A groundbreaking ceremony was held in Stratford, Connecticut, US, to mark the start of construction on the $1.6bn TIME-1 project under the TIME FOR CT initiative.
The ceremony was attended by Governor Ned Lamont and Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) Garrett Eucalitto.
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The TIME-1 project aims to modernise crucial sections of the rail line connecting New Haven with New York City.
Scheduled for completion in 2035, this project is set to increase train speeds from 70 to 90 miles per hour in designated areas and meet Federal Railroad Administration’s Track Class 6 standards.
These enhancements are expected to reduce travel times between New Haven and New York by approximately 25 minutes, thereby improving reliability for Metro-North Railroad, Amtrak, freight operators and the nearly 100,000 daily passengers.
The initial phase targets a three-mile stretch between Bridgeport and Stratford with improvements such as new catenary structures, upgraded track and signal infrastructure and the replacement of the Longbrook Avenue Bridge.
This phase, costing $340.7m, is expected to create 125 jobs and is funded by $184m from the Federal Railroad Administration, $145.5m from the State of Connecticut and $11.2m from Amtrak.
The second phase, anticipated to commence in 2030, plans upgrades at Stratford Station to include track enhancements, improved accessibility, passenger communications systems and modernised electrical systems.
Meanwhile, the third phase, starting in 2031, will continue infrastructure improvements across the corridor.
The combined cost for the second and third phases is estimated at $1.3bn, with ongoing efforts to secure additional funding.
Senator Chris Murphy said: “Connecticut’s rail lines are vital to our state and regional economy. The TIME FOR CT programme is a transformational infrastructure investment that will make train travel safer, faster and more reliable.”
The programme is broadening rail services through investments in infrastructure, fleet enhancements and bridge replacements, including work on the WALK Bridge in Norwalk and the Devon Bridge in Milford.
