Europe’s night trains conjure the nostalgic glamour of a bygone era [newsday.com]
Take the historical railway and explore Vietnam [swindonadvertiser.co.uk]
Smoked fish, fur hats and other firsts on the Trans-Siberian Express [espn.com]
If You Want to Eat and Drink Your Way to Machu Picchu, Board This First-Class Train [tastingtable.com]
What To Expect In Nigeria Train Travel [guardian.ng]
What to Pack for a Train Trip [washingtonian.com]
USA: Brightline makes official bid for Orlando-to-Tampa, Florida extension along I-4 corridor [tcpalm.com]
USA: Southern states miss funding deadline to restore Amtrak’s Gulf Coast service [progressiverailroading.com]
USA: Passenger rail between Tulsa and OKC, Oklahoma? Company seeks another Eastern Flyer operator [tulsaworld.com]
GCanada: Gatineau, Quebec, proposes CA$2.1B light-rail plan [autoblog.com]
UK: What would an extended Glasgow, Scotland Subway look like? [citymetric.com]
Europe: New trams for Germany’s Rhein-Neckar region will be longest in the world [globalrailnews.com]
USA: Plan calls for passenger rail between St. Paul and Eau Claire, Minnesota [startribune.com]
Asia: I went to Japan to drive cars, and fell in love with trains [autoblog.com]
USA: Taxes for Kansas City Streetcar extension to UMKC approved by wide margin in mail-in ballots [kansascity.com]
Asia: China develops super railway with test speed of 1,500 kph (930 mph) [globaltimes.cn]
Europe: NS and ÖBB plan revival of overnight trains to Amsterdam [railjournal.com]
USA: California’s Infamous Sepulveda Pass Could Get A Rail Line [laist.com]
Asia: ‘Phantom’ train station in Tokyo, Japan’s Ueno district to get new breath of life [mainichi.jp]
USA: Traveling the Napa Valley Wine Train a finely blended experience [news-herald.com]
UK: A Quick Visit to the Isle of Wight Steam Railway [railadvent.co.uk]
Asia: 5 Scenic Mountain Railway Toy Trains in India [tripsavvy.com]
UK: Belmond British Pullman pulls out all the stops for a nostalgic train trip [irishnews.com]
USA: Scenic, historic Colorado train routes [chieftain.com]
Africa: Red Devil steam train offers old world journey through the Cape [capetalk.co.za]
USA: New Jersey to borrow $600 million to replace Amtrak/NJ Transit Portal Bridge [progressiverailroading.com]
Asia: Anger in Hong Kong over Beijing’s legal jurisdiction in new train station [cnn.com]
Europe: French MPs back Macron’s controversial rail reforms [bbc.com]
USA: Thousands in Connecticut Take A Free Ride On Hartford Line’s Inaugural Run [courant.com]
USA: New York-Chicago Amtrak Train Shuts Down for First Time in Over a Century [nytimes.com]
Middle East: Haifa-Nazareth, Israel light rail line is tendered [railwaypro.com]
USA: Restoring Amtrak Gulf Coast service would boost local economies [progressiverailroading.com]
USA: Los Angeles, California Metro advances Dodger Stadium tram proposal [progressiverailroading.com]
USA: Elon Musk’s Boring Company to develop Chicago Express Loop link [railway-technology.com]
Northeast rail advocates are betting the Hartford Line is a game-changer. The new commuter service connects the Connecticut River Valley’s Knowledge Corridor cities of Hartford and Springfield with New Haven — home to Yale University and one of the nation’s busiest passenger rail hubs.The tri-metro Hartford Line is the latest enhancement to a long-standing mainline rail corridor. It serves a super-regional population of over 2.7 million; a New England market second only to Boston.
Connecticut’s CTRail Hartford Line brings frequent higher-speed commuter rail service to Southern New England’s long underserved 62 mi (100 km) inland corridor. In recent years the route has been served by six Amtrak round-trips per day. The Hartford Line increases daily round-trips to 17 between Hartford and New Haven, Connecticut; with a dozen reaching to Springfield, Massachusetts. Overall New Haven – Springfield travel times average around 80 minutes – a 15-minute reduction.
