Great--thanks, lordsigma.
I will follow the conductor's instructions on the shuttle if there is a change in how to detrain, but I will of course be on my own when I try CTrail at Windsor.
I have not been up through central CT in a while, so I will look forward to seeing what Berlin, Meriden, and Wallingford look like (I thought Berlin was destroyed in a fire--have they already rebuilt it?)
I can see Windsor Locks being moved elsewhere--right now it seems to be away from everything except a major highway and is just a glorified bus shelter.
Windsor is in a perfect place in the town center, so I hope they don't move that.
Berlin's historic station building indeed was destroyed - it was originally supposed to be incorporated into the construction of the new CTrail/Amtrak station. Because of the fire they went back to the drawing board and essentially did the same design as Meriden and Wallingford. You will notice that Wallingford's new station is in a new location a bit to the north of the former location- if you pay attention you'll see the former station location near the historic station building as the train passes through.
All in all the CTrail/NHHS project redid those 3 stations as well as expanded the State Street Station in New Haven to the other side of the tracks opposite the original platform and added a high level platform at Hartford with the information displays and, as discussed, new "no frills makeshift" low level platforms at Windsor. The Hartford platform is also somewhat makeshift as a new station is likely to get built within the next decade as part of the I84 project. Still under construction is the high level platform at Springfield - that should be open sometime in late 2018/early 2019.
Last phase (not yet funded for construction - design phase for the double track and Windsor Locks is funded):
- Finish the double tracking from just south of Windsor Locks station to Enfield just to the south of the Connecticut/Massachusetts state line. (Funded for design not yet construction)
- CTrail Train layover facility in Springfield
- New Windsor Locks double track station with high level platforms closer to the main business district (probably similar design to the new Berlin/Meriden/Wallingford/State Street New Side) (Funded for design not yet construction)
- New Windsor station with high level platforms. (No funding yet)
- New stations in North Haven, Newington, West Hartford, and Enfield.
Additionally, the following was not within the scope of the CTrail project but would also need to be addressed eventually to realize the full vision of the state's plan:
- Warehouse Point/Connecticut River Bridge Rehab with reactivation with double track
- A long term final solution for Hartford station with double track.