The CTrail Hartford Line has a new full-service stop in the heart of Connecticut.
State and local officials on Tuesday afternoon unveiled the new station at 51 Depot Road in Berlin during a grand opening event. The once decrepit rail station had been under construction since Dec. 2014, and was partially open to passengers when the commuter rail launched June 16.
Berlin’s station, located just off the town’s downtown strip on Farmington Avenue, will connect to the rail line’s New Haven-to-Springfield train service and Amtrak trains.
The rail line also includes stops in Windsor Locks, Windsor, Hartford, Meriden and Wallingford. Other stations are under development in West Hartford, Newington, Enfield and North Haven, state officials said.
The Berlin station includes raised platforms on each side of the tracks, elevators, an overhead pedestrian bridge, canopies, ticket vending machines and an information display system, state officials said. For safety, the platforms also feature automatic snow melting systems, security cameras and emergency call boxes.
The parcel also houses a new 235-space parking lot with two electric vehicle charging stations.
Gov. Dannel P. Malloy, state lawmakers and local officials on Tuesday lauded the rail line’s ability to raise the profile of transit-oriented economic development in towns like Berlin.
Officials have estimated the $769 million Hartford line created almost $400 million in transit-oriented development (TOD) before it opened in June.
In Berlin, a mixed-used development housing commercial and 16 residential units opened across the street from the station about four years ago. The town has also scored a portion of state funds for pedestrian improvements near the station and is plotting a TOD for future projects there.
Trains on the Hartford line travel up to 110 mph and takes about 81 minutes to travel the 62 miles between Springfield and New Haven.
The line provides 17 round trips daily between Hartford and New Haven, including a dozen continuing north to Springfield.
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