Hartford Line train heading southbound through Hartford Union Station on opening day, June 16, 2018.
(Jehochman, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons)
CT RAIL
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 some service 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.
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. CT Rail trains, along with other CTDOT rail operations, use the reporting mark CNDX.
Lines
CT Rail operates two commuter rail lines: the Hartford Line and Shore Line East. Both lines utilize portions of the Northeast Corridor, with most trains terminating at Union Station in New Haven.
Hartford Line
The Hartford Line runs between New Haven Union Station in New Haven and Springfield Union Station in Springfield. The line is a joint venture between the Connecticut Department of Transportation and the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT). 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. 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.
GE P40DC. (East Coast Railfan, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons)
EMD GP40-33H. (Pi.1415926535, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons)
Mafersa Coach. (Pi.1415926535, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons)
MBB Coach. (Pi.1415926535, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons)
Kawasaki M8 Railcar. (Pi.1415926535, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons)
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.
Locomotives
| Builder | Model | Active | Road numbers | Year built | Year Rebuilt | Year acquired | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GE | P40DC | 12 | 6700–6711 | 1993 | 2018–2024 | 2005, 2015 | Ex-Amtrak. |
| EMD | GP40-3H | 6 | 6694–6699 | 1971 | 2017-2019 | 1996 |
Coaches
| Builder | Model | Active | Road numbers | Year built | Year Rebuilt | Year acquired | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mafersa | Coaches and Cab Cars | 33 | 1701–1719 (cab cars, odd numbers only) 1730–1774 (coach cars, even numbers only) | 1991–1992 | 2004 | 2004 | Ex-Virginia Railway Express. Used for Hartford Line Service. |
| MBB (Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm) | Coaches | 16 | 501, 503, 505, 508, 509, 516, 517, 522, 526, 527, 528, 532, 1505, 1509, 1518, 1520 | 1988 | 2017-2018 | 2017-2018 | Leased from MBTA. |
Electric Multiple Units
| Builder | Model | Active | Road numbers | Year built | Year Rebuilt | Year acquired | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kawasaki | M8 Railcar | 471 | 9100–9474 | 2011–2015, 2019–2022 | N/A | 2011–2022 | Used 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.
Map
A CT Rail map.
(Wikimedia | © OpenStreetMap)
Overview
Owner: Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT)
Locale: Connecticut and Western Massachusetts
Transit type: Commuter rail
Number of lines: 2
Number of stations: 22
Daily ridership: 4,255 (2019)
Annual ridership: 1,410,500 (2019)
Website: ctrail.com
Operation
Began operation: 1990
Operators: TransitAmerica Services and Alternate Concepts (Hartford Line) / Amtrak (Shore Line East)
Reporting marks: CNDX
Technical
System length: 121 miles (195 km)
Track gauge: 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
