Sources
Help build the largest human-edited directory on the web.
Submit a site - Become an editor
Wikipedia. Licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License.
Are you an expert in this subject? Join the discussion and share your knowledge at Wikipedia.org.
New Haven Line
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Metro-North's New Haven Line runs from New Haven, Connecticut southwest to Woodlawn, New York on the Harlem Line, where New Haven Line trains continue south to Grand Central Terminal in Manhattan. Northeast of New Rochelle, New York it is also part of Amtrak's Northeast Corridor, but it is owned by Metro-North. The line was formerly part of the New York, New Haven, and Hartford Railroad (the New York and New Haven Railroad until 1872), which had trackage rights over the New York Central Railroad's New York and Harlem Railroad into Grand Central. From west to east, three branches split into the New Canaan Branch, Danbury Branch, and Waterbury Branch.
Penn Central, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and the states of New York and Connecticut signed an agreement November 25, 1969 for New York to buy the section of the line in that state and Connecticut to lease their section (to New Haven).[3] The actual acquisition took place on January 1, 1971, and included the three branches.[4]
Contents |
As of 2006, plans were being discussed to build Metro-North stations in West Haven and Orange. The stretch between Milford and New Haven, passing through those two municipalities, is the longest on the New Haven Line without a station. The South Central Regional Council of Governments commissioned a study, issued in April 2005, that showed that stations in both municipalities would be viable, but favoring West Haven.[5] The Transportation Strategy Board made a similar recommendation.[6] Gov. M. Jodi Rell later included money for both in the state budget, with West Haven again given priority.[7] Whether stations actually will be built in either town was not certain as of January 2007.
A third station in Fairfield is currently under construction. It will most likely be called Fairfield Metro Center.
Since most of the main line and the New Canaan Branch is equipped with 12.5 kV 60 Hz overhead catenary, as opposed to just the 750V DC third-rail of the Hudson and Harlem Lines, different rolling stock that can operate off either power system runs on the New Haven Line. This rolling stock, originally produced by the Budd Company in two batches (144 in 1973 and 100 in 1976), was initially branded as the Cosmopolitans (model M2) with later versions being made on license by Tokyu Car (model M4, 1988) and Morrison-Knudsen (model M6, 1993). Cosmopolitans can be easily spotted by their red stripe along the side, the presence of pantographs on the lead cars in each set, and a dynamic braking grid on the roof.
All New Haven Line electric trains change over between third rail and catenary between Mount Vernon East and Pelham, at speed. Inbound trains to Grand Central Terminal lower their pantographs in this area, while outbound trains raise them; the third rail shoes stay in the same position both in and out of third rail territory. Both catenary and third rail overlap for a quarter of a mile between Mount Vernon East and Pelham to facilitate this changeover.
Most of the M2's are slated for retirement in 2009–2010 when the Kawasaki-made M8 enters service.
Much of the original catenary wire system has been replaced, however a good amount of the old system still remains, and is being replaced in stages. Platform changes, starting Monday 2007-12-03 have been announced. The MTA asks customers to heed station anouncements incase last minute platform changes are needed, and to use caution in boarding the train from portable walkways.
The MTA has canceled platform changes to go into effect Monday 3rd December 2007.
The M8 is to be built by Kawasaki Rail Car. The interior design of this EMU evidences the influence of another Metro-North car, the M7a, which is currently used in revenue service on the Harlem and Hudson Lines. Funding for the M8 also came from the Connecticut Department of Transportation (CDOT), as the cars will be used on the New Haven Line.
New Kawasaki M-8 cars prototypes will be built by Kawasaki Heavy Industries in Kobe, Japan. Production units will be manufactured at Kawasaki Motors Manufacturing in Lincoln, Nebraska and cars will be delivered to Metro North by Kawaski Railcar in Yonkers, NY. Final touches and warranty work to be done in Yonkers.
