More M-8 Trains Added to New Haven Lines

A third set of M-8 rail cars have joined the fleet that travels the New Haven Line.

Connecticut Gov. Dannel P. Malloy and Metro-North Railroad announced that the rail cars were put into service Tuesday.

That brings the total number of train runs operating with new cars each week to 130.

Tuesday's new M-8 train left New Haven at 8:04 a.m. and arrived at Grand Central Terminal in Manhattan at 9:36 a.m.

Malloy said it was a significant milestone, and investing in rail improvements was the best way to encourage commuters to stop driving to work.

"More and more commuters are seeing the benefits and enjoying the amenities of these new cars each week," he said.

A total of 26 new M-8s, built by Kawasaki Rail Car, Inc., have been put into service on the New Haven Line.

Of the 380 M-8s now on order, the first 38 are being built in Kobe, Japan. The remaining rail cars are being built in Lincoln, NE, at Kawasaki's plant. Sixty M-8s are expected to be in service by the end of 2011.

Howard Permut, president of Metro-North Railroad, said p with the third train going into service and the Nebraska plant in full production.

"We are looking forward to receiving additional cars in the fall," he said.