Waterbury Branch

Waterbury Branch

Metro-North F10 413 in Bridgeport pulling Train 1926.
Overview
Type Commuter rail
System Metro-North Railroad
Status Operational
Locale Naugatuck River Valley of Connecticut, USA
Termini Waterbury (North)
Bridgeport (South)
Stations 7 (+ 1 limited)
Operation
Opened 1849
Owner Naugatuck Railroad (1849-1887)
NYNH&H (1887-1969)
Penn Central (1969-1971)
ConnDOT (1971-present)
Operator(s) Penn Central (1969-1976)
Conrail (1976-1983)
Metro-North Railroad (1983-present)
Character Single track, diesel motive power
Rolling stock GE Genesis P32AC-DM
Brookville BL20GH
Shoreliner coaches
Technical
Line length 28.5 mi (45.87 km)
Track gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in)
Electrification None
Route map
 Torrington Secondary
87.5 mi
140.8 km
 Waterbury
 I-84
 Route 8
82.5 mi
132.8 km
 Naugatuck
78.5 mi
126.3 km
 Beacon Falls
 Naugatuck River
 Route 8
75.0 mi
120.7 km
 Seymour
71.1 mi
114.4 km
 Ansonia
 Naugatuck River
69.5 mi
111.8 km
 Derby-Shelton
 Route 8
Housatonic Railroad
 Housatonic River
 Merritt Parkway

to New Haven

Devon Transfer(temporary)
Railroad Bridge
over Housatonic River
59.0 mi
95 km
 Stratford(limited)
55.4 mi
89.2 km
 BridgeportAmtrakShore Line EastGreyhound Lines
 New Haven Line
33.0 mi
53.1 km
 Stamford(limited) AmtrakShore Line EastGreyhound Lines
 to Grand Central Terminal

Distances shown are from
Grand Central Terminal

Metro-North Railroad's Waterbury Branch is a branch of the New Haven Line, running north from a junction in the Devon section of Milford to Waterbury. Originally built as the Naugatuck Railroad, it once continued north to Winsted. The part north of Waterbury is now leased from CDOT by the Railroad Museum of New England, which operates excursion trains from Thomaston station through their operating subsidiary Naugatuck Railroad (reporting mark NAUG); this name was chosen in homage of the original railroad. The trackage ends in Torrington but Metro North service on the branch ends at Waterbury. There are conceptual plans to extend service from its current terminus in Waterbury to Hartford via Bristol and New Britain. Except for one weekday off-peak train that operates from Stamford to Waterbury, all trains on this branch operate as shuttles between Waterbury and Bridgeport.

Upgrades

In September 2015, it was announced that out of Governor Malloy's 30 year-$100 Billion transportation plan, $350 Million has been included to improve service along the branch.[1] The upgrades include a new signal system with multiple passing sidings to increase service, newer equipment, and station rehabilitation. The passing sidings are expected to be completed in 2018. Work began on a siding just north of the Derby-Shelton station and is expected to be completed in late 2015.[2] CTDOT also purchased locomotives from NJ Transit that, once overhauled, will be put into branch line service.

Stations

The stations on the Waterbury Branch have two major differences in comparison to most other stations in the Metro-North system. None have station houses or ticket machines, making it possible to buy fares on board with no surcharge. All stations, except for Waterbury, have low-level platforms (with the exception of Merritt 7 on the Danbury Branch, no other regular stations east of the Hudson have such platforms).

Zone Station Miles (km)
from GCT		 Date
opened		 Date
closed		 Connections / notes
19 Bridgeport 55.4 (89.2) 1840[3] Amtrak: Northeast Regional, Vermonter
Metro-North: New Haven Line
Shore Line East (limited service)
Greater Bridgeport Transit: 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 13, 15, 17, 19X, 22X, 23, Coastal Link
Greyhound Lines
Bridgeport & Port Jefferson Ferry
20 Stratford 59.0 (95.0) Metro-North: New Haven Line
Shore Line East (limited eastbound service)
Greater Bridgeport Transit: 1, 10, 16, 23, Coastal Link
Limited service (one train, peak direction)
Fairfield County / New Haven County border
Waterbury Branch splits from the New Haven Line in Milford
51 Derby–Shelton 69.5 (111.8) 1849 Greater Bridgeport Transit: 15, 23
CT Transit New Haven: F
Ansonia 71.1 (114.4) 1849 CT Transit New Haven: F
Seymour 75.0 (120.7) 1849 CT Transit New Haven: F
Beacon Falls 78.5 (126.3) 1849
Naugatuck 82.5 (132.8) 1849 CT Transit Waterbury: N1, N2, T74
Waterbury 87.5 (140.8) 1849 CT Transit Waterbury: 40

Rolling stock

The Waterbury Branch uses 2008 Brookville BL20GH and GE Genesis P32AC-DM locomotives and Shoreliner passenger coaches. It has also used Mafersa coaches originally purchased for service on Shore Line East. Prior to the arrival of push-pull coaches, the branch used Budd RDCs and SPV-2000s. A typical shuttle consists of three cars.

See also

References

  1. ↑ http://www.foxbusiness.com/markets/2015/09/02/waterbury-branch-commuters-using-metro-north-to-hear-details-on-connecticut/
  2. ↑ http://www.rep-am.com/news/local/905389.txt
  3. ↑ Great American Stations. Accessed March 1, 2013.

Route map: Bing / Google

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