CT Rail

Last updated
CT Rail
CT Rail logo black.svg
Hartford Line Train.jpg
A westbound train departs OSB.jpg
Shore Line East train at New London, June 2022.JPG
New CTrail signage at State Street station, December 2017.JPG
From top-left: GP40-3H at Hartford, Mafersa coaches at Old Saybrook, Kawasaki M8 at New London, and signage at State Street station
Overview
Owner Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT)
Locale Connecticut and Western Massachusetts
Transit type Commuter rail
Number of lines2
Number of stations22
Daily ridership4,255 (2019)
Annual ridership1,410,500 (2019)
Website ctrail.com
Operation
Began operation1990
Operator(s) TransitAmerica Services and Alternate Concepts (Hartford Line)
Amtrak (Shore Line East)
Reporting marks CNDX
Technical
System length121 miles (195 km)
Track gauge 4 ft 8+12 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge

CT Rail, stylized as CTrail, is the brand for commuter rail services overseen by the Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT), in the U.S. state of Connecticut, with services on the Hartford Line extending into Massachusetts. CTDOT oversees two lines: Shore Line East, between New Haven and New London, Connecticut, and the Hartford Line, from New Haven, through Hartford, to Springfield, Massachusetts. [1]

Services are operated under contract, with Shore Line East operated by Amtrak along the Northeast Corridor, and the Hartford Line operated by a joint venture of TransitAmerica Services and Alternate Concepts. [2] [3] [4] CT Rail trains, along with other CTDOT rail operations, use the reporting mark CNDX. [5]

Lines

CT Rail operates two commuter rail lines: the Hartford Line and Shore Line East. [2] Both lines utilize portions of the Northeast Corridor, with trains terminating at Union Station in New Haven. [6]

Hartford Line

The Hartford Line runs between New Haven Union Station in New Haven, Connecticut and Springfield Union Station in Springfield, Massachusetts, running through Hartford, Connecticut. This line is a joint venture between the Connecticut Department of Transportation and the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT). [7] The line is not electrified and is a single track route that uses diesel locomotives. Service began on June 16, 2018. CT Rail Hartford Line tickets are also accepted on Amtrak's Hartford Line, however, the Vermonter inter-city service does not participate despite running along the same route. [8] The majority of the Hartford Line's route is along the New Haven–Springfield Line, with two stations in New Haven, Union Station and State Street, being on the Northeast Corridor. [6]

Shore Line East

CT Rail's Shore Line East commuter rail service runs between New London and New Haven. When service initially started along the line on May 29, 1990, CT Rail commuter trains were intended to be a temporary measure in order to reduce congestion along Interstate 95 during a highway construction project. However, the service was made permanent due to more ridership than initially anticipated. The line has an average daily ridership of about 2,100 riders and runs along the Northeast Corridor for its entire length. Since May 2022, Shore Line East has used Kawasaki M8 electric multiple units to provide service on the line.

Rolling stock

Current

CT Rail uses the following rolling stock for its commuter rail operations: All Electric Multiple Unit cars are used on the electrified Shore Line East running on Amtrak's Northeast Corridor while locomotive hauled trains with passenger coaches are used on Amtrak's non-electrified Hartford Line. M8 electric cars are shared between Shore Line East and Metro-North Railroad's New Haven Line.

BuilderModelPhotoActiveRoad numbersYear builtYear RebuiltYear acquiredNotes
Locomotives
GE P40DC CDOT P40DC 6708.jpg 126700–671119932018–20242005, 2015Ex-Amtrak. [9] [10]
EMD GP40-3H Hartford Line locomotive at New Haven Union Station, September 2018.JPG 66694–66991971 [6] 2017-20191996 [6]
Coaches
Mafersa Coaches Mafersa coach at Guilford station, December 2015.JPG 331701–1719 (cab cars, odd numbers only)
1730–1774 (coach cars, even numbers only)
1991–19922004Ex-Virginia Railway Express.

