The new Hartford CTrail line had 69,067 passengers during its first six weeks of operation, Gov. Dannel P. Malloy and the Connecticut Department of Transportation announced.  

There were 19,767 passenger trips during June of this year, not including the free opening weekend of service. And in July, there were 49,300 passenger trips, more than double the July 2017 levels with just Amtrack service.  

The average weekday trip on this line is now 1,860 people, with numbers so high that they are on track to exceeds first-year ridership goals before next June, Malloy said in a statement.  

So far, about $40 million has been invested in residential and commercial development along the Hartford line between New Haven and Windsor Locks, according to a statement from the governor’s office.  

“Building a robust, convenient, and practical transportation system is critical to growing our economy and attracting business, and the Hartford Line is a key component of these efforts,” Malloy said.