(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont today recommended that fans who are planning to attend the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament on Thursday, March 21 and Saturday, March 23 at the XL Center in Hartford should consider using the Hartford Line to travel to the games. Earlier today, the Connecticut Department of Transportation announced that special late night service will be added to the rail line each evening to accommodate fans returning home after the last game ends.
“The Hartford Line provides a quick option for fans in the central Connecticut corridor to avoid traffic and travel safely to our state’s capital city,” Governor Lamont said. “Connecticut residents deserve to have an efficient transportation system – adding these special late night trains for the tournament is another effort to provide more convenient options to travel around and get our state moving.”
The Hartford Line will operate on a regular schedule on both days of the tournament, with an additional Hartford departure southbound after the game on Thursday, March 21. The southbound train after the last game of the evening will depart Hartford Union Station at 12:15 a.m. or 30 minutes after the conclusion of the game (whichever is later) and make stops at Berlin, Meriden, Wallingford, New Haven State Street, and New Haven Union Station. For northbound passengers, bus service will be provided from Hartford Union Station and will also depart at 12:15 a.m. or 30 minutes after the game (whichever is later). Northbound buses will drop off at Windsor, Windsor Locks, and Springfield.
NCAA tournament officials have not announced the game times for Saturday, March 23. If the last game is scheduled to end after regular service has ended, an additional train will be added southbound and bus service northbound. Additional service for Saturday, if necessary, will be announced at www.hartfordline.com.
Additional rail cars will also be added to Amtrak trains that run on the Hartford Line for the games.