Used for Hartford Line service

MBB Coaches Coach 508 at New Haven Union Station, September 2018.JPG 16 [11] [12] 501, 503, 505, 508, 509, 516, 517, 522, 526, 527, 528, 532, 1505, 1509, 1518, 15201988 [13] 2017–2018 [11] Leased from MBTA. [14] [11]
Electric Multiple Units
Kawasaki M8 Railcar
M8 at New Haven Union Station, September 2018.JPG
4719100–94742011–2015, 2019–2022N/A2011–2022Used for Shore Line East service

Future rolling stock

In August 2023, CTDOT approved a $315 million contract with Alstom for 60 single-level passenger cars. The cars will replace the existing coach fleet on the Hartford Line along with the Metro-North Waterbury Branch and Danbury Branch. Deliveries are expected to begin in 2026. [15] [16]

Map

CT Rail

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Northeast Corridor</span> Electrified railroad line in the Northeastern U.S.

The Northeast Corridor (NEC) is an electrified railroad line in the Northeast megalopolis of the United States. Owned primarily by Amtrak, it runs from Boston in the north to Washington, D.C. in the south, with major stops in Providence, New Haven, Stamford, New York City, Newark, Trenton, Philadelphia, Wilmington, and Baltimore. The NEC closely parallels Interstate 95 for most of its length. Carrying more than 2,200 trains a day, it is the busiest passenger rail line in the United States by ridership and service frequency.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Union Station (New Haven)</span> Railroad station in Connecticut

New Haven Union Station is the main railroad passenger station in New Haven, Connecticut. It is the third such station in the city of New Haven, preceded by both an 1848 built station in a different location, and an 1879 built station near the current station's location. Designed by noted American architect Cass Gilbert, the present beaux-arts Union Station was completed and opened in 1920 after the previous Union Station was destroyed by fire. It served the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad for the next five decades, but fell into decline following World War II along with the United States railroad industry as a whole.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shore Line East</span> Commuter rail service in southern Connecticut, US

Shore Line East (SLE) is a commuter rail service which operates along the Northeast Corridor through southern Connecticut, United States. The rail service is a fully owned subsidiary of the Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) and is operated under the CT Rail brand. SLE provides service seven days a week along the Northeast Corridor between New London and New Haven; limited through service west of New Haven to Bridgeport and Stamford has been suspended since 2020. Cross-platform transfers to Metro-North Railroad New Haven Line trains are available at New Haven for service to southwestern Connecticut and New York City. Pre-COVID, around 2,200 riders used the service on weekdays.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New Haven Line</span> Metro-North Railroad line in New York and Connecticut

The New Haven Line is a 72.7 mi (117.0 km) commuter rail line operated by the Metro-North Railroad in the U.S. states of New York and Connecticut. Running from New Haven, Connecticut, to New York City, the New Haven Line joins the Harlem Line in Mount Vernon, New York, and continues south to Grand Central Terminal in Manhattan. The New Haven Line carries 125,000 passengers every weekday and 39 million passengers a year. The busiest intermediate station is Stamford, with 8.4 million passengers, or 21% of the line's ridership.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Springfield Union Station (Massachusetts)</span> Train station in Springfield, Massachusetts, US

Springfield Union Station is a train and bus station in the Metro Center area of Springfield, Massachusetts. Constructed in 1926, Springfield Union Station is the fifth-busiest Amtrak station in the Commonwealth, and the busiest outside of Greater Boston.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Danbury Branch</span> Metro-North Railroad branch in Connecticut

The Danbury Branch is a diesel branch of the Metro-North Railroad's New Haven Line in the U.S. state of Connecticut, running from downtown Norwalk north to Danbury. It opened in 1852 as the Danbury and Norwalk Railroad. Until the early 1970s, passenger service continued north from Danbury to Canaan, Connecticut, and Pittsfield, Massachusetts. Metro-North took over operation of the line from Conrail in 1983, and the modern-day branch is mostly single-tracked.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Waterbury Branch</span> Metro-North Railroad branch in Connecticut

