Connecticut Governor Rell: Connecticut Rail Ridership Shows Strong Increase in 2007

Nearly 1.4 Million New Customers Traveled on Connecticut’s Commuter Rail Service; Ridership Also Up During First Two Months of 2008

April 8, 2008 -- Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell today announced that rail ridership increased by nearly 1.4 million new riders on Shore Line East and New Haven Line rail service in 2007.

New Haven Line schedule: Photo by churl (CC)

The Connecticut Department of Transportation (ConnDOT) today released its annual rail ridership report for the calendar year 2007 and first two months in 2008, marking across-the-board increases.

The New Haven Line (NHL) experienced over 1.3 million new passengers in 2007, nearly 4 percent over 2006. Shore Line East (SLE) ridership increased 5.5 percent or 25,000 more passenger rides in 2007. The SLE increase includes new riders on the inaugural holiday weekend service operated from November through December.

“More and more Connecticut residents are discovering the value of our state’s rail system,” Governor Rell said. “Our investments to modernize and replace rail equipment and to improve service continue to pay dividends. New and expanded service was initiated last year on both the Shore Line East and the New Haven lines to meet our rail ridership demand which continues to grow.

“New stations, more parking and better equipment – as well as the promise of the brand new fleet being built for the New Haven Line – are all encouraging more people to choose the train,” the Governor noted. “A modern rail system that provides convenient and reliable service is critical to our economy and quality of life. We need to continue to offer alternatives to the single-occupancy vehicle because every new rail rider represents a commuter who is not traveling on our highways.”

In 2008, rail ridership continued to experience strong increases. For the first two months of 2008, Connecticut intrastate ridership experienced double digit increases in certain markets on the New Haven Line. For example in February, Connecticut Intrastate ridership increased 11.5 percent over 2007 figures. (Intrastate ridership on the NHL are those customers who do not begin or end their trip in Grand Central Terminal.)

On Shore Line East in 2008, similar increases took place in January and February. This past January, SLE ridership increased 7.6 percent and in February over 10 percent from 2007 ridership.

2007 - New Haven Line Ridership

* Connecticut Intrastate ridership has highest percentage increase in 2007. Over 3.9 million passengers traveled on the New Haven Line within Connecticut, a 7 percentage increase or 261,000 more passengers in 2007. (Intrastate ridership on the NHL are those customers who do not begin or end their trip in Grand Central Terminal.)

* The Waterbury Branch experienced a 6.9 percent increase in 2007. An additional 6,000 customers traveled on the Waterbury Line. The ConnDOT has added an early morning peak train beginning on April 7, 2008 from Waterbury at 5:57 a.m. to Bridgeport, Stamford and Grand Central Terminal.

* The New Canaan Branch increased 3 percent in 2007. A total of 37,000 more customers rode the New Canaan branch rail service.

* In the first two months of 2008, Intermediate train travel has increased nearly 10 percent. (Intermediate ridership on the NHL are those customers who begin or end their trip in Grand Central Terminal.)

The New Haven Line is one of the busiest commuter lines in North America, carrying over 36 million passengers in 2007. Metro-North Railroad (MNR), the operator of the NHL, marked its 25-year history in operating the rail line.

2007 - Shore Line East Ridership

* The SLE expanded rail service to include special weekend rail service in November and December 2007. The inaugural weekend service carried over 3,600 passenger rides in the seven weeks of rail service.

* The highest weekend trips were Saturday, December 22 and December 29, carrying over 400 passenger trips each day. In seven weeks of total rail service, Saturday ridership carried 1,919 rides and on Sunday ridership was 1,720.

* SLE weekday ridership increased over 4.5 percent in 2007, carrying approximately 40,000 riders on average a month.

* October marked the highest monthly number of weekday riders carried on the rail line with over 44,000 passengers. The months of January, July, November and December experienced highest increases in 2007.

Source: Connecticut Governor

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