Hartford Line train heading southbound through Hartford Union Station on opening day, June 16, 2018 by Jehochman from Wikimedia Commons

The new commuter rail system linking New Haven with Hartford and Springfield, Massachusetts, opened June 18. The service will feature 17 daily trains in each direction between Hartford and New Haven and 12 round trips from Hartford to Springfield, in addition to the Amtrak trains that also run along this route. Trains will run from two stations in New Haven, with stops in Wallingford, Meriden, Berlin, Hartford, Windsor, Windsor Locks (with bus connections to Bradley International Airport), and Springfield’s Union Station. Upgraded tracks permit speeds up to 110 miles per hour, although not all trains are capable of this speed. New commuter fares are about half of what Amtrak charges. More information

— Ed Perkins, editor

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