For now, Hartford Line trains stop in New Haven at Union and State Street stations, and in Wallingford, Meriden, Berlin, Hartford, Windsor, Windsor Locks, and Springfield. Future stations are planned for North Haven, Newington, West Hartford and Enfield.
The new Hartford Line springs from a rich history. Opened in 1844, the inland Springfield route was the only rail link between Boston and New Haven for nearly half a century. The modern day Northeast Corridor, the ‘Shore Line’ Acela Express route, did not come into common use until 1889. Since then, though inland service to Boston gradually disappeared, the New Haven – Springfield Line has remained a vital passenger rail corridor.
While tickets are not available online, ticket vending machines are located at most stations. Discounts are offered to seniors, disabled individuals, and kids accompanied by an adult. Tickets purchased on board are subject to surcharge. All stations and trains are ADA compliant. Trained service animals assisting persons with disabilities are permitted without restriction. Pets are allowed if they are leashed or confined in a closed, ventilated container. Luggage is limited to carry-on. There is no checked baggage service. Bicycle transport is not available.
Daily and monthly parking passes are available for most stations and bike racks are available at Berlin, Meriden, Wallingford and State Street. Connecticut stations are served by CTtransit buses. PVTA bus service is available at Springfield.
New Haven Union Station connects with Amtrak Acela Express and Northeast Regional services to Boston, New York City and Washington DC and with Shoreline East trains to New London and Metro North trains to Grand Central Terminal. Springfield Union Station is served by Amtrak’s Lakeshore Limited to Boston and Chicago. Bradley Flyer express bus service to Bradley International Airport is available in Hartford, Windsor, and Windsor Locks.
USA: North Carolina DOT inks contract for proposed Charlotte rail station [progressiverailroading.com]
USA: Amtrak Northeast Corridor unveils new cafe car menu [wtop.com]
USA: Florida’s Brightline looks to replicate model in other US regions [globalrailnews.com]
Canada: Next week is your last chance to ride Montréal Québec’s original métro cars [montrealgazette.com]
USA: Expanded north-south Amtrak rail service from Springfield, Massachusetts to begin in June 2019 [masslive.com]
Europe: Paris, France RER New Generation train design unveiled [railjournal.com]
Middle East: Israel plans first tram-train line [railjournal.com]
USA: New York City Will Cut Transit Fares for Low-Income Riders [citylab.com]
USA: Carnival Corp. buys excursion railroad in Alaska [travelweekly.com]
Zoetrope effect could render Hyperloop tubes transparent to riders [techcrunch.com]
Europe: France’s Senate approves controversial SNCF reform bill [railway-technology.com]
Europe: Possible 90 minute train journey between Belfast, NI and Dublin, Ireland [irishnews.com]
USA: Chicago Illinois’ rail improvement project receives investment of $474 million [globalrailwayreview.com]
Asia: Kuala Lumpur-Singapore high-speed rail may be revived if the price is right [yahoo.com]
USA: Connecticut’s Hartford Line Commuter Rail Opens June 16: What You Need To Know Before You Climb Aboard [courant.com]
USA: High-speed rail: Now it’s America’s turn [globalrailwayreview.com]
Middle East: Egypt’s Alexandria tram to be upgraded starting 2019 [railwaypro.com]
New Zealand: Dunedin goes back to future with return of historic cable cars [stuff.co.nz]
Europe: Saint Petersburg to Moscow: All aboard the Sapsan [roadsandkingdoms.com]
USA: Travel through South Florida’s top vacation spots by high speed train [lonelyplanet.com]
Europe: This is the most scenic train journey in Sweden [thelocal.se]
Europe: The Local’s ultimate guide to exploring Sweden by train [thelocal.se]
Asia: ‘I loved getting around India by train’ [travel.startsat60.com]
Asia: Opening up North Korea’s railways — could the world’s longest train journey be getting an extension? [telegraph.co.uk]
Isn’t it about time you explored Europe by train? [pebblemag.com]
