NEWS AND NOTICES

We are aware that some customers using the CTrail eTix app on an iPhone may be experiencing technical difficulties. Our technicians are currently working to resolve it as soon as possible. In the meantime, passengers can purchase tickets in the following ways:

• At any ticket vending machine available at New Haven State Street and New Haven Union Station.
• Full-service ticket windows are located at New London, Old Saybrook, and New Haven Union Station.
• Onboard all CTrail Shore Line East trains with cash only.

Visit ShoreLineEast.com for details.

Please review your preferences on our alerts page to ensure you receive the most up-to-date information for your travels.

Thank you for your patience in this matter.

CTrail Shore Line East trains will operate a regular weekday schedule on Veterans Day, November 11.

The full schedule can be viewed here.

Remember to sign up for alerts or update your preferences on our alerts page for the most up-to-date travel information.

The technical difficulties with the CTrail eTix app have been resolved, and the app is now working.

We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused and thank you for your patience.

We are aware that some customers are currently experiencing technical difficulties using the CTrail eTix app, and we are working to resolve it as soon as possible. In the meantime, passengers can purchase tickets in the following ways:

• At any ticket vending machine available at New Haven State Street and New Haven Union Station
• At full-service ticket windows located at New London, Old Saybrook, and New Haven Union Station
• Onboard all CTrail Shore Line East trains with cash only

Please review your preferences on our alerts page to ensure you receive the most up-to-date information for your travels.

Due to construction and track work in Branford, schedule times and track boarding assignments will be adjusted for the weekends of October 22-23 and 29-30.

The work between New Haven and Guilford each weekend will leave only one track open for train traffic. Additionally, the trains below will be substituted with bus service.

• Eastbound (To New London) train #3610
• Westbound (To New Haven) train #3637

Please refer to https://shorelineeast.com/schedules for the full schedule and track assignments.

Don’t forget to review your preferences on our alerts page to ensure you receive the most up-to-date information for your travels.

CTrail Shore Line East will operate on the following schedules during Columbus Day weekend:

• Saturday and Sunday, October 8 – 9, 2022: All trains will operate on a regular weekend schedule.
• Columbus Day, Monday, October 10, 2022: All trains will operate on a regular weekday schedule.

Remember to sign up for alerts or update your preferences on our alerts page for the most up-to-date travel information.

Due to heavy rainfall and flooding, CTrail Shore Line East has suspended all service until further notice.

Our ground crews are evaluating the situation and fixing any weather-related damages so we can resume service as conditions safely allow.

Passengers who have bus and rail connections are advised to check with all operators prior to travel.

We will provide updates on our website as they become available.

CTrail Shore Line East has resumed service. Passengers should expect residual delays from the track flooding.

CTrail Shore Line East will operate on a weekend/holiday schedule on Labor Day, Monday, September 5, 2022.

Please review your preferences on our alerts page to ensure you receive the most up-to-date information for your travels.

Due to construction and track work in Branford, schedule adjustments will be made on the weekends of August 6-7 and August 13-14. The work will require single tracking between New Haven and Guilford each weekend, which leaves only one track open for train traffic.

Schedule adjustments have been made to most trains. In addition, train 3610 eastbound and train 3637 westbound will have bus substitutions instead of operating as a train.

The work will also require that Branford and Guilford board and drop off all passengers at a single platform each weekend. On August 6-7, all trains will stop on Track 1 at Branford and Guilford. On August 13-14, all trains will stop on Track 2 at Branford and Track 4 at Guilford.

To ensure you receive the most up-to-date information for your travels, be sure to review your preferences on our alerts page.

A new schedule will go into effect on Monday, July 11, 2022. This updated schedule will reflect operational improvements for the new M8 equipment, as well as changes made to the Metro-North schedule.

With large crowds, road closures, and limited parking, it’s the perfect time to leave the car behind and take the train to this year’s Sailfest! CTrail Shore Line East stops in the heart of downtown New London and right in the middle of Sailfest fun!

From Friday, July 8th – Sunday, July 10th, this three-day festival, held at Waterfront Park, will feature amusement rides, free entertainment, ships, over 200 food vendors, and a major fireworks display on Saturday night.

New London Union Station is just a short walk to the festivities, so CTrail Shore Line East is the perfect option to get you there. Expanded capacity on several of our trains makes for a stress-free and comfortable ride. Even catching the fireworks is easy as CTrail Shore Line East will offer service departing New London at 10:50 PM, and arriving at New Haven Union Station at 11:53 PM.

