CTRAIL SERVICE

Move is a response to persistent overcrowding

Amtrak addresses Hartford Line volume by limiting advance sales.

In response to persistent overcrowding on afternoon Amtrak trains on the CTrail Hartford Line, Amtrak has begun limiting advance ticket sales through its reservation system — leaving more seats open for travelers with Hartford Line tickets.

The state Department of Transportation worked with Amtrak on the change, which took effect Jan. 2 for Train 475 (Hartford to New Haven) and Train 474 (New Haven to Hartford), the state said this week. Limiting reservations for those afternoon trains makes room for up to 72 riders with CTrail Hartford Line tickets, DOT said.

The problem of overcrowding arose soon after the new Hartford Line began service last summer, promising customers that Amtrak trains running on the Hartford Line would honor CTrail tickets. Riders on three afternoon trains found that was not always the case, with Amtrak sometimes refusing to honor CTrail tickets when trains were full.

Then-Gov. Dannel P. Malloy scolded Amtrak for what he called a violation of its agreement with the state and urged the company to add more cars. Judd Everhart, a spokesman for the DOT, echoed the call to add at least one more train in the afternoon.

“We understand the frustration of passengers being asked to wait for another

train and appreciate their patience until we can resolve this issue,” Everhart said in late December. “At the same time, we recognize Amtrak’s position that having passengers standing in the aisles and vestibules can be a safety concern.”

DOT said the state and Amtrak will continue monitoring ridership levels and make other changes if necessary.

The commuter service connects Springfield and New Haven, with stops in Windsor Locks, Windsor, Hartford, Berlin, Meriden and Wallingford.

The state also announced this week a partial restoration of rail service for Shore Line East trains that have been replaced with bus service since April 2018. Six weekday trains will be operating again starting Jan. 22, and two Friday-only trains will begin operating every weekday.

Shore Line East is reinstating westbound trains 1627, 1645, 1675 and 1687 and eastbound trains 1604, 1626, 1638 and 1656.

“We are pleased to return these trains to the schedule, but our work is not yet done. We will work tirelessly to restore full train service on Shore Line East,” DOT commissioner-designate Joseph Giulietti said. “This is our goal. Our customers deserve no less. And on the Hartford Line, we believe these changes will alleviate some of the ongoing overcrowding on weekday afternoons.”