[NewJeffCT]

The person that was looking into taking 84 from the Hartford area to Danbury Route 7 South to get to Stamford because she didn't like Route 8 decided that she was going to take the train from Hartford to Stamford instead. (Hartford to NH to Stamford and then the reverse at night)

However, over the past week & a half since starting the job in Stamford, the evening train back to Hartford has been delayed at least 1 hour and often as much as 2 hours. What's also frustrating is that the delays are often never announced until the last minute - train shows on time leaving the office at 6:10 for a 6:30 train. Arrive at the station at 6:20 and a few minutes later, an hour delay is announced. Food in the Stamford station is limited to a single Dunkin Donuts, it seems. Everything else would require her to go outside & walk.

Are huge delays the norm for Amtrak?

[kidyankee764]

Sounds like Route 8 is the way to go. Have you figured out why this person is so against it?

[The_Quiet_One]

Could they drive to New Haven instead and pick up the train there? That would give more Metro North options in addition to Amtrak. I believe Metro North owns the tracks, so when there are problems, Amtrak gets the delays first. They yield to Metro North. Also regular Northeast Regional trains also yield to Amtrak Acela service.

[kidyankee764]

Originally Posted by The_Quiet_One

Could they drive to New Haven instead and pick up the train there? That would give more Metro North options in addition to Amtrak. I believe Metro North owns the tracks, so when there are problems, Amtrak gets the delays first. They yield to Metro North. Also regular Northeast Regional trains also yield to Amtrak Acela service.

By the time they get to New Haven, park and get on the train, they could be in Stamford by taking Route 8.

[Stylo]

Don’t understand what issue is with Route 8.

Route 8 to Fairfield Metro train would make sense.

Or just 91 south to 95/15 south to Fairfield Metro.

[JayCT]

Originally Posted by The_Quiet_One

Could they drive to New Haven instead and pick up the train there? That would give more Metro North options in addition to Amtrak. I believe Metro North owns the tracks, so when there are problems, Amtrak gets the delays first. They yield to Metro North. Also regular Northeast Regional trains also yield to Amtrak Acela service.

The tracks from New Haven to New York are owned by the State of Connecticut. The state contracts with Metro North to operate the commuter trains from Nrw Haven to Nrw York City. The state also owns the New Canaan, Danbury and Waterbury lines. Amtrak owns the Hartford/Springfield line and the tracks from New Haven to Rhode Island. TransitAmerica and Alternate Concepts operate CTrail on the Hartford line and Amtrak operates Shoreline East east of New Haven.

I agree driving to a station on the New Haven Line would be best but coming down Route 8 I’d go to Fairfield Metro Center, not New Haven. Jay

[NewJeffCT]

Originally Posted by kidyankee764

Sounds like Route 8 is the way to go. Have you figured out why this person is so against it?

Yes - traffic moves too fast for them on Route 8, and it's too hillly & windy for their tastes.

[kidyankee764]

Originally Posted by NewJeffCT

Yes - traffic moves too fast for them on Route 8, and it's too hillly & windy for their tastes.

I don’t see how traffic on Route 8 moves any faster than 95, 84 or 91. But oh well - if they prefer hours long delays over driving on that highway, more power to them.

[Stylo]

Originally Posted by NewJeffCT

Yes - traffic moves too fast for them on Route 8, and it's too hillly & windy for their tastes.

Take 91 > 15 or 95 to a closer train station then. The current plan seems torturous.

And 8 isn’t any faster than other highways in the state. I use it quite often. If anything, 91 is our fastest highway I’ve observed. It is straighter though.

[hvexpatinct]

When I need to avoid route 8 and drive down into Fairfield County, I take 84 to exit 10 in Newtown, drive into the center of Newtown and then take 25 down to the Merritt. 25 is going to be very unpredictable though.

I understand not wanting to drive on 8 but it might be good to do some trial drives during off peak times to get more comfortable with the road too, it will get better.