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January 31, 2025

Proposed rail link to Bradley International Airport gains traction with new bill

Google Maps The approximate route of the proposed Bradley Airport Rail Link.

A Hartford-based rail advocate who travels frequently, Casey Moran, has pitched an idea to build a rail line that would connect Bradley International Airport to the region's rail network.

The Bradley Airport Rail Link would provide a one-seat train ride to Bradley from throughout much of Connecticut. It would have stops in Hartford, Bloomfield and Windsor Locks.

The idea was picked up by Rep. Christopher Rosario (D-Bridgeport) who has introduced a bill that would amend a state statute to require the Department of Transportation to establish a new commuter rail line from Hartford’s Union Station to the airport.

The goal is “to enhance the accessibility and competitiveness of Bradley as a regional airport.”

Bradley’s rail spur would run off the existing Hartford Line, which is served by CTrail and Amtrak trains, and runs between New Haven and Springfield. 

The Hartford Line connects to the New Haven Line, which offers service to Grand Central Terminal via Metro-North Railroad, and to CTrail’s Shore Line East between New Haven and New London.

Moran believes Bradley is at a disadvantage compared to airports in New York City and Boston, which have rail access.

Adding frequent and efficient rail service would change people’s perceptions of Bradley and provide a long-term return on state investment, he says.

A theoretical rail trip from Hartford to Bradley would take about 16 minutes – compared to a 2-hour drive to Boston’s Logan Airport, according to Moran’s research.

A trip from New Haven to Bradley by rail would take just over 1 hour, compared with a nearly 2-hour drive to the nearest major airport, John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in New York, or a 2 hour and 15 minutes train trip to JFK.

Also, Moran says travel to Bradley would be convenient for people in the Massachusetts cities of Worcester, Northampton and Springfield, with rail travel times ranging from 1 hour and 25 minutes (Worcester) to 25 minutes (Springfield). 

Also, Moran offers a compelling reason for residents of Bridgeport and Stamford to use rail to access Bradley instead of JFK – a faster transit time, without any seat changes. For example, a train ride from Bridgeport to JFK takes 2 hours and 15 minutes (with three seat changes). A one-seat train ride from Bridgeport to Bradley would take 1 hour and 29 minutes.

The Bradley Airport Rail Link could double the number of fliers departing and arriving at Bradley every day – currently about 18,000, Moran said.

Also, he pointed out that thousands of airport employees could use the trains, along with employees of the adjacent Collins Aerospace plant.

The state already owns 13 miles of the 18.3-mile right-of-way along the route, according to Moran’s research.

Moran said the proposed Bradley rail line should be incorporated into plans to rebuild Hartford’s Union Station, which are currently underway.

The bill, HB 5061, has been referred to the legislature’s Joint Committee on Transportation.

Moran said his goal is to get the bill passed and then begin a feasibility study to determine routing and cost.

The project does not have a price tag, but Moran thinks it will cost a few hundred million dollars.

For more information, contact Moran at moran.casey.p@gmail.com.

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