Connecticut SLE (Shore Line East) is an important part of the state transportation network connecting the coastal communities. As the state is improving the transportation sector, let’s see what improvements are going on in the SLE.
Shore Line East Improvements
The Shore Line East serves the southern Connecticut towns and serves nine train stations between New London and New Haven. The SLE reduces traffic on I-95, supports the local economy, and improves connectivity.
With ongoing efforts to improve the CTrail and other public transit in the state, the state also plans to improve the SLE and make it like it was before COVID-19. The Governor announced the budget for transportation, and the federal government also offered a grant for the public transit improvement.
The Shore Line East gets a $40 million boost in the budget for 2026, along with the Hartford Line improvement. With the funds, the authority plans to expand the daily trips and improve other rail services.
What are the key improvements announced or going on for SLE?
To enhance the connectivity, improve the infrastructure, and make people’s lives easier, here are some recent Shore Line improvements:
- Legislation for restoring Shore Line East Service:
- Legislation was passed to restore the SLE services to it was before the pandemic, as currently, the rail line has 20 trains running on weekdays and 16 on weekends.
- The policymakers expect ridership to increase with the SLE service restored through more trains and to reduce the peak traffic.
- The estimate to bring back the SLE’s full services will be around $25 million to $80 million.
- Fare Adjustment:
- The CT DOT announces the fare hike from 01 September 2025 by 5% applicable to Hartford Line, Metro-North, and SLE.
- The government says the fare will increase by 5% again in July 2026, so be ready.
- Expansion and funding:
- The CT DOT says the present state budget has authorized $40 million for SLE for 2026, whereas $41 million was passed for 2027.
- The biennial budget 2o26-27 also secures $4 million investment to boost the SLE services, expand the rail line, and enhance the connectivity through various improvements and upgrades.
- The CT DOT also initiated the potential rail improvement studies to create new services between Norwich and New London.
- Projects:
- The state uses the funding to replace the old bridge over the Connecticut River between Old Saybrook and Old Lyme to improve the safety and reliability of the rail lines.
- The CT DOT started the M8 electric Multiple Units project in 2022, which replaced the old trains with electric trains.
What are the concerns involving the SLE?
Let’s understand the risks and issues involved in the Shore Line East that the government needs to look into:
- Reducing ridership: The DOT has reported that the ridership is reducing on SLE over the years after the pandemic.
- The major concern was housing development near the public transit and express trains to New York.
- The subsidy on each passenger for SLE is higher than for any other transit in the state, which is concerning. The SLE subsidy in 2025 is $183, whereas in 2021 it was nearly $55.28.
- The rail system has fixed prices regardless of the profit or how many people are riding, so with the ridership dropping, it would affect the rail line’s services, maintenance, and other costs.
After a long time, we are experiencing efforts to improve the rail services and attract riders back to the SLE rail line. The CT DOT is focusing on improving the infrastructure and introducing EV-compatible and sustainable infrastructure.
What do advocates say about the SLE requirement?
The advocates researched the SLE needs, made recommendations for improvement, and raised concerns over the investment. Here you can check what advocates say about the SLE improvements:
- The advocates support the restoration of full service of SLE but question the investment and recommend more investment for the full services.
- The advocates say the restoration will be critical for climate action, transportation equity, and economic growth.
- The advocates say we do not have enough housing near the public transit and promote public transit.
The Connecticut SLE rail line is important for the coastal lines and economic growth of the region. Hence, with ongoing improvement, the government needs to make more effort and fund the improvement with long-term investment.
