Type Commuter rail Status Operational Opened 1849 | System Metro-North Railroad Stations 7 (+ 1 limited) | |
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Locale Naugatuck River Valley of Connecticut, USA Owners Naugatuck Railroad (1849–1887) Terminis Bridgeport station (South), Waterbury (North) | ||
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.
Contents
Metro north new haven line waterbury branch 1
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. The upgrades include a new signal system with multiple passing sidings to increase service, newer equipment, and station rehabilitation. Currently, only one train is allowed on the branch at a time. The signalization of the line will allow for multiple trains to safely be on the branch at a time, while allowing for increased capacity and safer train operation. Four passing sidings, at Devon, Derby, Beacon Falls, and Waterbury, will be built, and they 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. Some of the 16 grade crossings on the line will be permenantly closed, while others will have gates and flashers installed to prevent accidents. The entire project will be completed in November 2020 and will cost $73 million. 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).
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.
