Line(s) New Haven Line Tracks 4 Area 7,300 m² Added to NRHP 28 July 1989 | Platforms 2 side platforms Opened 1884 Architectural style Stick style | |
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Location 96 Station Street (eastbound)
100 Center Street (westbound)
Southport, Conn. 06890 Owned by Connecticut DOT; leased to Town of Fairfield Connections Greater Bridgeport Transit Authority: Coastal Link Address Fairfield, CT 06890, United States Similar Green's Farms, Rowayton, East Norwalk, Fairfield Metro, Merritt 7 | ||
Southport is a railroad station on the New Haven Line of the Metro-North Railroad. It serves Southport, a former borough in the town of Fairfield, Connecticut. It is one of three railroad stations in Fairfield, the others being Fairfield and Fairfield Metro. The station is nearly 49 miles (79 km) from Grand Central Terminal in New York City. The average travel time between Grand Central and Southport is one hour and twelve minutes, though this varies depending on the time of day and level of service. It has 179 parking spaces, 99 owned by the state.
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History
The station was opened in 1884, and the existing westbound and eastbound station buildings were constructed in the late 19th century by the New York, New Haven, and Hartford Railroad. The westbound building is wooden, built in the saltbox-style. The eastbound building is made of brick, and is no longer in railroad use. Instead, it houses a restaurant. In 1989, the station buildings were listed in the National Register of Historic Places as the "Southport Railroad Stations".
The westbound station house, one of the few remaining original station houses on the New Haven Line, was gutted by a fire on January 4, 2008. According to a fire marshal, human activity was most likely involved in causing the fire. Whether that activity was intentional or accidental is not known. The building housed both an art gallery and a passenger waiting area prior to fire. The majority of the artwork was saved. Most of the damage done to the building during the fire was caused by the water that was being used to extinguish the fire. It was predicted that the building would have to be entirely replaced, but it was decided instead to refurbish it after the damage was assessed to be less severe than originally thought. The refurbishment costed $3 million. A temporary waiting room was created for passengers at the station. The refurbishment was finished by the beginning of the next year, and was officially re-opened by then Connecticut Governor Jodi Rell in late February 2009.
Platform and track configuration
Four tracks run through the station. There are two offset high-level side platforms, each four cars long. The northern platform, adjacent to Track 3, is generally used by westbound trains. The southern platform, adjacent to Track 4, is generally used by eastbound trains. The two inner tracks, not adjacent to either platform, are used only by express trains.
Within walking distance
The center of Southport is a short walk from the station. From the eastbound platform, it begins at the foot of Station Street. There, one will find Pequot Avenue, lined with two rows of small shops within one- and two-story commercial buildings. Nearby there are condominium complexes, the Wakeman Boys & Girls Club, the Pequot Library, two churches, and the Pequot Yacht Club at Southport Harbor. Most of the streets in this area are lined with sidewalks and historic single-family detached houses, as part of the Southport Historic District.