New Haven Independent
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A life-sized model of a train car now stands in the parking lot of Union Station — as the state invites riders to tour and give feedback on the “more comfortable, more reliable” trains that are set to join the CTrail Hartford Line in 2027.
Connecticut Transportation Commissioner Garrett Eucalitto joined Mayor Justin Elicker and Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz for a tour of the train car model and a press conference at Union Station on Monday to celebrate the improvement in Connecticut’s fleet of trains.
The 60 new train cars will replace some of the Mafersa coaches that are currently part of the Hartford Line’s fleet. They travel up to 125 miles per hour and include an ADA-accessible bathroom on each end of a pair of train cars. There are also four workstation tables per car — with tables — and an outlet and USB charging port at each seat pair. There is also storage for four bicycles in each car as well as strollers, wifi, and real-time route information displays.
The trains will begin to be tested in late 2026 and are expected to be available for passengers in early 2027.
The current trains’ equipment is from the ’90s. The new cars have a 40-year design life. Eucalitto said that older equipment increases the likelihood of an uncomfortable or delayed, cancelled rides. (Amtrak’s equipment is from the ’80s, and that’s why trains are delayed so frequently, according to Eucalitto.)
“As one of the busiest train stations in the region, we want to make sure that our travel is comfortable for our consumers,” Elicker said.
Elicker, who always takes the train to New York City for Christmas with his family to visit his mother- and father-in-law, said he thinks about “affordability and comfort” when making a travel decision. “That helps you make a decision on whether or not to fly or to drive or take the train.”
“This is an exciting step forward for Connecticut commuters,” Bysiewicz echoed. “We are continuing with our state’s commitment of modern, reliable rail service.”
In 2024, Eucalitto said, over 800,000 passengers rode the Hartford Line. He also said that these trains are the first European model rail cars to be brought to the U.S. Eucalitto repeated the refrain of the press conference: “They’re more comfortable, they’re more reliable.”
The new trains, with their two-by-two seating, some tables, extra-wide aisles, and ADA accessibility, hold 80 seats per car. The older trains include about 90. But according to Eucalitto, the Department of Transportation isn’t expecting a decrease in ridership.
“We’ll have more capacity,” Eucalitto said. Older trains include three rail cars in a set, while the new trains include four. Besides, Euaclitto said, “once you provide people with better amenities, they’ll want to use the equipment more often. If they get on and it’s old, it breaks down, they don’t have an ADA-accessible bathroom, that makes it for a less than ideal passenger experience.”
“It’s great because no one wants to sit in the middle!” Bysiewicz remarked at the two-by-two seating during her tour of the train car.
All 60 train cars cost a total of $320 million, for purchasing and designing. The money comes from the State Bond Commission.
The public can tour the train car model themselves on non-holiday Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7 to 9 a.m. and 3 to 5 p.m. from now until Jan. 6, 2026. Riders can provide feedback here. It isn’t a full-size car and the exterior design will change. (It’s not the full length of a train car, though an image on the back wall gives the illusion of one.)
Eventually, Eucalitto said, the Department of Transportation wants to replace not just the Hartford Line service but also the Waterbury Branch and Danbury Branch.
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