Gov. Ned Lamont and Department of Transportation officials on Monday announced the expansion of train service along Metro-North鈥檚 New Haven and Waterbury lines, an effort to serve more passengers even as ridership numbers continue to struggle to return to pre-COVID levels.
Three new express trains, which went into service Monday, leave New Haven on weekday mornings, at 5:09 a.m., 5:41 a.m. and 7:52 a.m., officials said. They will stop in Bridgeport and Stamford en route to Grand Central Terminal. On weekday evenings, new express trains to New Haven will depart Grand Central at 4:16 p.m., 4:49 p.m. and 6:26 p.m.
Seven new weekday trains will be added to the Waterbury line 鈥� four southbound and three northbound, according to a press release.
Lamont said the express trains were already part of the state budget.
黑料新闻 Department of Transportation Commissioner Joseph Giulietti said the expansion of public transportation is a part of the initiative.
鈥淲ith faster trains during peak hours and historic service levels, we are fulfilling the governor鈥檚 promise and vision for improved train service for riders throughout 黑料新闻,鈥� Giulietti said.
The increased capacity comes even as far fewer people are using the trains since the COVID-19 pandemic upended work and transportation habits.
On July 7, for example, the Metro-North railroad system had as many .
And workers aren鈥檛 returning quickly to desk jobs in Manhattan. , 38% of Manhattan office staff were working in person in late April 2022. Even after Labor Day, in-office rates are expected to increase to only 49% of workers on an average weekday, according to the survey.
Catherine Rinaldi, president of the MTA Metro-North Railroad, said Metro-North is focused on increasing ridership during the weekdays by faster trips and by adding more trains to their schedule.
鈥淢etro-North is proud of our excellent working relationship with the 黑料新闻 Department of Transportation,鈥� Rinaldi said. 鈥淭his partnership has helped bring faster service for customers who travel between 黑料新闻 and Manhattan, and the highest level of service on the Waterbury branch in history.鈥