Breaking News
CT police officer facing DV charges arrested for 4th time after allegedly violating protective order
March 27, 2025 at 2:00 pmThousands Take A Free Ride On Hartford Line’s Inaugural Run
- David Owens / Hartford CourantA photo of Roger Ristau and his siblings outside Union Station 60 years ago.
Of the thousands of passengers aboard the inaugural Hartford Line train Saturday, Bill Zenko said he and his son Matt had this trip planned for months — it is, after all, Zenko’s Father’s Day present.
“It’s the only way to travel in the United States, if you have the time,” Zenko, of Coventry, said.
The father and son caught the 6:24 a.m. Amtrak train at Windsor, bound for New Haven, where they boarded the first Hartford Line train to Springfield. The new commuter service connects Springfield and New Haven, with stops in Windsor Locks, Windsor, Hartford, Berlin, Meriden and Wallingford.
The Zenkos were among 10,300 people who rode the Hartford Line Saturday, Gov. Dannel P. Malloy’s office said Sunday. Demand on the line’s inaugural day was so high, the railroad has added more service for Sunday, Malloy’s office added. Passengers ride free on Sunday as well.
“After decades of talk it’s finally here,” Malloy said, “and the large number of people riding the train on Saturday shows that there is considerable interest in this service.”
On Saturday, a train crew member said 264 people rode the first train from New Haven to Springfield. The next train, the 9:55 a.m. southbound, was so crowded the train crew gave up trying to count.
At points, it was standing-room only and at Hartford some passengers were turned away because the train was too crowded. The crowds continued through the day Saturday. Amtrak added a 2 p.m. extra train out of Springfield to handle the crush of riders.
“Given the overwhelming demand we experienced Saturday, we are redoubling our efforts to provide more seats and extra service Sunday,” said James Redeker, commissioner of the state Department of Transportation.
CTrail offered free rides Saturday and Sunday to acquaint people with the new rail service. Amtrak also honored the offer and gave free rides.
Zenko said he thinks the commuter rail will be a boon for Connecticut, but that the rail line would need to address some improvements — like adding Wi-Fi and functioning bathrooms. He also said the train stations north of Hartford need to be updated.
Saturday’s free inaugural ride included dozens of train enthusiasts, called railfans, people interested in the new commuter service, families with train-loving kids and one man who was drawn to take his first ride from Hartford to Springfield in 60 years.
Roger Ristau of Willimantic caught a train with his parents and siblings in 1958. On Saturday morning, Ristau brought along a photo snapped just before they boarded the train 60 years ago.
The free ride brought Ristau out Saturday, along with curiosity about the new train service.
“I’m not sure how successful it’s going to be, but it’s certainly a great idea,” he said.
Ristau said he has ridden trains around the world and elsewhere in the U.S. and thinks Connecticut residents need more alternatives to cars and highways.
“The train is a great way to go,” he said. “You get to visit with people, you can do work on your laptop, or you can snooze.”
Travis Abrahamsen, a West Hartford college student who has a summer internship in New Haven, said he figured out that riding the train will save him money. His employer will subsidize rail tickets and his commute will be a lot more peaceful.
“Instead of driving, I can spend my time doing other things,” Abrahamsen said.
There were some hiccups with the first day. The restrooms were locked to all passengers after a disability rights organization filed a complaint with the Federal Railroad Administration. The restrooms cannot be open until there is at least once accessible restroom in at least one car on a train.
One rider complained loudly about the locked bathrooms to a Courant reporter and later to Democratic gubernatorial candidate Ned Lamont, who was greeting passengers on the train. Lamont asked a member of his entourage, state Attorney General George Jepsen, to explain the Americans with Disabilities Act to the man.
Air-conditioning was spotty in the cars, and the electronic signs at stations were incorrect. At Hartford the sign said the next train was headed to New Haven when it was actually headed to Springfield. CTrail Service ambassadors were at each station to assist passengers and answer questions. Most trains were behind schedule because it took extra time for the crush of passengers to board the trains at each station.
Linda Williams, Laurie Basile and Lisa Perrott, from West Springfield, decided to take the train into Hartford to celebrate their birthdays, all within about 10 days of each other.
Williams said they heard about the free train rides and wanted to learn a little bit more about what was around the train station in Hartford — they wanted to see how close the walk is to the Bushnell and Dunkin’ Donuts Park, and what kinds of restaurants are in the area.
“I’d go see the Yard Goats if I knew this was close enough to hop over,” Perrott said.
Williams said she was excited to see the connection to Springfield, and wants to help promote things going on in the city.
“Springfield has a lot going on,” Williams said, noting the MGM casino set to open this fall, Forest Park, nearby Six Flags, and the Basketball Hall of Fame.
Fred Guenther of Chester was keeping track of the train’s speed with an app on his phone. He was impressed as the train cruised along at about 80 mph.
“I’m a rail enthusiast and I wanted to be on the first train,” Guenther said, adding that he’s been taking photos of the Hartford Line trains as they’ve made test trips over the past week. He said he thinks that over time commuters will be attracted to the new rail service and that it will be successful.
“It won’t look like it at first, but in a few years or when gas bumps up, we’re going to be glad we have it,” Guenther said.
Ken Jezek and Jeralyn Boccuzzi, from Vernon, said they were up early to get to the Windsor train station so they could take the Amtrak down to New Haven for the inaugural trip to Springfield.
“I just wanted to see a part of Connecticut history,” Boccuzzi said. “I’ve been hearing that this was in the works for a long time now. … I think it should have some significant on development.”
Jezek said on the trip up from New Haven he saw a lot of transit-oriented development, especially housing complexes, from the train car.
Enfield Deputy Fire Chief Paul Januszewski and his wife Judy said they took the train to visit their son for lunch in West Haven. Januszewski said he also wanted to check out the train before he and area firefighters attend hands-on training aboard the trains. He said all municipalities on the route will have firefighters attend hands-on training sessions, boarding trains to get to know how things work.
Rick Abramson of Trumbull, a retired railroad engineer who began his railroad career with the New Haven Railroad, enjoyed the ride on Saturday and said the state was smart to establish the service.
“I think it’s absolutely fabulous,” Abramson said. “And it’s long overdue.”
On weekdays, 16 trains will run between Springfield and New Haven at about half-hour intervals during peak hours, and about a train an hour for the rest of the day. For weekends and holidays, 14 trains will travel between Springfield and New Haven.
A one-way ticket from Springfield to New Haven purchased at a vending machine costs 12ドル.75. If you buy tickets on board, the tickets will cost 3ドル more. It costs 8ドル to travel between Hartford and New Haven and 6ドル for Hartford and Springfield. Children younger than 5 ride free; children 5- to 11-years-old ride for 1ドル each if they’re accompanied by a fare-paying adult. Travelers 65 or older, or who are disabled, pay half the standard fare.