[Excerpt]
"The much-anticipated CTrail Hartford Line opened its regular service this week, giving residents an alternative route through central Connecticut and beyond. Stations along the Hartford line are in Springfield, Massachusetts, Windsor Locks, Windsor, Hartford, Berlin, Meriden, Wallingford and New Haven.
The trip between New Haven and Hartford takes roughly 45–55 minutes, and tickets cost $8, while tickets for the Hartford-Springfield trip cost $6. The full ride from the Elm City to Massachusetts costs $12.75. In addition, monthly, weekly and 10-ride tickets are available for daily commuters and frequent travelers.
“With service now from Springfield, Hartford, and many stops along the way, New Haven will be — as it should be — an easier-to-reach destination,” New Haven Mayor Toni Harp said in a statement to the News. “For all those who want to enroll or visit one of the colleges here, attend one of the many special events in the city, or enjoy New Haven’s fine dining and historic attractions, we’re now just a train ride away — and the State Street Station is literally just three blocks from the Green and the heart of downtown.”
Executive Director of DataHaven Mark Abraham ’04 told the News in October that 200,000 workers in the New Haven area live within a few miles of the new service. Of those workers, one in eight works in the Hartford area.
Abraham, who frequently makes the trip from New Haven to Hartford, said the train service “will be significantly more pleasant and cost-effective than driving, parking or taking the bus, especially at peak hours when trains run frequently.”
To celebrate the opening and test the tracks, CTrail is offering free rides over the weekend. Almost 22,000 people took advantage of the offer, filing onto trains on Saturday and Sunday."
Link:
https://yaledailynews.com/blog/2018/06/21/new-haven-hartford-rail-line-opens-for-business/
