Metro-North Railroad Increases Fares Again
Metro-North Railroad is set to raise fares by 5% on its New Haven Line running to and from Connecticut, marking the second significant hike in less than a year.
This fare increase, starting July 1, coincides with the closure of several stops in the state for construction, expected to last for 10 months.
Last September, the Connecticut Department of Transportation had already raised fares by 5%, making this a notable repeat for commuters.
According to state transportation officials, the increase is essential to bridge a roughly $11 million funding gap in rail operations and to prevent service reductions.
“With the rising costs of equipment, labor, and maintenance, fare adjustments were required to keep service levels stable and avoid reductions,” a spokesperson from CTDOT noted.
However, not long after facing these higher fares, many riders will soon find themselves relying on buses.
Beginning July 20, Metro-North will halt all rail service on the Waterbury Branch Line for a minimum of 10 months due to the rebuilding of four stations—Darby-Shelton, Ansonia, Beacon Falls, and Seymour—to ensure compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
During this period, all passengers at Waterbury Line stations will be transitioned to bus services.
“Customers will still pay their rail fares, but they can expect reliable service while taking the bus to their destinations,” a CTDOT spokesperson explained.
Previously, construction on the Waterbury Line required passengers to take a bus from the train station to Bridgeport and then switch to a regular New Haven Line train to complete their journey.
Interestingly, ridership on the Waterbury Branch has surged in recent years, with some stations seeing passenger numbers double compared to pre-pandemic levels.
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority, which manages Metro-North, indicated in their board documents that construction could take about 10 months. Yet, there’s a history of similar projects experiencing delays.
A 2019 state audit revealed that all six MTA construction projects assessed, including ADA upgrades, were completed late.
Even high-profile initiatives, like the $3.1 billion Penn Station Access Project, have faced setbacks, with its opening pushed from an original goal of around 2019 to at least 2028—largely attributed to delays from Amtrak.
Political changes have also impacted the MTA’s schedules. In an example, after Governor Cathy Hochul paused congestion pricing in 2024, the MTA issued a stop-work order, affecting 23 planned accessibility projects.
The New Haven Line is unique as the only Metro-North line entering Connecticut, which retains ownership of the railroad tracks and infrastructure within the state.
Recent fare increases were proposed by the Connecticut Department of Transportation and received approval from the MTA Board of Directors.
Additionally, New Yorkers using Metro-North trains experienced a fare increase of about 4.5% in January as part of the MTA’s overarching fare adjustments.
The determination of Metro-North fares depends on the starting and ending points of trips; passengers starting in Connecticut pay according to the state’s fare system, whereas trips entirely within New York are subject to MTA rates.