CTrail Shore Line East trains will operate on a weekend/holiday schedule on Monday, July 4, 2022, in observance of Independence Day.

CTrail Shore Line East, CTrail Hartford Line, and Metro-North will all operate on a regular weekday schedule for the Juneteenth holiday, Monday, June 20, 2022.

To ensure you receive the most up-to-date information for your travels, be sure to review your preferences on our alerts page.

As a valued customer, we are asking for your feedback in helping us better understand your expectations and how we can improve our service.

From now until June 27, we will be conducting an online survey to hear about your experience using Shore Line East. We hope you will use this opportunity to let us know how we are doing and how we can improve in the future.

Get started here: CTrail.com/survey

Thank you in advance for taking the time to provide us with your valuable feedback!

CTrail Shore Line East will operate on a weekend/holiday schedule on Memorial Day, Monday, May 30, 2022.

The full schedule can be found here.

Be sure to sign up for alerts or update your preferences on our alerts page for the most up-to-date travel information.

Exciting News — Beginning Tuesday, May 24, 2022, the long-awaited M8 Electric Multiple Unit (EMU) trains will begin service on Shore Line East!!

Electric trains are cleaner, emitting fewer carbon emissions compared to diesel trains, and include additional rider amenities such as electric outlets on each seat, updated restrooms, and improved luggage racks.

All trains will run an M8 set. However, due to current infrastructure and operational limitations, trains 1646 and 1697 will have bus service between Old Saybrook and New London. Please note that bus travel times listed on our schedule are approximate and may vary due to traffic.

In addition, select trains have minor time adjustments to accommodate the M8 operation.

The full schedule can be found here.

Be sure to sign up for alerts or update your preferences on our alerts page for the most up-to-date travel information.

2022 CTRIDES’ DRIVE LESS CONNECTICUT CHALLENGE: MAY 1 – MAY 31

Drive Less and Travel Greener to Fight Climate Change

This May, CTrides, the commuter service program of the Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT), is conducting the Drive Less Connecticut Challenge (“Challenge”), a month-long effort to call attention to the need to cut down on harmful greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the use of private vehicles, a major factor causing Climate Change. CTrides is challenging residents, employees, and students throughout the State to pitch in to drive a little less by using Connecticut’s extensive system of trains and buses, or to carpool, vanpool, walk, bike or telecommute. The goals of the Challenge include preventing over a half a million pounds of GHG emissions and eliminating 25,000 car trips. Information about the Challenge is available at CTrides.com/DLC.

Connecticut has a climate goal of a 45% GHG reduction by 2030 and of 80% by 2050. Transportation accounts for the largest share of GHG emissions in the state, 38%, and accounts for 67% of the air pollution. Without the help of those who work and live in the state to cut down on driving whenever possible, Connecticut may fail to meet its targets and weaken efforts to fight Climate Change.

The Challenge is easy to join. Just download the CTrides app or go to CTrides.com/DLC, to set up a free account and start recording trips on any non-solo vehicle trip. The CTrides app offers a trip planner that gives you travel options to your destinations. Everyone who joins the Challenge will get entries into the drawing for valuable prizes. Every time you record a trip on an eligible mode, you get an entry into the drawing. And anyone setting up a new account in May will get 5,000 bonus points that can be used for food, entertainment and retail discounts.

The CTrides app and the CTrides website at CTrides.com/DLC provides full information on the DLC Challenge. It also tracks the progress of the impacts everyone is making during May to meet the Challenge’s goals. Participants will receive an email each week that details the contribution they are making to meeting these goals. Prize winners will be chosen in a random drawing at the end of the Challenge. The final results will be published shortly thereafter.

The Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) will conduct virtual public hearings on proposed additional rail service, a proposed rail fare discount and proposed additional bus service, including three new bus routes.

Proposed changes for rail include increased service on the Waterbury Line and discounts on CTrail ten trip tickets. Proposed changes for bus service include extra trips on CTtransit Hartford area routes, 512 (Berlin Turnpike) and 24 (Windsor-Bradley Int’l Airport-Windsor Locks). Proposed new bus services include CTtransit New Haven area Route 282 (East Grand Avenue), CTtransit Express Route 940 (Waterbury-Meriden) and a CTtransit Hartford area route, the Bradley-Union Connector.

