Connecticut DOT restores Shore Line East service

Six weekday trains will be restored to the Shore Line East schedule to replace scheduled bus service that has been operating since April 2018, the Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) announced earlier this week.

In addition, two Friday-only trains now will operate every weekday to provide riders more travel options, department officials said in a press release.

Owned and operated by Amtrak under an agreement with CTDOT, the Shore Line East runs between New Haven and New London.

Also, to address persistent overcrowding on afternoon trains on the Hartford Line, CTDOT has worked with Amtrak to limit advance ticket sales through the railroad's reservation system. The change took effect Jan. 2 for Amtrak’s Hartford-to-New Haven and New Haven-to-Hartford trains, making room for up to 72 CTrail Hartford Line ticketed riders, department officials said.

CTDOT and Amtrak continue to monitor ridership levels and will consider additional changes to the reservation system as needed, they said.

"We are pleased to return these trains to the schedule, but our work is not yet done. We will work tirelessly to restore full train service on Shore Line East," said CTDOT Commissioner-designate Joseph Giulietti. "And on the Hartford Line, we believe these changes will alleviate some of the ongoing overcrowding on weekday afternoons.”

CTDOT has worked with Amtrak to speed up necessary repairs to the aging diesel locomotive and rail-car fleet on Shore Line East. To return to normal service, some rail cars and locomotives were shipped out of state to other Amtrak facilities for repair. Work shifts were added at the Shore Line East's New Haven shop, department officials said.

Moreover, another diesel locomotive was overhauled and recently released for service on Shore Line East. The returned locomotive is part of the $46 million diesel locomotive overhaul program, which aims to restore 18 diesel locomotives.