Shore Line East, a commuter rail service which operates along the Northeast Corridor through southern Connecticut, will run Kawasaki M8 EMUs, which emit no carbon emissions and include additional amenities for riders, such as electrical outlets at each seat, brighter interior spaces, updated restrooms, higher back seats, and improved luggage racks.
Edward Lamont, governor of Connecticut, said, “These electric trains coming into service are an important milestone for Shore Line East. 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.”
“Electric trains on Shore Line East have been talked about for many years, and there were a lot of hurdles to overcome,” Department of Transportation Commissioner Joe Giulietti added. “Today’s service changes took the group efforts of CTDOT, Amtrak, Metro-North Railroad, and the Federal Rail Administration. Beyond the direct environmental benefit, these trains are quieter inside and out, offer a more comfortable ride and have improved amenities I know riders will enjoy.”
The M8 EMU trains have been in service on the New Haven Line for more than ten years and have performed very well. The Metro-North Railroad New Haven Line is a 119 km commuter rail line running from New Haven, Connecticut to New York City. Using electric trains on both the New Haven Line and SLE also holds the promise of future service improvements.