At these hearings, CTDOT will provide information and accept public comments on the service and fare proposals and the Service and Fare Equity (SAFE) analysis. The SAFE analysis evaluates the proposed changes to determine if they will cause a disparate impact to minority persons or a disproportionate burden to people with low incomes, as defined by the FTA Title VI circular. The proposed service and fare changes may be viewed on the Department’s website at www.ct.gov/dot/proposedtransitchanges and will be available as of Wednesday, April 27, 2022. The public comment period will run from April 27 to May 30, 2022.

The hearings will be conducted virtually via Zoom’s online platform and toll-free conference call feature. The public hearings will also be live streamed via Microsoft Teams Live Event and YouTube. All public hearings will be recorded and published online for later viewing.

For more information on how to attend the public hearings, information on the proposed changes, and to access the SAFE analysis please visit:www.ct.gov/dot/proposedtransitchanges.

To request a copy of the SAFE analysis by mail, please email us at  dot.proposedtransitchanges@ct.gov  or by leaving a voicemail at (860)-594-3612. Please allow one week for processing and delivery. If your organization would like to request a virtual presentation of the SAFE analysis, please email or call using the contact information listed above. The CTDOT will make every effort to accommodate your request.

How to participate in the virtual public hearings:

• Registration is encouraged; however, it is only required for those would wish to provide a comment during the hearing. To register, please visit www.ct.gov/dot/proposedtransitchanges or call (860)-594-3612, and leave a voicemail with your full name and contact information. Registration will be accepted up to the day of the hearing and will remain open for the duration of the hearing.
• A link to attend the public hearings and public information sessions will be posted on www.ct.gov/dot/proposedtransitchanges.
• Individuals can listen to the meeting by calling Toll Free 833-548-0282 and entering the Participant Code for the select date when prompted at the time of the hearing.

  DATE	Participant Code
  Wednesday, May 11, 2022	863 7738 8625
  Thursday, May 12, 2022	854 7558 9773

• Persons with hearing and/or speech disabilities may dial 711 for Telecommunications Relay Services (TRS). Zoom provides closed captioning. Also, the live meetings will be shown simultaneously on Microsoft Teams Live Event, which offers non-English translation options. Language assistance may be requested by contacting the CTDOT’s Language Assistance Call Line (860) 594-2109. Requests should be made at least 5 business days prior to the hearing. Language assistance is made available at no cost and efforts will be made to respond to requests for assistance.

Recordings of the hearings and formal presentation will be posted to YouTube with closed captioning, including non-English translation options. Links will be provided at www.ct.gov/dot/proposedtransitchanges.

How to submit comments: 

• You may make a comment at any time from April 27th to May 30th, 2022 by email, phone, US Mail or the local libraries, using the information below.
• To make a comment during a public hearing: Register for the hearing at www.ct.gov/dot/proposedtransitchanges or by calling (860)-594-3612.
• Email:dot.proposedtransitchanges@ct.gov
• Voicemail: (860) 594-3612
• US Mail: COMMENT ON PROPOSED FARE AND SERVICE CHANGES, Bureau of Public Transportation, P.O. Box 317546, Newington, CT 06131-7546.

A copy of the SAFE analysis will be available at the following public libraries. Written comments will also be accepted at these locations:

–  Waterbury’s Silas Bronson Library, Main Branch, 267 Grand Street, Waterbury

–  New Haven Free Public Library, Ives Main Library, 133 Elm Street, New Haven

–  The Public Library of New London, 63 Huntington Street, New London

–  Hartford Public Library, Downtown Branch, 500 Main Street, Hartford

–  Bridgeport Public Library Main Branch, 925 Broad Street, Bridgeport

For general questions please email us dot.proposedtransitchanges@ct.gov or call (860)-594-3612.

Today, April 20, 2022, the Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) announced that there will no longer be a mask mandate on CTtransit, Hartford Line, and Shore Line East services and facilities in Connecticut. The decision to make masks optional is the result of the Transportation Security Administration ending enforcement of the mask mandate earlier this week following a ruling by a Federal judge in Florida.

“For the last two years, our transit operators have provided masks to the public and enforced mask mandates on public transit. Now that the federal mask mandate for public transit is no longer in effect, masking will no longer be enforced, but is still strongly encouraged per current CDC guidelines,” said Connecticut Department of Transportation Deputy Commissioner Garrett Eucalitto.

As public health directives evolve, CTDOT will respond accordingly and adhere to any future mandates or directives.

Residents are reminded that New Haven Line services in Connecticut are operated by Metro-North, and are adhering to orders consistent with New York State. Please visit new.mta.info for the most recent information on Metro-North mask requirements.

For information on mask requirements for other transit providers in Connecticut, residents are asked to visit their websites or call for the most recent updates.