By Gregory B. Hladky, Hartford Courant; April 9, 2018
Connecticut transportation officials knew six years ago that additional rail cars would be needed to operate the proposed New Haven-Hartford-Springfield line, according to a state report, but they never asked for funding to buy those cars.
Instead, the Department of Transportation negotiated a deal late last year to repair and lease 30-year-old commuter coaches from Massachusetts at a cost of at least $4.45 million. Only a few of those rehabilitated cars have been delivered, raising doubts about whether the state can keep its promises to start the new Hartford Line service next month.