Connecticut CT Rail Commuter Trains

Since the 1990s, the Connecticut Department of Transportation has been operating commuter trains in Connecticut and neighboring states. Branded as “CT Rail”, service is currently provided on 3 different lines. These are the Shore Line East route, the Hartford Line, and the New Haven Line. In this video, we will briefly discuss the operations of all three lines and then take a look at commuter trains running on the Hartford Line and the Shore Line East.
This video was made possible by my supporters on Patreon:
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Brian Zimmerman
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CoasterFan2105 is the home of all sorts of train and railroad related video content. Stop by every Friday at 9 AM Pacific time for an all new railroading adventure and be sure to check out all of my social media pages @coasterfan2105 for even more great railroad content. Thanks, and I'll see you down the line!
©2023 Mike Armstrong Media

[@coolleo149]

Glad they’re still using the P40DCs. Also the train wheels rolling on the track sounds exactly like Amtraks wheels on their Amfleets, their Viewliners Horizons and the Superliners including the Capitol Corridors and Pacific Surfliners too

[@TrainStreet]

Catch the P40’s while you can CDOT is getting chargers in a few years

[@railfandepotproductions]

​@@TrainStreetyou sure?

[@TrainStreet]

@@railfandepotproductions yeah, they also are getting new cars

[@CoasterFan2105]

Yeah! It was nice to see the P40s when I was there.

[@CTRailroader]

@@TrainStreetwow really?!

[@TrainTrackTrav]

Looks like I might need to add CTRail to my bucket list on must-sees for future train watching. Love the M8s and the Aussie tuned K5s on the GP40s, perfection! Great post, Mike. Thanks for sharing!

[@CoasterFan2105]

If you haven't seen it, you absolutely should! Thanks for watching!

[@grommit700]

It's worth a visit. Inexpensive and does the job. I'd like to see the state buy a few current Amtrak coach cars to test. Or test the Maferaa cars in western and eastern Connecticut.

[@SoCalOCRailfan]

Amazing video! Love to see CT still use those GP40X’s and former AMTK P40’s

[@LUCASMAXIMILIANOSANTANDERGALLA]

Great K5LAs on those CT Rail P40DC locomotives and Mafersa cabcars!

[@CoasterFan2105]

Indeed! Thanks for watching!

[@kptrains]

Great captures of the CT Rail trains!

[@charlesferebee263]

Great to see trains running in Connecticut to Hartford and to Springfield. 🇺🇸

[@STHSIndustries2K6]

CT Rail is a unique commuter railroad. Their Rebuilt GP40s have an Australian horn for some reason. Wow.

[@KenanTurkiye]

Don't you love trains, trams, aren't they all beautiful :) come take a ride! (at folder 2, look my way)

[@theaustinleeytchanneltalytc]

Being sick sucks, but at least another great CF2105 upload has been made.

[@CoasterFan2105]

Get well soon!

[@theaustinleeytchanneltalytc]

@@CoasterFan2105 That is the thing. But I just tested negative today so back to railfanning in 1 week from now.

[@CoasterFan2105]

Awesome!@@theaustinleeytchanneltalytc

[@natethetrainboy9864]

So glad you did a video of these trains since I'm from Connecticut and I like to see these trains.

[@BirbarianHomeGuard]

One of the coolest consists and liveries.

[@CoasterFan2105]

It's a neat scheme!

[@FlightAndTrack]

Long live the Genesis ❤

[@CTrail6696]

Great video and i’m really glad you visited the Hartford Line!

[@hirampriggott1689]

The New York/New Haven/Hartford railroad has been restored to it's former glory.

[@s0nnyburnett]

more than a stretch

[@PrincessAmtrakMinamoto]

Interesting video. I never seen CT Rails Community locomotive this before. 🙂💖

[@thecentralwashingtonrailfa6135]

Me neither

[@CoasterFan2105]

Thank you!