The rail line from New York to New Haven was completed by 1849. Commuters started using the trains soon afterward. In the early twentieth century the line was electrified and steam locomotives replaced.[8]
The Great Blizzard of 1888 blocked the rail line in Westport, between the Saugatuck and Greens Farms stations. The snow was dug out by hand, taking eight days to restore the service.[8]
Some fatal train accidents occurred on the line. One occurred in Westport, Connecticut in 1895, and another in that town on October 3, 1912.[8]
| State | Town/City | Milepost | Station | Connections |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York | Manhattan | 0.0 | Grand Central Terminal | NYC Transit 4, 5, 6, 7, Times Square Shuttle, M42, M101, M102, M103, M104 |
| 4.2 | Harlem-125th Street | NYC Transit 4, 5, 6, Buses Bx15, M60, M100, M101 | ||
| Hudson Line splits | ||||
| Melrose and Tremont stations are bypassed | ||||
| Bronx | 8.9 | Fordham Limited |
NYC Transit B, D, Buses Bx9, Bx12, Bx15, Bx17, Bx41, Bx55 Bee-Line: 60, 61, 62, 90 |
|
| Botanical Garden, Williams Bridge, and Woodlawn stations are bypassed | ||||
| Harlem Line splits | ||||
| Mount Vernon | 14.0 | Mount Vernon East | Bee-Line: 7, 40, 41, 42, 53, 54, 55 | |
| Power change from third rail to catenary | ||||
| Pelham | 15.1 | Pelham | Bee-Line: 7 | |
| Line joins Northeast Corridor | ||||
| New Rochelle | 16.6 | New Rochelle | Amtrak Regional Bee-Line: 7, 30, 42, 45, 60, 61, 62, 66 |
|
| Larchmont | 18.7 | Larchmont | Bee-Line: 60, 61, 70, 71 | |
| Mamaroneck | 20.5 | Mamaroneck | Bee-Line: 60, 61 | |
| Harrison | 22.2 | Harrison | Bee-Line: 5, 61 | |
| Rye | 24.1 | Rye | Bee-Line: 61, 75, 76 | |
| Port Chester | 25.7 | Port Chester | Bee-Line: 13, 61, 76 CT Transit Stamford: 11 |
|
| Connecticut | Greenwich | 28.1 | Greenwich | Norwalk Transit: Greenwich Commuter Connection CT Transit Stamford: 11 |
| 29.6 | Cos Cob | |||
| 30.2 | Riverside | |||
| 31.2 | Old Greenwich | CT Transit Stamford: 11, 24 | ||
| Stamford | 33.0 | Stamford | Amtrak Acela Express, Regional and Vermonter Shore Line East CT Transit Stamford: All routes Greyhound |
|
| New Canaan Branch splits | ||||
| Darien | 36.2 | Noroton Heights | CT Transit Stamford: 42 | |
| 37.7 | Darien | CT Transit Stamford: 41, 42 | ||
| Norwalk | 39.2 | Rowayton | ||
| 41.0 | South Norwalk | Norwalk Transit: 10, 11, 12, Commuter Connection | ||
| Danbury Branch splits | ||||
| Norwalk | 42.0 | East Norwalk | Norwalk Transit: 8, 11 | |
| Westport | 44.2 | Westport | Norwalk Transit: Jesup Green shuttle, S2, S3, S4, IL, N, PF | |
| 47.2 | Green's Farms | Norwalk Transit: G1, G2 | ||
| Fairfield | 48.9 | Southport | ||
| 50.5 | Fairfield | GBTA: 2, Coastal Link | ||
| Bridgeport | 55.4 | Bridgeport | Amtrak Regional and Vermonter Shore Line East Coastal Link; GBTA: All routes except 14; Greyhound |
|
| Stratford | 59.0 | Stratford | GBTA: 11 | |
| Waterbury Branch splits | ||||
| Milford | 63.2 | Milford | Milford Transit: 2, 3, 4 CT Transit New Haven: J7; Coastal Link |
|
| New Haven | 72.3 | New Haven-Union Station | Amtrak Acela Express, Regional and Vermonter Shore Line East CT Transit New Haven: Commuter Connection PM dropoff, Temple Street Garage Shuttle, J, S Greyhound |
|
| 74.0 | New Haven-State Street | Shore Line East CT Transit New Haven: Commuter Connection AM pickup, D, F, G, Q, Z |
||
 Bridge over Housatonic River, Bridgeport, ca. 1904 |
- ^ Metro-North's new passenger yard and facilities in New Haven DW Jacobs Retrieved 2007-09-08
- ^ Total monthly ridership State of Connecticut official site Retrieved 2007-09-03
- ^ [1] Pennsylvania Railroad Technical & Historical Society 1969 chronology
- ^ [2] Pennsylvania Railroad Technical & Historical Society 1971 chronology
- ^ [3] Regional Transit Development Strategies Study, Strategies Evaluation Report, April 2005. See page 68 et seq.
- ^ Report & Recommendations of the Connecticut Transportation Strategy Board See page 129
- ^ "$11M set for Metro-North stations in W. Haven, Orange," New Haven Register, August 29, 2006
- ^ a b c Westport Historical Society, interpreteve plaque, Westport Historical Society Museum, Carriage House, read September 30, 2007
- Metro-North Railroad official site
- Amateur photos along the New Haven Line (from a train)
- New Haven line photos (passing it by I-95 highway)
- Fix My Station Photo Campaign
|
|
|
|---|---|
| New York (east of Hudson) | Harlem Line • Hudson Line • Putnam (defunct line) |
| New York (west of Hudson) operated by NJ Transit |
Pascack Valley Line • Port Jervis Line |
| Connecticut Commuter Rail | Main line: New Haven Branches: New Canaan • Danbury • Waterbury |
|
|
|
|---|---|
| CT Transit bus service | Hartford Division • New Haven Division • Stamford Division • Waterbury, Meriden, and Wallingford Divisions • New Britain and Bristol Divisions |
| Other bus agencies | Greater Bridgeport Transit Authority • Housatonic Area Regional Transit • Middletown Area Transit • Milford Transit District • Norwalk Transit District • Southeast Area Transit • Windham Region Transit District |
| Rail lines | New Haven Line (including the New Canaan, Danbury and Waterbury branches) • Shore Line East • New Haven-Springfield Line |
| Other | Connecticut Rail Commuter Council • Connecticut DOT |