Track Construction Begins On New Haven-Springfield Rail Line

Construction of a second track has begun for the expanded New Haven-to-Springfield, Massachusetts, rail line, with commuters being bused along the route for the next year.

Work began Monday on the project that will boost north-south rail transportation from six daily round-trip trains to 17 a day south of Hartford and 12 north of Hartford.

John Bernick, assistant rail administrator at the Connecticut Department of Transportation, says about $420 million is available for the project.

The increased number of trains is intended to boost economic development in central Connecticut. It's also part of a broader web of rail line expansions between Springfield and Boston and north to Vermont and Montreal.

The Connecticut portion of the project from North Haven to Windsor is expected to be completed by 2017.