Just The Ticket: Shore Line East Debuts 'Zero Carbon' Electric Trains

NEW HAVEN, CT — This train is right on time. Shore Line East commuter line, that runs between New Haven and New London, debuted it's new M8 electric trains.

The Kawasaki M8 electric trains, which began service for Metro-North New Haven line in 2011, have no carbon emissions and are faster and have more amenities for riders compared to the diesel trains and "represent a substantial improvement over the older diesel-powered train sets."

Additional amenities for riders, such as electrical outlets at each seat, brighter interior spaces, updated restrooms, higher back seats, and improved luggage racks.

“These electric trains coming into service are an important milestone for Shore Line East,” Gov. Lamont said at a news briefing at Union Station in New Haven Monday. “It is an improvement that has been long awaited, and has been delivered. We are speeding up transportation in the state and saving people time in their day. At the same time, we are fighting climate change by investing in cleaner, greener transportation. We are making investments in statewide rail travel and delivering on the promise to make our trains faster, quieter, and more efficient.”

Lamont was joined by Senator Richard Blumenthal, Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro, Connecticut Department of Transportation Commissioner Joe Giulietti, Metro-North President/Long Island Rail Road Interim President Catherine Rinaldi, and Amtrak Assistant Vice President Tom Moritz at the news conference.

Afterward, it was all-aboard for guests to take the inaugural ride of the first M8 electric train on Shore Line East.

The train, which runs from New Haven to New London, made stops at Branford, Guilford, Madison, Clinton, Westbrook, Old Saybrook and New London. After the New London stop, the train headed back to Union Station.