The Waterbury Branch is a branch of the Metro-North Railroad's New Haven Line, running north from a junction in the Devon section of Milford to Waterbury, Connecticut. Originally built as the Naugatuck Railroad, it once continued north to Winsted. The part north of Waterbury is now leased from CTDOT by the Railroad Museum of New England, which operates excursion trains from Thomaston station through their operating subsidiary Naugatuck Railroad ; this name was chosen in homage of the original railroad. The trackage ends in Torrington, but Metro-North service on the branch ends at Waterbury. There are conceptual plans to extend service from its current terminus in Waterbury to Hartford via Bristol and New Britain. Currently, riders that want to continue to New Britain and Hartford have to transfer to an express bus operated by CTtransit at Waterbury. All trains on this branch operate as shuttles between Waterbury and Bridgeport.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New Haven–Springfield Line</span> Railroad line in Connecticut and Massachusetts, U.S.

The New Haven–Springfield Line is a railroad line owned by Amtrak from New Haven, Connecticut, north to Springfield, Massachusetts, serving the Knowledge Corridor. As a branch of the Northeast Corridor just north of New Haven State Street station, it is served by approximately seven daily Northeast Regional round trips, some continuing from New Haven to Washington, D.C., along the Corridor and others terminating at New Haven as shuttles. On weekends, there is one train daily to Roanoke, Virginia. It is also served by the daily Vermonter, which starts in Washington, D.C., and continues north from Springfield, finally terminating in St. Albans, Vermont. The line is part of the Inland Route connecting Boston and New York via Hartford, Springfield, and Worcester, in contrast to the "Shore Line" along the Connecticut Shore and through Rhode Island.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New Haven State Street station</span> Railroad station in Connecticut

New Haven State Street station is a commuter rail station located on State Street in downtown New Haven, Connecticut. The secondary railroad station in the city, it is located 0.8 miles (1.3 km) northeast of the much larger New Haven Union Station and is intended to offer easier access to New Haven's downtown business district. It is served by Shore Line East and Hartford Line commuter trains, Amtrak Hartford Line trains, Springfield-terminating Northeast Regional trains, and Valley Flyer trains, and a limited number of Metro-North Railroad New Haven Line trains. Originally proposed in 1996, State Street opened on June 7, 2002. A second platform opened on June 8, 2018, in time for the beginning of Hartford Line service.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Connecticut Department of Transportation</span> Government agency in Connecticut

The Connecticut Department of Transportation is responsible for the development and operation of highways, railroads, mass transit systems, ports and waterways in Connecticut.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hartford Union Station</span> Train station in Hartford, Connecticut, US

Hartford Union Station is a railroad station in Hartford, Connecticut, United States on the New Haven–Springfield Line. It is served by Amtrak Hartford Line, Northeast Regional, Valley Flyer, and Vermonter intercity rail service, plus CT Rail Hartford Line commuter rail service and CTfastrak bus rapid transit service.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hartford Line</span> CTrail commuter rail service in the US

The Hartford Line is a commuter rail service between New Haven, Connecticut, and Springfield, Massachusetts, using the Amtrak-owned New Haven–Springfield Line. The project is a joint venture between the states of Connecticut and Massachusetts, with support from the federal government as well. CT Rail-branded trains provide service along the corridor, and riders can use Hartford Line tickets to travel on board most Amtrak trains along the corridor at the same prices. The service launched on June 16, 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Windsor station (Connecticut)</span> Rail station in Windsor, Connecticut, US

Windsor station is a historic railroad station on Amtrak's New Haven–Springfield Line, located in downtown Windsor, Connecticut. It is served by Amtrak Northeast Regional and Valley Flyer intercity service and CT Rail's Hartford Line commuter rail service. The nearby Hartford & New Haven Railroad-Freight Depot serves as the home of the Windsor Arts Center.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Windsor Locks station</span> Train station in Windsor Locks, Connecticut, US

Windsor Locks station is an Amtrak and CT Rail train station in Windsor Locks, Connecticut, on the New Haven–Springfield Line. It is served by four Amtrak services - the Hartford Line shuttles, Northeast Regional, Valley Flyer, and Vermonter - as well as CT Rail Hartford Line commuter rail trains.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Madison station (Connecticut)</span> Railway station in Madison, Connecticut

Madison station is a passenger rail station along CT Rail's Shore Line East commuter rail line, which runs on the Northeast Corridor between New Haven and New London. Madison station consists of a mid-sized parking lot and one high-level side platform on the southbound side of the tracks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North Haven station</span>

North Haven is a planned regional rail station on the New Haven–Springfield Line near Route 40 and Route 5 in North Haven, Connecticut, to be served by the Hartford Line service. The project has been funded for design, with construction expected to cost $52 million.