[@grommit700]

I live in Hartford County... I really enjoy using the Hartford Line to travel up and down the line. It is better than taking my personal car. The Amtrak Hartford Line trains go faster than the CT Rail Hartford Line ones. I boarded a CT Rail train to travel from Windsor to Hartford for the UCONN parade in April 2024; it was so nice to take the train in without battling other cars for a parking spot. A good amount of people got off while a ton of passengers boarded to go south towards New Haven. I would definitely say that both the Amtrak and CT Rail trains are becoming more and more popular. It will be so nice when the double tracking construction finishes section by section. Since it's a fair distance from Springfield to New Haven, maintaining moderate to top speed is key to keeping travel times to a minimum. I would recommend that if CT Rail can get their hands on some ex Amtrak Amfleet coaches, this may be worthwhile as these can be operated at higher speeds that the Mafersa coaches.

[@liamweaver2944]

Ayyy CT represent. I live on the Danbury Branch, but I did get to see one of CT Rail's Geeps once.

[@CoasterFan2105]

Awesome! I need to do the NH line branches next time.

[@ParrotGaming123]

Awesome video! I have to try these trains someday

[@danielferrovias]

MAFERSA BABY!!!!

[@CoasterFan2105]

:D

[@turbochargedtransit7241]

Great video! The branches of the New Haven line each have their own character though, with the New Canaan line being fully electrified, using M8s at all times. The Danbury line gets direct rush hour service to/from GCT, where the Waterbury line doesn’t go past Bridgeport, as a shuttle only.

[@SilasMartin143]

Does the Danbury line use combination diesel and electric locomotives?

[@airportexpert4799]

⁠​⁠@@SilasMartin143The Danbury Branch is not electrified (it was until the early 1960s, however). All locomotives are diesel, with diesel-electric GE Genesis variants being used for the express trains into Grand Central. This is a requirement, since the Park Avenue Tunnel beneath Grand Central is fully enclosed and the carbon monoxide from diesel fumes in the tunnel would be deadly. Once the trains leave the tunnel though, they switch back to diesel power since the speed is limited on these locomotives in third-rail power mode. The Danbury Branch trains that terminate at South Norwalk or Stamford will sometimes use the Genesis locomotives as well, but will mostly use the BL20GH locomotives. These locomotives are not dual-power diesel/electric capable, but since they do not go to Grand Central they are fine for these trains.

[@SilasMartin143]

@@airportexpert4799 Thanks so much for your thorough explanation!

[@SouthwestCtRailfan]

@@airportexpert4799I never knew that the danbury branch was electrified cause I live next to the danbury branch

[@airportexpert4799]

@@SouthwestCtRailfan It’s really a shame that it was ever removed. It was done to cut costs in the short-term, and back then there were even proposals to eliminate the Danbury Branch and use part of the right-of-way for a highway between Danbury and Norwalk known as “Super 7”. The plan to build the highway died long ago, but the branch lost its catenary lines and never got them back. Hopefully someday the Danbury Branch will be re-electrified.

[@adventuresofamtrakcascades301]

Nice trains!

[@CoasterFan2105]

Indeed! Thanks for watching!

[@United1158]

Love to see that they kept the Amtrak K5LAs. A video I would love to see is an “Amtrak Trains in Nature” video, where it’s a compilation of different Amtrak trains through different landscapes (Pacific Surfliner ocean stretch, Puget Sound, Cascade Mountains, Rocky Mountains, etc)

[@jamallhayden2512]

Thank You!

[@thecentralwashingtonrailfa6135]

Good video I already know this is gonna be a good one!

[@CoasterFan2105]

Thank you!

[@wolfgangpfeilergartenbahnd6530]

Hello Mike, very interesting video about CT Rail and local passenger transport. Wish you a nice weekend. Greetings

[@grommit700]

I'm aware that North Haven, Newington, West Hartford, and Enfield stations are in design or being built. When these become operational in the future, a decision will need to be made as to add in express service from Springfield to NH, or keep everything as it is. Here are some thoughts based upon my experience with both trains.. 1) CT Rail becomes the local train making stops at all stations. Amtrak becomes the premier express train from Springfield to New Haven with intermediate stops at Windsor Locks, Hartford, and Meriden. 2) CT Rail becomes the local train + All (or some) Amtrak trains bypass CT stations except New Haven. Could this result in Amtrak saving $$$ to allow them to focus on other routes? 3) CT Rail and Amtrak create new local and express service with intermediate stops. 3) One or more stations in on the Hartford Line expands to have a third passing track built. This may be needed because double track stations are limited to the number of trains simultaneously. Otherwise a bottleneck occurs. Shore Line East may be experiencing this problem as most of those stations are double track. (Hartford Union is long overdue for a rebuild and is a clear example of a single track bottleneck). The reason for proposing local service is because just like the Metro North New Haven line is designed, the more stops adds on travel time. Thankfully MN has express trains from NH to GCT that are just above or under 2 hours travel time. These trains make all local stops east of Stamford while bypassing everything west towards NY (except Harlem 125th). The MN NH Super Express trains from GCT to NH are good because the train ride passes by quickly.

