page_title: Shore Line East
section_title: Early expansions and criticisms
hierarchical_section_title: Shore Line East / Service history / Early expansions and criticisms
caption_attribution_description: P40DC #840 pushing a Shore Line East train in Stamford, Connecticut.
context_page_description: Shore Line East is a commuter rail service which operates along the Northeast Corridor through southern Connecticut, US. The rail service is a fully owned subsidiary of the Connecticut Department of Transportation, and is operated under the CTrail brand. SLE provides service seven days a week along the Northeast Corridor from New London west to New Haven, with limited through service further west to Bridgeport and Stamford. Connecting service west of New Haven to New York City is available via Metro-North Railroad's New Haven Line.
  The service was introduced in 1990 as a temporary measure to reduce congestion during construction work on I-95. However, it proved more popular than expected, and service was continued after construction ended despite criticisms that the line was too expensive to operate. The service has been continually upgraded since its inception with rebuilt stations and new rolling stock as well as extensions to New London in 1996 and to Stamford in 2001. Around 2,100 riders use the service on weekdays.
  On March 16, 2020, the service began operating indefinitely on a reduced schedule due to the coronavirus pandemic.
context_section_description: In July 1995, Governor Rowland signed a bill ordering various studies, including one that analyzed extending service to New London as had been originally planned. Before the study was completed, ConnDOT unilaterally decided to implement New London service, which the report commended. On February 1, 1996, two round trips per weekday were extended to New London. At that point, ridership was up 18% over 1991 numbers.
  In January 2001, because of changes in Amtrak rules, passengers were no longer allowed to cross tracks to access trains. New platforms were opened on the south side of the tracks at Branford and Westbrook at approximately the same locations.
  In December 2001, a single morning rush-hour round trip branded SLExpress was extended to Stamford, with a stop at Bridgeport plus eastbound-only stops at Stratford and Milford. An evening eastbound trip was also extended to Stamford with only the Bridgeport intermediate stop. This trip was intended to allow commuters to reach employment centers in Bridgeport and Stamford without having to make a transfer at New Haven. On June 24, 2002, additional Stamford trains were added, for a total of two westbound and three eastbound trains. When West Haven opened on August 18, 2013, it was added to these trips as well.
  In 2003, in order to add four additional Amtrak trips along the corridor, four of the then six round trips to New London were cut back to Old Saybrook. An agreement with the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection limits service over the Old Saybrook-Old Lyme bridge in order to avoid inconveniencing recreational boaters. ConnDOT's agreement with Amtrak allowed commuters with monthly passes to ride certain Amtrak trains instead. After criticism over the service cuts, in April 2008 ConnDOT began allowing commuters with multi-ride passes to board the selected Amtrak trains as well.
caption: A rush-hour Shore Line East train at Stamford in 2007.
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