BRIDGEPORT, Conn. — A substantial increase in weekday service on Metro-North’s Waterbury Branch and new express trains between New Haven and New York’s Grand Central Terminal highlight new schedules that took effect Sunday, July 10.
Reflecting recent infrastructure upgrades, the number of weekday trains on the Waterbury Branch will go from 15 to 22, a 47% increase. The changes include an earlier start to service in both directions. The first southbound train now departs Waterbury at 4:47 a.m., 50 minutes earlier than in the past; the first northbound departs Stamford at 6:15, with the first from New York at 6:55 a.m. The new branch schedule, and the rest of the updated New Haven Line schedule, is available here.
Metro-North completed the addition of Centralized Traffic Control on the Waterbury Branch in 2021, eliminating the last dark territory on its 217-mile system, while also adding new sidings to make possible the expanded service [see “Metro-North activates CTC …,” Trains News Wire, Nov. 8, 2021].
In conjunction with the expansion of Waterbury service, a pilot program will feature three express trains in each direction between New Haven and New York, with stops in Bridgeport and Stamford, needing as little as 1 hour, 39 minutes to complete their trip. Morning departures from New Haven will be at 5:09, 5:41 and 7:52 a.m.; evening trips will depart Grand Central at 4:16, 4:49, and 6:26 p.m. Three late-morning and midday roundtrips between New York and New Haven are also being restored to the schedule.
In a press conference today (Monday, July 11) in Bridgeport, Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont said the increased service is part of the “Time for CT” initiative unveiled in 2019 to cut commuter-rail travel times [see “Connecticut governor’s plan would cut Metro-North travel times …,” News Wire, Oct. 17, 2019].
“We are delivering on our promise of improving rail service in Connecticut,” Lamont said in a press release. “These express trains provide the fastest trips in a decade between New Haven and Grand Central. With a nearly 50% increase in service on the Waterbury Branch Line, we are showing a renewed commitment to improving and expanding rail service throughout the Naugatuck Valley.”
The changes reflect Metro-North’s partnership with the Connecticut Department of Transportation, Metro North President Catherine Rinaldi said in a press release.
“Metro-North is proud of its excellent working relationship with CTDOT,” Rinaldi said. “This partnership has helped bring faster service for customers who travel from Connecticut into Manhattan. As more riders return to the system, Metro-North is improving the attractiveness of its weekday service with more trains and seating capacity as well as faster trips.”
The release also includes a summary of other changes on the New Haven Line, as well as on the Hudson and Harlem lines.
“Fastest trips in a decade”? So what caused the speed to drop 10 years ago?
Nice to know that this is happening.
No mention of thru Waterbury – GCT service, certainly possible with the dual modes.
All this improvement will still require a change at Bridgeport or Stamford.
Hope the low signals instead of standard high post signals will not be subject to vandalism. What about heavy snows?i
Mr. Jones, I believe that Metro North also has in cab signals.