[@HarborSubHughley]

Fun video

[@CoasterFan2105]

Thank you, Evan!

[@HarborSubHughley]

@@CoasterFan2105 No problem

[@NJT414]

I never knew what this commercial train company is but now I know what it is because of you it is so cool CT Raills and coaster rail cool

[@conceyullena]

Beatiuful video, greetings 🚂👍👋

[@CoasterFan2105]

Many thanks!

[@jasonandrew9140]

I like that train

[@ThaTrainMaster]

I Have Fun Watching Trains

[@theyeeter95]

ah one of my closer commuter railroads

[@WeenyBeanyHere]

7:40 8:42 Australian K5LA :O I presume CT Rail uses these horns because of their "ultra low" manifolds, notice how they sit flat on the roof.

[@aidanhernandez7144]

CT CITY.

[@TheMetGuy]

Great video man

[@CoasterFan2105]

Thanks!

[@LEGOziggyakuecheyoutubeyt7550]

Nice.

[@seanmas7599]

I thought you were not make a video but that was good

[@MetronorthAwesomeRailfan]

Ct Rail also leased Mbta MBB cars that were in service between 2018-2023.

[@railfandepotproductions]

Never known CT rail exists until last year

[@anthonyaquino8878]

Ct rail are the best ❤

[@FabianDiazTrainsTrucksNCars]

That's good hear, the'll be getting new passenger coaches. Maybe one day, they'll have upgraded/rebuilt MP36PH-3C's.

[@taslimchoudhary1253]

Nice Video! 🚂🎄🇮🇳🎄🚂

[@CoasterFan2105]

Thank you!

[@DRGW492]

Hey Mike I was wondering what camera do you because o want to be able to get film trains better than on my phone

[@paulcastillo1310]

Cool video

[@CoasterFan2105]

Thank you!

[@repurple1806]

i like the coaster train

[@JarvisSopkia-nz3fj]

CTrail and Metro North Dbury and Wbury lines will get Alston adessia single level coaches, 60 are currently on order

[@mijicalmagiemance8014]

Can you do a video on all the footage you have of ATSF 3751 next video

[@rhettrossalbert]

Nice Video

[@CoasterFan2105]

Thanks, Rhett!

[@rhettrossalbert]

@@CoasterFan2105 You’re welcome

[@Fenix-MU]

It’s so sad to see that the Mafersa coaches are being retired, they’re some of the last pieces of railway equipment the company built that are still in operation since they went bankrupt…

[@CoasterFan2105]

They're neat cars. Hopefully, they'll either go to another operator or find a good home in a museum.

[@joshuafajardo5697]

Will u still make Train Talk Episodes on Western Commuter Rails & Low-Frequency Intercity Amtrak 🚆?

[@theyeeter95]

also quick fact the m8s used on the controlled lines are leased from mta

[@ctvalleyrailfan]

The M8s used on SLE are owned by CDOT

[@HartfordLine6707]

where were these filmed?

[@johncarrillo518]

I’m guessing the genesis engines were bought from Amtrak?

[@FlightAndTrack]

Yes

[@PhantomOnee]

These trains are awesome! But whenever i ride them they are always ten minutes late.

[@albertcarello619]

I see mostly straight diesels. I didn't notice any GE P32 GENESIS LOCOMOTIVES.

[@Thatcarguy25]

The company start this year

[@brandonholloman6835]

How do I I apply for ct rail???

[@SouthwestCtRailfan]

I feel like ctrail should make heritage units

[@AMTK138]

I nicknamed CTrail’s paint scheme “Coca Cola”

[@FXE-4011]

I like videos

[@CoasterFan2105]

Thanks!

[@KendrickHobbs]

Do you like the new trains coming in 2023 coasterfan2105

[@rewmch]

21st

[@TheMrIPhone_AnimationStudios]

🫂hug