At one time the New Haven blanketed southern New England with trackage acquired during the Charles Mellen era, around the turn of the twentieth century. Although this gave the New Haven a virtual monopoly on the region, it also eventually contributed to its financial collapse, and ultimately to the Penn Central bankruptcy. A major part of the problem was the New Haven's extensive commuter service, such as this one seen at Meriden, Connecticut on one of the several New Haven, Connecticut to Springfield, Massachusetts routes, and by this time operated by Amtrak. Today, with rail commuter travel experiencing a renaissance under public ownership, towns such as Meriden are gaining new stations and revived service.
