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	Bridgeport Waterbury
Stations	6
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)
Number of tracks	1
Track gauge	4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Electrification	None
Route map Torrington Secondary to Winsted 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 Naugatuck River Merritt Parkway New Haven Line to New Haven Devon Transfer Housatonic River Railroad Bridge 59.0 mi 95 km Stratford 55.4 mi 89.2 km Bridgeport New Haven Line 33.0 mi 53.1 km Stamford New Haven Line 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. Currently, riders that want to continue to New Britain and Hartford have to transfer to an express bus operated by CTtransit at Waterbury. 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.^[2] 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.^[2] Some of the 16 grade crossings on the line will be permanently 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.^[3]

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[4]		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: 255 Valley Transit District - Dial-A-Ride
	Ansonia	71.1 (114.4)	1849		CT Transit New Haven: 255
	Seymour	75.0 (120.7)	1849		CT Transit New Haven: 255
	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 CTfastrak: 925, 928

Rolling stock

Waterbury Branch train with depowered SPV-2000 coaches at Waterbury in 2003

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 self-propelled Budd RDC and SPV-2000 railcars, the later of which were later converted to coaches. A typical shuttle consists of three cars.

See also

• Naugatuck Railroad

References

Route map: