas while maintaining safety through alternative safety measures like upgraded crossing signals or medians. Municipalities have the authority to apply for Quiet Zone designation through the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA). To qualify, they must implement and maintain supplementary safety measures or demonstrate that the risk level without train horns is below the national threshold. |
| 2: "Thank you for your service in improving our community railroads in West Hartford. I am pleased that improvements are being made however, I just wish you would consider an Elmwood railway station in West Hartford. The parking in Hartford is expensive and lacking. Add a station in the area and the parking problem would be solved." | 2: Thank you for your comment. The West Hartford Rail Station located in Elmwood is a planned addition under the Hartford Line Rail Program with design expected to begin in late 2026, subject to availability of funding. The proposed station location is at the intersection of Flatbush Avenue and Newfield Avenue, across from the CTfastrak Flatbush Avenue Station. |
| 3: "I would like to know if the project will include double tracking at the railroad station in Hartford." | 3: Thank you for your comment. This project does not include any work at Hartford Union Station. |
| 4: "Please send me plans for the upcoming public meeting regarding the proposed double tracking in West Hartford, thanks." | 4: Thank you for your comment. The upcoming Public Information Meeting presentation, which will include preliminary project and detour plans, and meeting minutes will be uploaded to the project website (https://portal.ct.gov/dotwesthartford0320- 0008) following the meeting. Please feel free to reach back out with any questions or comments after you have had a chance to review the materials. |
| 5: "To Whom It May Concern: I work for CSX Transportation. CSX has trackage rights on the Hartford Line where we operate our freight shipments between Springfield, MA and New Haven, CT. Currently, the line is limited to 263K lbs. gross weight on rail which negatively impact the competitiveness of the industries served by this line because the current nationwide rail standard is 286k lbs. We strongly recommend that CT DOT make the planned infrastructures compatible with the national standard of 286k lbs gross weight on rail. Thank you for the consideration, CSX Transportation." | 5: One of the goals of the Hartford Line Rail Program is to restore the double track within the exiting Amtrak rail line from New Haven to Springfield. For projects within the Program that have been completed in construction, and are currently in design or construction, the 286k lbs. freight weight criteria has been included as part of the design criteria. However, there is still currently other Amtrak owned existing infrastructure that has not been upgraded to meet this criteria. CTDOT will continue to work with Amtrak to replace/reconstruct rail infrastructure within the corridor with the goal of meeting the 286k lbs. freight criteria in the future. |
| 6: "Taken CT Rail for years and I always have to look for the schedule & look for the schedule. Bad enough the train won’t’ Go the WL every trip. Do It." | 6: Thank you for your comment. NHHSrail.com is a website about the Hartford Line Rail Program. For the Hartford Line schedule and information about daily operations, please visit https://hartfordline.com/. |
| 7: "Can I view a schedule RIGHT NOW. WANT TO SEE IT RIGHT NOW. not going to another website. Not doing that." | 7: Thank you for your comment. NHHSrail.com is a website about the Hartford Line Rail Program. For the Hartford Line schedule and information about daily operations, please visit https://hartfordline.com/ |