by Staff Report CTNewsJunkie
Connecticut residents riding the rails during one of the busiest travel weeks of the year will have a few more options getting into and out of the state’s capitol.
According to the Connecticut Department of Transportation, additional trains are being added on the Hartford Line in anticipation of increased ridership over the Thanksgiving holiday. Additionally, the New Haven Line and Shore Line East will operate with modified schedules over the holiday.
The Hartford Line will operate a Saturday schedule on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, Nov. 27, according to the DOT. On Friday, Nov. 28, the Hartford Line will operate a normal weekday schedule. Additional CTrail trains will be added to the Hartford Line schedule to accommodate the anticipated increased passenger volume. That includes:
- Four northbound and four southbound CTrail trains will be added to the schedule on Tuesday, Nov. 25, and Wednesday, Nov. 26.
- Three northbound and three southbound CTrail trains will be added to the schedule on Sunday, Nov. 30.
CTDOT staff will also be at Hartford Line Stations, including New Haven Union Station and Hartford Union Station, on Tuesday, Nov. 25, Wednesday, Nov. 26, and Sunday, Nov. 30 to assist passengers traveling for the holiday.
“This holiday travel season, we’re adding more trains on the Hartford Line to make getting to your destination easier. Our staff will be at stations to help all riders – whether it’s your first trip or your hundredth – to find and board the right train,” said Connecticut Department of Transportation Commissioner Garrett Eucalitto. “We’re thankful for our rail service providers for partnering with us, ensuring that riders have more options to travel in Connecticut during the upcoming holiday.”
To see the entire schedule, visit HartfordLine.com.
Additionally, Shore Line East will operate on a weekend schedule on Thursday, Nov. 27, and a weekday schedule on Friday, Nov. 28. Visit ShoreLineEast.com for the most current schedules.
Metro-North Railroad will also operate a special train schedule on the New Haven Line on Thursday, Nov. 28, and will operate a modified Saturday schedule on Friday, Nov. 29. Visit new.mta.info for the most current New Haven Line schedules.
While reservations are never required on CTrail Hartford Line trains, passengers planning to ride an Amtrak train during the holiday should make a reservation before traveling through the Amtrak website or the Amtrak mobile app. All Amtrak trains may reach capacity in this peak travel period and if at capacity, will not accept CTrail or UPass ticket holders on board the train, DOT said.
During this holiday, passengers using Amtrak multi-ride tickets – such as monthly passes and 10-trip tickets – should also make a reservation on board the Amtrak train they wish to use. Travel is encouraged early in the day to avoid overcrowding.
DOT encourages Hartford Line passengers to pre-purchase their rail tickets before boarding. CTrail passengers may purchase their rail tickets using the CTrail eTix mobile ticketing app or at CTrail ticket vending machines.
Passengers are encouraged to visit HartfordLine.com or Amtrak.com for the latest service information. Riders can also sign up for alerts sent directly to their phone or email at HartfordLine.com/service-alerts.
For information about all rail services in Connecticut, visit CTrail.com.