Unveiling a new logo for regional rail service 12 days before Election Day, Connecticut Gov. Dannel P. Malloy and the state Department of Transportation announced capital adjustments to the newly named "Hartford Line," linking the state capital with Springfield, Mass. to the north, and New Haven, Conn., to the south.
The rebranding occurs as construction begins at numerous locations along what was previously called the New Haven-Hartford-Springfield (NHHS) Rail Program. Officials marked the start of such work on Friday, Oct. 24, 2014.
"This is a major milestone for NHHS as it enters the construction phase at stations in Wallingford, Meriden and Berlin," said Malloy in a statement. "The NHHS Rail Program will not only offer more frequent, convenient, and faster passenger rail service, but it will also cultivate significant benefits to communities along the rail line, including local economic and transit-oriented development activities at and around these stations, with the ultimate goal of increasing municipal revenue, creating jobs and improving the quality of life for residents and increasing our competitiveness as a state."
Station construction in Wallingford, Meriden and Berlin is scheduled to begin this fall and will be completed by the launch of enhanced rail service in late 2016. Work also includes reinstalling double-track capacity along much of the line.
Amtrak service currently operates six trains each way during weekdays. Connecticut seeks an operator for additional service, which could involve Amtrak, Metro-North Railroad, or a different operating company. Amtrak owns the right-of-way between New Haven and Springfield.