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Connecticut's Metro-North Riders Brace For New Year's Day Fare Hike

FAIRFIELD COUNTY, Conn. -- Train riders on Metro-North's New Haven Line will be paying a bit more for their tickets starting Jan. 1 as a 1 percent fare hike takes effect. 

The Connecticut Department of Transportation is reminding passengers that train fares on the New Haven Line, including the New Canaan Branch and the Danbury Branch, as well as on Shore Line East will go up Thursday. Monthly tickets on sale for January now reflect the new fares.

As part of state legislation enacted for passengers to contribute toward the cost of the new M-8 rail cars, fares are being increased by 1 percent across all rail fare types, including weekly and monthly UniTickets (combined bus/rail tickets). Additional 1 percent increases will also take place on Jan. 1, 2016, 2017 and 2018.

Of the 405 M-8 rail cars ordered, 391 have been delivered to Connecticut. All 405 should be in service by February. Although in service now only on the New Haven Line, the M-8 cars will eventually also be used on Shore Line East.

This increase will affect ticket prices for travel:

  • Between Connecticut and New York stations.
  • Between stations within Connecticut.
  • Some fares may not change due to rounding and the small percentage of the increase.

The fare increase does not affect travel to and from stations within New York State.

Here's a look at how the rate changes will impact the cost of travel to Grand Central Terminal. The rates are for a variety of tickets: Monthly (M), Weekly (W), One-Way Peak (P) and One-Way Off-Peak (OP), along with the current rates in parenthesis:

Greenwich, Cos Cob, Riverside, Old Greenwich: M: $279 ($276), W: $89.25 ($88.50), P: $12.75 ($12.75), OP: $9.50 ($9.50)

Stamford, Noroton Heights, Darien, Rowayton: M: $310 ($307), W: $99.25 ($98.25), P: $14.50 ($14.50), OP: $11 ($10.75)

South Norwalk, East Norwalk: M: $333 ($330), W: $106.50 ($105.50), P: $15.25 ($15.25), OP: $11.50 ($11.25)

Westport, Green's Farms, Southport, Fairfield, Fairfield Metro: M: $362 ($358), W: $115.75 ($114.50), P: $16.50 ($16.50), OP: $12.50 ($12.25)

Bridgeport: M: $394 ($390), W: $126 ($124.75), P: $18.25 ($18), OP: $13.75 ($13.50)

Glenbrook, Springdale, Talmadge Hill, New Canaan:  M: $310 ($307), W: $99.25 ($98.25), P: $14.50 ($14.50), OP: $11 ($10.75)

Merritt 7, Wilton, Cannondale: M: $343 ($340), W: $109.75 ($109), P: $15.75 ($15.75), OP: $11.75 ($11.50)

Branchville, Redding, Bethel, Danbury: M: $361 ($358), W: $115.50 ($114.50), P: $16.50 ($16.50), OP: $12.50 ($12.25)

Some train stations have moved to different rate categories as well. The new rate hikes will also impact on-board fares, which are always the most expensive. 

Click here for more information on the rate changes. For information on schedules and fares, click here

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