The Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) and Amtrak, in partnership with U.S. Congressman Joe Courtney are pleased to announce that effective Monday, September 27, 2021, Amtrak will accept Shore Line East ten-trip tickets and monthly passes for Amtrak trains #86, #93, #94, and #137. Tickets will be cross honored through Amtrak’s RideReserve Program, which is available through Amtrak’s website or mobile app.
“Cross honoring rail tickets is simply about giving customers additional travel options and enhanced services,” said Connecticut Department of Transportation Commissioner Joseph Giulietti. “We know passengers are ready to return to the rails and are eager for tickets to be cross honored. I want to thank Congressman Courtney who is constantly looking at transportation options throughout the state. I thank him for his leadership in advocating for more amenities and access for passengers. I also want to thank Amtrak for their continued support and longstanding partnership with the state of Connecticut and our customers.”
“Today is great news for the many, many workers in eastern Connecticut who rely on both Shore Line East and Amtrak trains to get to work every day—connecting them back with their jobs and livelihoods is another important step in our recovery,” said Rep. Joe Courtney (CT-02). “My office heard from a lot of the people in southeast Connecticut over the last several months who told us that they wanted to get back to work, but that logistics issues with Amtrak were preventing them from doing so. Historically, Amtrak has cross-honored SLE tickets to fill service gaps and help folks get to work on time, but that service was suspended during the height of the pandemic. My office contacted Amtrak’s President and CEO in June to press the matter, and after receiving assurances that Amtrak resume SLE service by September, it’s good to see the follow-through. I want to commend Commissioner Joseph Giulietti and his team at the Connecticut Department of Transportation for staying on top of this issue—they’ve been adamant about resuming the cross-honoring of SLE tickets, and they’ve been working with my office for months now to compel this positive result from Amtrak.”
Amtrak was also pleased to announce the return of this service to the Shore Line East passengers. “We are delighted that Shore Line East passengers are able to have their tickets cross honored when traveling on select Amtrak trains,” said Amtrak AVP Infrastructure Access & Investment Tom Moritz. “Having this popular amenity available for travelers, as well as the RideReserve program, is a testament to the strong partnership and collaboration we have with CTDOT and our joint commitment to offering the best customer experience.”
Shore Line East (SLE) passengers that have a valid Shore Line East ten-trip ticket or monthly pass wishing to ride one of the eligible Amtrak trains must reserve a seat in advance through the RideReserve program. Passengers must have a confirmed reservation prior to the scheduled stop at the boarding station. If travel plans change, passengers should cancel the reservation and re-book their trip. It is recommended that each trip be booked separately to avoid confusion if you need to cancel your reservation. There is no additional charge for this service, however, passengers must present their valid Shore Line East ten-trip ticket or monthly pass at the time of boarding. U-Pass and single ride ticket SLE passengers are not eligible for cross-honor tickets on these Amtrak trains.
The RideReserve program was put in place in September 2020, as part of Amtrak’s response to the pandemic. This program ensures a seat onboard for each passenger and accounts for every passenger traveling. With RideReserve, passengers can plan and manage their travel through improved communications such as delay notifications, schedule changes, and disruption notices.
Please visit ShoreLineEast.com to view the current schedule and check news and alerts to get the latest information. Please visit Amtrak.com to view the current schedule and to get the latest Amtrak information. You can also sign up to have alerts sent directly to your phone at shorelineeast.com/service-alerts. Information about all rail services in Connecticut is available at CTrail.com.
Rail passengers must wear a mask while on board the trains and at the stations. These preventative measures will help maintain a safe and healthy travel experience for all.
