This review is a "Taylor's Version" that doesn't compare to the original. I previously alluded to my decades-long obsession with performance reviews and talked about seafood. Also, the moral dilemma of ratings that I planned to address was already covered back in September 2021. I feel vaguely guilty for criticizing a railroad that offers so many great waterfront views. But the frequency of service can be a bummer for anything beyond the strictest of 9-to-5 type commutes. I once stayed in Clinton for two nights, partly to enjoy Lobster Landing without navigating the nearly impossible train schedule. What's it like to hear train whistles so often when you rarely get to use the service? read more

What a great kept secret! Perfect for people who don't want to be bothered looking for parking, but enjoy meeting friends and having lunch together in New Haven. Shore Line East is a commuter rail service that runs along the Northeast Corridor through southern Connecticut. The rail service is a fully owned subsidiary of the Connecticut Department of Transportation and is operated under the CT Rail brand since 1990. There is a very convenient pickup location on State Street in New Haven. read more

I almost sent a complement this morning to Shoreline East. They sent me an email before 6 AM telling me the train I normally take at 7 AM was canceled. Not an unusual occurrence but it was unusual to get enough notice so that I could decide if I wanted to take the earlier train. I did a little rushing and arrived at the station in time for the train scheduled to leave at 6:24 however loudspeakers at the station were blaring with the news that the 624 was also canceled. If they had told me nothing this morning I would've had an extra half hour waiting for next train but instead I rushed for a non-existent train and ended up driving to avoid wasting an entire hour. Less than a star in my book. If they can't manage the trains they should at least communicate better! read more

Never...EVER... on time! If your trying to take the train into the city, you will be stressed because it's always late and will probably miss your connection in New Haven. So frustrating because we live just down the street from the Branford station. Not sure who runs this commuter train, but they need to do WAY BETTER! It would be such a huge success if it could ever be trusted to show up on time! read more

Honestly if you have a spare hour or two to experience delays, signal issues, cancelations and whatever else could make a 37 minute train ride into an hour and 15, Shore line east is the way to go. I've been a commuter using this train line for 6 months and I am officially done. The customer service is terribly rude and less than helpful. I'd rather walk, or get into a windowless van then take this train again. On another note, metro north is lovely. read more

Three Cheers for the Shoreline East, it makes travel to the Connecticut shore towns 100% easier. Now if they'll only add Metro-North/Amtrak-integrated ticket machines to all their stations on the line, and more importantly, allow pets, I'd be happy as a clam. read more

Shoreline East Commuter Train - A Shoreline East train at New Haven Union Station - Public Services & Government Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

I arrived at 555am to take the 608am from old Saybrook to New Haven. On the platforms there were no signs saying which platform was the 608am train but I walked over to the train that had the engine running, doors open and conductor and passengers inside. At 607am another train pulled up and I asked the conductor is this was the train to New Haven, and he said yes. At 613am when the train had not left I asked if this was the 608am and the conductor said no this was the 647am. How is it possible the signs were not updated, there was no announcement and the conductor didn't tell all the passengers that the next trains was leaving on platform 1 and this train would leave almost an hour later. Who really has an hour to waste sitting on a train, other than a conductor. The conductor was dead from the neck up so make sure you ask the right question otherwise you will be taking an Uber to new haven read more

We have visited Old Saybrook twice, and hope to go again! The SLE is a wonderful ride. It's quiet, not too crowded, and it goes to many of the small towns past New Haven (State St, Brandord, Guilford, Madison, Clinton, Westbrook, Old Saybrook, and the occasional extended service to New London) that Amtrak does not serve (Northeast Regional serves New Haven, Old Saybrook, and New London, Acela serves New Haven and New London). And for people that use Metro North, you can easily make connections to Shore Line East, and during rush hours, some SLE trains run express and run past New Haven and stop at some Metro North stations (the furthest west they go is Stamford, then you must transfer to Metro North of Amtrak). You can also use Multi ride tickets to make transfers to Amtrak, which saves you the $300 (or however much you spend on Amtrak tickets depending on where you're going). JUST REMEMBER: THAT IS THE ONLY TYPE OF TICKET THAT LETS YOU TRANSFER TO AMTRAK. ANY OTHER TICKET AND YOU HAVE TO PAY FULL PRICE ON AMTRAK TICKETS. read more

The trains are clean, as are the stations. We are in Madison, and enjoy riding the trains. Wish there were more midday trains though.

i'm happy sle exists but wouldn't it be nicer if metro north just served all of connecticut's coast? sle should serve the interior of the state with lines running parallel to 91, 84, and 395. read more

Its great and free parking at most stations...It will probably never happen but expansion to TF Green airport would be awesome