CONNECTICUT DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION NEWS RELEASE 2800 BERLIN TURNPIKE P.O. BOX 317546 NEWINGTON CONNECTICUT, 06131-7546

FOR RELEASE: July 31, 2015

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: OFFICE OF COMMUNICATIONS TELEPHONE: (860) 594-3062 FAX: (860) 594-3065 WEB SITE: www.ct.gov/dot

Amtrak Begins Substitute Bus Operation to Facilitate Construction on Hartford Line

Busing of certain weekday morning and evening New Haven to Springfield Amtrak Shuttles begins August 3, 2015

The Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) is announcing that on Monday, August 3, 2015, Amtrak will begin a substitute bus operation  for certain morning and evening New Haven to Springfield Amtrak shuttles. The busing is necessary to accommodate construction of a second track as part of the New Haven – Hartford –Springfield (NHHS) Rail Program.  The start of major track construction marks a significant milestone toward the launch of enhanced Hartford Line rail service.  The addition of a second track will allow for an increase in service from the current six round trip trains per day to 17 round trips per day south of Hartford and 12 round trips per day north of Hartford.

The busing of Amtrak shuttles will occur Monday through Friday and last for approximately one year. The following Amtrak shuttle trains will be bused to and from New Haven Union Station and Springfield Station:

• Shuttles from New Haven, Connecticut to Springfield, Massachusetts: #490 (8:40 a.m.), #470 (10:30 a.m.) and #476 (5:20 p.m.).
• Shuttles from Springfield, Massachusetts to New Haven, Connecticut: #495 (7:10 a.m.), #493 (10:30 a.m.) and #479 (7:25 p.m.). Buses will depart from Lyman Street.

Buses destined for New Haven will depart Berlin, Meriden and Wallingford 20 minutes earlier than the respective train schedules.  Otherwise, there will be no change in schedule, stops or connections.  Amtrak passengers will board the bus at their respective stations and proper busing signage will be placed on buses and Hartford Line Stations.  Additional Amtrak station service personnel will be on site in New Haven and Springfield to answer questions, as well as to direct passengers to their appropriate bus during this transition.  In addition, announcements will be made on Amtrak trains traveling north from New York City to Hartford Line stations.

For more information on this busing operation, contact Amtrak Customer Service at 1-800-872-7245 or visit www.amtrak.com.