<i>Hartford Line</i> (Amtrak) Amtrak service between Springfield, MA and New Haven, CT

The Hartford Line is a train service run by Amtrak primarily between Springfield, Massachusetts, and New Haven, Connecticut, along Amtrak's New Haven–Springfield Line.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mafersa coaches</span>

The Mafersa coaches are a class of 38 passenger railroad cars built by Brazilian manufacturer Mafersa. Originally built for Virginia Railway Express (VRE) in 1991–92, they are currently operated by Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) for CT Rail service and by QIT-Fer et Titane.

Transportation in New England encompasses the region's rail and highway networks, seaports, and airports. New England has one of the United States' oldest intercity transportation systems, which remain important to the region's economy. It is also home to the continent's first subway system. The densely populated area has many cities and towns connected by rail and road, and the larger cities each have commercial airports with daily flights to destinations outside of the region.

<i>Valley Flyer</i> (Amtrak train)

The Valley Flyer is a train service run by Amtrak between New Haven, Connecticut and Greenfield, Massachusetts along Amtrak's New Haven–Springfield Line and the Massachusetts Department of Transportation's Connecticut River Line.

References

  1. "Office of Rails". CT.gov – Connecticut's Official State Website. Retrieved 2021-03-12.
  2. 1 2 "CTrail". CT.gov – Connecticut's Official State Website. Retrieved 2021-03-12.
  3. "Launch of New Hartford Passenger Line Part of 'Train Renaissance'". UConn Today. 2018-06-14. Retrieved 2021-03-13.
  4. "Hartford Line | Service Provider". www.hartfordline.com. Retrieved 2021-03-13.
  5. "AAR Railroad Reporting Marks (2021)". www.railserve.com. Retrieved 2021-03-13.
  6. 1 2 3 4 "Hartford Line | Route & Stations | Service Map". www.hartfordline.com. Retrieved 2021-03-13.
  7. "Connecticut bets big with Hartford Line". Railway Age. 2018-06-19. Retrieved 2021-03-13.
  8. "CT Rail Hartford Line: Timetables, fare prices, details on new Springfield-Hartford-New Haven commuter rail service". masslive. 2018-06-14. Retrieved 2021-03-13.
  9. "Notice of Contract Award" (PDF). Connecticut Department of Transportation. April 25, 2018.
  10. "News Photo: First CDOT P40 rebuild debuts". Trains News Wire. March 8, 2021.
  11. 1 2 3 "Rail Car Repairs, Leasing Issues Put Hartford Line Start Date in Doubt". Hartford Courant. April 4, 2018. Retrieved April 6, 2018.
  12. "What the Hartford Line Brings to Customers". Hartford Line. 2018. Retrieved May 19, 2018.
  13. "MBTA Vehicle Inventory". NETransit. Retrieved April 9, 2018.
  14. New Haven – Hartford – Springfield Rail Program [@NHHSRail] (March 13, 2018). "For the Hartford Line's service launch, CTDOT is leasing legacy Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm (MBB) coaches from the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA). The SLE train used last weekend was for testing and training purposes only" (Tweet). Retrieved March 22, 2018 via Twitter.
  15. "Alstom to supply 60 single-level coach cars to the Connecticut Department of Transportation for its statewide rail system" (Press release). Alstom. August 9, 2023.
  16. "Governor Lamont Announces Purchase of 60 New Rail Cars to Modernize Commuter Rail Lines" (Press release). Connecticut Department of Transportation. August 9, 2023.