Connecticut has taken several steps to improve Rail transportation, along with other public transit. The Hartford Line connecting key cities has several projects going to improve transportation, which have led to some changes. Let’s explore the Hartford Line’s recent updates and projects.
Hartford Line Update
The major part of the Connecticut rail transportation investment is the Hartford Line Corridor through New Haven, Hartford, and Springfield Rail Program. The Hartford Line has 13 stations, where the construction of four new stations and two relocated stations remains.
The CTDOT initiated projects to improve the rail transportation, which have led to some changes to the current transit schedules or temporary substitutions. If you are a frequent traveler on the Hartford Line, you must know these updates, such as:
- Weekday Bus Substitutions:
- The CT DOT has announced the temporary Train Service Adjustments from 22 April 2025 to 31 October 2025 on HL, where weekend train service will not be affected.
- The temporary substitutions occurred due to the Windsor Locks state and Track improvement projects, where train service needed to stop to complete the work.
- The fare to the substitute buses will be the same as train fares, and the departure time may be scheduled earlier.
- The buses will stop at Windsor, Windsor Locks, Hartford, and Springfield.
- New Fares:
- The CTrail Hartford Line, Metro-North, and Shore Line East services experienced a fare increase of 5% from 01 September 2025 as per the biennial state budget.
- Free Parking:
- From 01 August 2025, free parking was available at stations – Berlin, Meriden, and Wallingford for weekdays and weekends.
CTDOT Projects for Hartford Line
The CTDOT has started various projects on the Hartford Line to improve the services, infrastructure, and make things easy for the commuters and workers. Here are a few projects going on the Hartford Line:
- TOD Project:
- The Transit-Oriented Development Action Plan includes the development of each station area along the HL.
- The department partnered with respective municipalities to improve the station area and improve the connectivity and overall services.
- Hartford Line Rail Program Double Track:
- The CTDOT has begun the project to improve signals, tracks, and grade crossings in a total 6.2-mile stretch of the HL connecting New Haven and Springfield.
- The project focuses on the West Hartford, Windsor Locks, and Enfield double track.
- The CTDOT provided $41.9 million, whereas the total project cost will be around $209,733,000.
- Hartford Line Expansion:
- The FRA has invested $11.6 million in the expansion of the CTRail Hartford Line.
- The expansion project is working to improve the customer service at Hartford Union Station, extend the weekend trains, and enhance the connectivity of existing rail service to the Northeast Corridor.
Hartford Line New Fares
With the new fares effective from 01 September 2025, if you are still wondering about the fares, here’s the monthly fare change:
| New Haven | Wallingford | Meriden | Berlin | Hartford | Windsor | Windsor Locks | |
| Wallingford | $82.75 | ||||||
| Meriden | $110.25 | $66.25 | |||||
| Berlin | $137.25 | $82.75 | $66.25 | ||||
| Hartford | $182 | $126.75 | $104.75 | $77.25 | |||
| Windsor | $209.50 | $154.25 | $132.25 | $104.75 | $66.250 | ||
| Windsor Locks | $231.50 | $171 | $148.75 | $121.25 | $77.25 | $66.25 | |
| Springfield, MA | $292.25 | $237 | $209.5 | $182 | $137.75 | $110.25 | $93.75 |
Remember, the elderly people and people with disabilities will get a discount on the rail fare, as well as school-going kids. You can check the full ticket and fare PDF on the CTDOT or Hartford Line official website.
How to stay updated about the Hartford Line?
If you are a frequent traveler on the Hartford Line, you can sign up for Alerts and updates to stay updated. You can connect with Hartford Line in the following way:
- Email Updates:
- You can visit the Hartford Line Service alerts at https://hartfordline.com/service-alerts/ and sign up for the email updates by submitting your email address.
- Text Alert:
- On the Hartford Service Alerts website, you can enter your mobile number on the Text Alert option, providing your consent for receiving the alerts.
- Email Alert:
- You can also sign up for the Email alert on the same portal and provide consent for receiving the alerts at your email address whenever anything changes on the respective route.
With the ongoing cTrail projects at Hartford Line, it’s important to stay updated as the schedule may change or the weekday substitution of train to bus is happening; hence, to avoid last-minute problems, stay updated.
