NEW LONDON, Conn. — Beginning Monday, the Shoreline East train schedule will get a boost as four new trains will be added, increasing available routes to Stamford and New Haven.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many shoreline train routes were cut for safety reasons and because they were not used, as many in the state were working from home. But as restrictions ebbed, the routes were never restored.
As recently as March 2024, more routes were cut due to the lack of funding for local rail transportation.
State Senator Christine Cohen announced she secured $5 million in state funding to increase the service.
There will be direct trains to Stamford and New Haven from New London, as well as options to return to New London.
WESTBOUND:
-New London to Stamford starting at 5:45 a.m.
-New London to New Haven at 9:05 p.m.
EASTBOUND:
-New Haven to New London at 4:25 a.m.
-New Haven to New London at 7:45 p.m.
-Already existing train from Stamford to New London at 4:10 p.m.
“I used to have to go to the city the night before. I have a whole living situation there, but I’d rather be at home,” said commuter Jennifer Sassenger, who said this new schedule gives her more flexibility on leaving when she wants.
Thecla Abbiati, another commuter, said she has been taking trains to work in New Haven for 33 years and typically replied on the early ones. The past few years she has had to find an alternate mode of transportation due to lack of trains.
“The earlier ones were canceled, so they stopped that, then the next one after that, so the earliest one was 6:30,” Abbiati said. Now, she can hop on the early 5:45 a.m. train.
State leaders said the route increase is a step in the right direction. Cohen said that around $30 million more will be needed to bring back the pre-pandemic 2019 rail schedule, but the demand isn't currently there.
Cohen also wrote and passed HB 5330, which requires that the Department of Transportation come back to the Transportation Committee with at least five alternatives for restoring service to the line and the cost of each possibility.
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Jennifer Glatz is a digital content producer at FOX61 News. She can be reached at jglatz@fox61.com.
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