State Transportation Commissioner Joe Giulietti, right, and other officials pose for a photo at New London's Union Station in front of a new M8 electric train after its initial run on the Shore Line East train line on May 23, 2022. CTDOT photo

The coastal towns to New Haven’s east will see their commutes into New Haven and elsewhere improve significantly with the replacement of aging diesel-powered trains with electric units, state officials said yesterday.

The Shore Line East train service will now start running M8 electric multiple unit (EMU) trains, the same model MetroNorth has run between New Haven and New York for around a decade. The trains accelerate faster than diesel trains, allowing for potential service improvements in the future, a statement from Gov. Ned Lamont’s office said, and come with additional amenities like electrical outlets at each seat, brighter interior spaces, updated restrooms, higher-backed seats and improved luggage racks. The trains are also expected to be more reliable, officials said.

“Electric trains on Shore Line East have been talked about for many years, and there were a lot of hurdles to overcome,” Department of Transportation Commissioner Joe Giulietti said in a statement supplied by Lamont’s office. “Today’s service changes took the group efforts of CTDOT, Amtrak, Metro-North Railroad and the Federal Rail Administration. Thank you to all who were involved to get us over the finish line. Beyond the direct environmental benefit, these trains are quieter inside and out, offer a more comfortable ride and have improved amenities I know riders will enjoy. I hope the public will come out and try the Shore Line East service.”

Lamont touted the train’s ability to speed up commute times for the Shoreline region, part of his campaign pledges.

“These electric trains coming into service are an important milestone for Shore Line East,” he said in a statement. “It is an improvement that has been long-awaited, and has been delivered. We are speeding up transportation in the state and saving people time in their day. At the same time, we are fighting climate change by investing in cleaner, greener transportation. We are making investments in statewide rail travel and delivering on the promise to make our trains faster, quieter, and more efficient.”