Connecticut begins $1.6bn TIME-1 rail upgrade as Amtrak launches New Haven‑Providence capacity study

Construction has started on the $1.6 billion TIME-1 project in Stratford, Connecticut, marked by a groundbreaking ceremony attended by Governor Ned Lamont and Connecticut Department of Transportation Commissioner Garrett Eucalitto. The initiative will modernise key sections of the rail line between New Haven and New York City, raising permissible speeds from 70 to 90 mph, meeting Federal Railroad Administration Track Class 6 standards and cutting travel times by about 25 minutes. Phase 1 focuses on a three‑mile stretch between Bridgeport and Stratford, costing $340.7 million, creating 125 jobs, and funded by $184 million from the FRA, $145.5 million from the state and $11.2 million from Amtrak. Subsequent phases, planned for 2030 and 2031, will upgrade Stratford Station and continue corridor improvements, with a total of $1.3 billion allocated for these later stages. Senator Chris Murphy praised the project as vital for the regional economy. In parallel, Amtrak has launched a multi‑year New Haven‑Providence Capacity Planning Study aimed at preserving and enhancing frequency, speed, reliability and resiliency on the Northeast Corridor, benefitting the roughly 100,000 daily passengers who use Metro‑North, Amtrak and freight services on the line.