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October 24, 2023

Train service cuts, higher fares planned

PHOTO | CONTRIBUTED Amtrak’s new direct-to-New York City train service out of Union Station departs Hartford at 5:26 a.m. and 8:35 a.m.
By Andrew Larson

A fare increase is scheduled to go into effect in the coming weeks on Metro-North Railroad and CTrail Hartford Line trains.

The roughly 5% increase will be implemented Sunday on Metro-North trains, and on Nov. 1 on the Hartford Line and Shore Line East.

In addition, the number of trains running on Metro-North's New Haven, New Canaan and Danbury lines will be reduced. The state Department of Transportation said the changes are the result of lower demand and a need to live “within the budget resources available.”

According to data from the DOT, ridership on the New Haven Main Line is down 31.9%, year over year, compared to 2019.

Under the new rates, the average one-way peak ticket will increase from $7.14 to $7.60. Fares vary depending on location.

Metro-North’s service reductions are:

  • Decreased Monday through Thursday on the New Haven Line from 239 to 237 trains
  • Decreased Friday on the New Haven Line from 241 trains to 233 trains
  • Decreased weekday on the New Canaan Line from 41 trains to 39 trains
  • Decreased weekday on the Danbury Line from 28 trains to 26 trains
  • Decreased weekday and on weekends on Shore Line East from 23 trains to 16 trains

Also, three new buses will be added in March 2024 -- one new route in the CTtransit Hartford Division and two new routes in the CTtransit New Haven Division, along with improvements to service frequencies on two CTfastrak routes.

The DOT collected public input on the proposed changes earlier this month and received 175 comments.

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