Governor Ned Lamont, alongside Connecticut’s Congressional delegation, announced today that the state will receive $11.6 million in federal funding to expand and enhance service along the CTrail Hartford Line.

The funding, awarded by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) under President Joe Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, will help improve rail service, reliability, and customer experience for commuters along the popular transit corridor.

The $11.6 million federal grant will be matched by approximately $13.4 million in state funds from the Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT), bringing the total project cost to $25 million. The funds will specifically support the continued growth of the Hartford Line and its connections to surrounding communities.

“The Hartford Line is not only providing a valuable and convenient public transit resource for people who live in central Connecticut,” Governor Lamont said, “but it is also helping create new opportunities for economic growth and development in the towns it serves. Expanding service on this line will further make travel on this rail line even more convenient, and I appreciate President Biden and the FRA for partnering with our state to make this happen.”

The grant is part of the FRA’s Restoration and Enhancement Program, aimed at expanding rail services and improving customer service. The funding will help address several service gaps, including adding new weekday trips and extending service on weekends. The project will benefit passengers traveling along the corridor, including major stations in New Haven, Hartford, Windsor Locks, and Springfield, Massachusetts.

“This $11.6 million federal investment in the Hartford Line will help cut down on travel times and pump billions of dollars into Connecticut’s economy,” Sen. Chris Murphy said, “all while creating good-paying union jobs and reducing our carbon footprint. This is a big win for Connecticut commuters and for communities along the Hartford Line who will enjoy the benefits of more convenient, reliable transportation and sustained economic growth for years to come.”

The $25 million expansion project for the Hartford Line will include several key improvements: One additional round-trip will be added on weekdays from New Haven to Hartford, addressing a midday service gap of up to three hours. Weekend trains 6456, 6457, 6458, and 6459 will be extended to Windsor Locks Station, while weekday train 4401 will be extended from Windsor Locks to Springfield. Customer service hours at Hartford Union Station will increase by 75%, and the project will continue previous funding from 2020 with the addition of two more weekday trains between New Haven and Springfield.

By 2030, the expanded service is projected to increase ridership by about 90,000 passengers annually, while saving motorists more than 100 million miles of travel and reducing carbon emissions by 25,000 metric tons each year. The Hartford Line is also expected to help conserve over 3.5 million gallons of fuel annually.

“This continued and increased investment from the FRA ensures the Hartford Line and Hartford Union Station will continue to grow and provide reliable service for years to come and provide even greater connectivity to Bradley International Airport,” Connecticut Transportation Commissioner Garrett Eucalitto said.

Since its launch in 2018, the CTrail Hartford Line has seen substantial growth in ridership. In 2024, the service was expected to record more than 750,000 passenger trips, making it the highest ridership year since the line’s inception. With the planned service expansions, the project is expected to drive further economic development in the region, providing more reliable and efficient travel options for both residents and businesses.

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