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

FOR RELEASE: June 5, 2018

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

CTDOT announces significant increase in daily trains along the

New Haven-Hartford-Springfield corridor beginning June 9

Increase in train traffic leads to the launch of the new Hartford Line rail service on June 16;

CTDOT reminds the public to follow the law and use caution at rail crossings.

(NEWINGTON, CT) –The Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) today announced that beginning June 9, 2018, rail traffic along the Hartford Line corridor will increase significantly, as the final preparations for the June 16^th Hartford Line rail service launch take place.

Both Amtrak and CTrail trains will serve the Hartford Line. On June 9^th, Amtrak’s portion of the Hartford Line service will commence, increasing daily Amtrak trains from 12 to 18. Also on June 9^th, CTrail trains will begin test runs of the full Hartford Line schedule of 16 weekday trips.

The CTrail test trains are not open to passengers. The Amtrak trains will be revenue trains, open to passengers at existing Amtrak fares. However, when the Hartford Line service launches on June 16, Hartford Line fares will be honored on Amtrak trains serving the Hartford Line corridor, except on the Vermonter, which will maintain its existing fare structure. A full Hartford Line fare chart can be viewed at http://www.hartfordline.com/pdf/fare_schedule.pdf .

When the Hartford Line launches, CTrail and Hartford Line trains will provide a total of 34 daily trips on weekdays, 12 trips on Saturdays, and 13 trips on Sundays and holidays.

“With the increase in rail traffic, the Connecticut Department of Transportation wants to remind the public to obey the law at rail crossings. People may not always remember that trains cannot stop quickly. In fact, it can take a mile for a train to come to a complete stop. Drivers should never attempt to drive under or around a closing or closed gate at a street-level rail crossing,” stated CTDOT Commissioner James Redeker.

CTDOT has been engaged in a rail safety public awareness campaign through Connecticut Operation Lifesaver, the state chapter of Operation Lifesaver, a national nonprofit public safety education and awareness organization dedicated to reducing collisions, fatalities, and injuries at highway-rail crossings and trespassing on or near railroad tracks. 

Connecticut’s Operation Lifesaver campaign includes informational materials and safety tips tailored to drivers, pedestrians, children, bicyclists, professional drivers, including school bus drivers, and rail passengers. Outreach includes educational presentations for school children; “Safety Ambassador” outreach to pedestrians and bicyclists near street-level rail crossings; informational tables at local fairs and festivals; the placement of electronic signs that feature rail safety messages near street-level rail crossings; the distribution of informational materials to libraries along the Hartford Line corridor; and a soon-to-launch paid advertising campaign.

To learn more about rail safety tips for pedestrians, drivers, bicyclists, and train passengers, please go to http://Bit.ly/2sGPSjY .

To request a presentation or safety information for your school, organization, or neighborhood group, please contact Connecticut’s Operation Lifesaver State Coordinator, Kevin Burns at Kevin.Burns@ct.gov or (203)497-3381 between the hours of 7:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.