The Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) announced the Hartford Line saw record train ridership between New Haven and Springfield during Thanksgiving weekend.
CTDOT ran extra CTrail Hartford Line trains Nov. 26-27 and Dec. 1.
CTDOT deployed 10 additional CTrail trains on the Tuesday and Wednesday before Thanksgiving and four additional trains on the Sunday after. The added trains were scheduled five-10 minutes after Amtrak trains. The CTrail trains provided additional seats to alleviate overcrowding on many sold-out Amtrak trains.
“The extra trains were a resounding success and surpassed expectations,” said CTDOT Commissioner Joseph Giulietti. “Our preparation and teamwork paid off.”
In 2018, more than 3,500 passengers chose CTrail and Amtrak the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, setting a one-day ridership record. This year the Hartford Line carried more than 4,000 riders the Wednesday before Thanksgiving – a new ridership record. Last year on the Sunday after Thanksgiving, the Hartford Line carried more than 3,000 riders; this year there were more than 3,600 riders.
“We are very happy to announce the success of these additional Hartford Line trains which met the heavy travel demand,” said Richard Andreski, CTDOT public transportation bureau chief. “It was great to see everyone pull together to accomplish this – Amtrak, CTrail crews and CTDOT staff.”
CTDOT Rail Administrator Carl Jackson added, “People in Connecticut have wanted this rail system for a long time and are using it to avoid the headaches of driving. It was great to see everyone on these busy holiday trains.”
