Slides on New Haven – Hartford – Springfield Rail Public Info Meetings Online

I posted yesterday about plans to enhance Metro North service on the Bridgeport-Waterbury line.

While looking around online for more information about those plans, my attention was diverted by something else.

Last month, ConnDOT held a series of public information sessions regarding ongoing consideration being given to starting commuter rail on the New Haven – Hartford – Springfield rail line, which would tie into Metro North, Shore Line East, and Amtrak service along the Northeast Corridor mainline.

It turns out that the project has its own website, nhhsrail.com.  Within that site can be found the PowerPoint deck shown at the public meetings.

While the presentation lacks a few of the details I’m interested in – namely, how much will the service cost, who will pay for it, and how much of a subsidy (if any) will be needed to maintain the service once operational – it does provide some tantalizing details:  the proposed frequency of service.

• “Start Up” option
• 16 trains/day weekdays
• 15 trains/day weekends
• 30 minute lead time peak hours
• 1-2 hour lead time off-peak
• “Full Build” option
• 35 trains/day
• 15 minute lead time peak hours
• approximately hourly service off-peak

I still will believe it when I actually see it built… but as someone who occasionally commutes from outside Hartford into New York, the promise of increased service is tempting.

Now, if only we could get the MBTA commuter line extended west to Springfield….