Transportation: A Breakdown

There are multiple modes of transportation available to residents of Middletown, Connecticut - none of which completely fulfill the needs of the average Wesleyan student. For now, though, they're all we have. For links to each of their official sites and route maps, see "Escape Routes" in the sidebar. Also, check the SAFT Calendar of arrival and departure times at the bottom of this page (we are unaffiliated with these companies, of course, so can't be held responsible for schedule changes or inaccuracies). Below, I have outlined your current options as well as I know them, including the schedule, route, and cost of each. Before we begin, some keywords you should know: MAT is "Middletown Area Transit". The MAT Station is at 340 Main St. in Middletown (map).

Taxi / Limo
There are two major taxi companies that serve Middletown. These are Executive 2000 and Hunter Limousines. They will pick you up and drop you off anywhere. Executive charges about $2.50 per mile, while Hunter charges a wopping $78.75 to and from Meriden (they're a "private limo service", not a taxi company).

Bus
Middletown's buses seem to cater to drivers who need to save on gas, elderly residents, and stay-at-home parents, rather than students. Below are the current bus systems that serve Middletown, as well as our very own New Haven Shuttle:
The M-Link
Route A loop between the MAT station and Meriden, CT, with stops at Westfield Shoppingtown and the Amtrak Station.
Schedule 6:30am-4:45pm, on the :30 of every hour until 2:30, plus two final buses at 3:45pm and 4:45pm. 4 departures on Saturday. No service evenings or Sunday.
Cost $1.25 one-way, with free transfer to CT Transit.
CT Transit U-Line
Route Runs between Middletown, including the MAT Station, and multiple stops in Downtown Hartford, with a stop in Cromwell Center (route map).
Schedule 16-17 arrivals and departures weekdays from 5:40am-7:12pm. No service Saturday or Sunday.
Cost $1.25 one-way, with free transfer upon exit by request.
DATTCO New Haven / Hartford Express
Route From New Haven Union Station to Downtown Hartford and Union Station Hartford, with a stop at the Middletown Park & Ride Lot (map) - about 10 minutes away from campus by car.
Schedule 3 departures per day on weekdays; no service Saturday or Sunday.
Cost $4.35 one-way
Peter Pan Buslines
Route From Middletown to New York, New Haven, Hartford, and Boston.
Schedule To New York/ New Haven - 4:40pm Sundays, return Fridays. To Hartford / Boston - 4:55pm Sundays, return Fridays.
Cost $12 one-way to New Haven; $12.50 to Hartford; $39.50 to New York; $22 to Boston.
Wesleyan New Haven Shuttle
Route A loop between Usdan Center and Union Station in New Haven
Schedule From Usdan: Fridays 6pm, Sundays 1pm. From New Haven: Friday 7pm, Sunday 2pm.
Cost $15 one-way, $30 round trip. Tickets available at University box office.
Chinatown Bus
Route "Boston Deluxe" from 365 Capitol Ave, Hartford to Boston and New York.
Schedule Complicated. Hartford->Boston: 1-2 departures/day, 6 days/week. Hartford->NY, 1-3 departures/day, 6 days/week.
Cost $15 one-way. Tickets available here.

Train
Once you've gotten yourself to Meriden, Hartford, or New Haven, you have several train options. The Metro-North gives you the best bang for your buck.
Amtrak
Route From Meriden to New Haven, New York City, Trenton, Philadelphia, Baltimore, DC, Hartford, Springfield, Vermont. From New Haven to all of the above, plus Providence, Boston, and Newport News, Virginia. From Hartford to DC, Springfield, Baltimore, Philadelphia, Trenton, New York City.
Schedule Varies, see Amtrak website.
Cost Varies - $5-7 Meriden-New Haven. $32-86 New York->New Haven. See website for details.
Metro-North
Route From New Haven to New York City, with connections to Waterbury, Danbury, New Canaan. Connections from Grand Central to all regional rails, including Metro North to Poughkeepsie and Wassaic, plus NJ Transit, Amtrak. Once you're in NYC, you're golden.
Schedule About 24 departures to NYC between 4:12am-11:18pm (4:40am weekends), 7 days a week. About 24 departures from NYC to New Haven between 5:35am and 1:49am next day, 7 days a week.
Cost $13.30-$24 one-way. Go to the MTA fares site for details.
Shore Line East
Route Between New Haven and New London.
Schedule 14 departures between 6:23am-8:50pm.
Cost Between $2.50-8.25 one-way.