Union Station (New Haven, Connecticut)

New Haven Amtrak inter-city rail station Metro-North New Haven Line commuter rail station Shore Line East commuter rail station
Station statistics
Address	50 Union Avenue New Haven, CT 06519
Coordinates	41°17′51″N 72°55′36″W / 41.297532°N 72.926559°W / 41.297532; -72.926559
Lines	Amtrak:   Acela Express   Northeast Regional   New Haven – Springfield Shuttle   Vermonter ConnDOT:   Shore Line East   New Haven – Hartford – Springfield Rail proposed Metro-North:   New Haven Line
Connections	CTTransit: J, New Haven Commuter Connection – Downtown, Sargent Drive, Temple Street – Union Station Shuttle Greyhound: Megabus:M51 Yale Shuttle:Red Line
Levels	5 (Four-story station building and basement with tunnel connecting tracks)
Platforms	4 island platforms
Tracks	9
Parking	The Union Station parking garage offers 24-hour parking at a rate of $1 per hour or $11 for 24 hours. Additional station parking is located downtown and connected to Union Station via free shuttle. Street parking is also available.
Bicycle facilities	Yes
Baggage check	Yes
Other information
Opened	1920
Rebuilt	1985
Electrified	12,500V (AC) overhead catenary
Accessible
Code	NHV (Amtrak) ZVE (IATA)
Owned by	Owned by Connecticut Department of Transportation; Operated by New Haven Parking Authority
Traffic
Passengers (2007)	1.821 million (Metro-North)
Passengers (2010)	723,287[1]  9.3% (Amtrak)
Services
Preceding station   Amtrak   Following station Stamford toward Washington, D.C. Acela Express New London toward Boston South Station Bridgeport toward Newport News or Lynchburg Northeast Regional Wallingford toward Springfield Old Saybrook toward Boston South Station Terminus New Haven – Springfield Shuttle Wallingford toward Springfield Bridgeport toward Washington, D.C. Vermonter Wallingford toward St. Albans CDOT Milford toward Stamford Shore Line East New Haven – State Street toward New London     Proposed     Terminus New Haven – Hartford – Springfield Rail New Haven – State Street toward Springfield Metro-North Railroad Milford toward Grand Central New Haven Line New Haven – State Street Terminus
New Haven Railroad Station U.S. National Register of Historic Places Location: Union Avenue, New Haven, Connecticut, USA Coordinates: 41°17′51″N 72°55′37″W / 41.2975°N 72.92694°W / 41.2975; -72.92694Coordinates: 41°17′51″N 72°55′37″W / 41.2975°N 72.92694°W / 41.2975; -72.92694 Area: 1 acre (0.4 ha) Built: 1920 Architect: Cass Gilbert[3] Architectural style: Late 19th and 20th Century Revivals, Second Renaissance Revival Governing body: State NRHP Reference#: 75001941[2] Added to NRHP: September 3, 1975

Union Station, also known as New Haven Railroad Station, is the main railroad passenger station in New Haven, Connecticut. Designed by noted American architect Cass Gilbert, the beaux-arts Union Station was completed and opened in 1920 after the previous Union Station (which was located at the foot of Meadow Street, near the site of the current Union Station parking garage) was destroyed by fire.^[4] It served the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad until it fell into decline, along with the rest of the railroad industry in North America after World War II. It was shuttered in 1972, leaving only the under-track 'subway' open for passengers, and listed on the National Register of Historic Places on September 3, 1975,^[2] but it was almost demolished before the Northeast Corridor Improvement Project came to the rescue in 1979. Reopened after extensive renovations in early 1985, it is now the premier gateway to the city.

The property is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as New Haven Railroad Station. Its significance is partly as an example of the work of Cass Gilbert, who also designed the Woolworth Building in New York and the U.S. Supreme Court Building.^[5]

The handsomely restored building features interior limestone walls, ornate ceilings, chandeliers and striking stainless steel ceilings in the tunnels to the trains. The waiting room is thirty-five feet high, and is a warm atmosphere filled with train-riders. As public transportation expert James G. Clark once noted, "To enter New Haven is to have arrived."

Current service

Amtrak

Amtrak trains at New Haven

Amtrak runs frequent service through Union Station along the electrified Northeast Corridor rail line. Most Amtrak trains are Northeast Regional trains or Acela Express trains operating between Washington, D.C. and Boston.

Shuttle trains to Springfield, Massachusetts connect with some Northeast Regional trains; other Northeast Regionals run through to Springfield from New York or vice versa. These through trains must change locomotives at New Haven, as the track north to Springfield is not electrified, unlike the Northeast Corridor. The locomotive change is usually from an AEM-7AC in the electrified territory to a P42DC for the Springfield line non-electrified territory, or vice versa.

Additionally, the Vermonter provides through service from Washington, D.C. beyond Springfield to St. Albans, Vermont. At New Haven, the Vermonter has P42DC diesel-electric locomotives added to both ends of the train. This is mainly because the trains must reverse direction at Palmer, MA to continue north to Vermont. As the Shuttles and Keystones take up most of the cab cars, two locomotives are used.

Amtrak operates a yard on the west side of the tracks, next to the station building.

Because of Continental Airlines code sharing on select Amtrak trains between Union Station and its hub at Newark Liberty International Airport in the New York City area, Union Station is assigned the IATA airport code of ZVE.

Amtrak ridership

New Haven Union Station is the busiest Amtrak station in Connecticut. The station is the twelfth busiest Amtrak station in the country, boarding or detraining nearly two thousand passengers daily.^[1]

Metro-North

Metro-North Railroad operates its New Haven Line from Union Station, to Grand Central Terminal in New York City. The service is well patronized by commuters, despite the travel time of nearly two hours. Shore Line East and Metro-North work together on schedules to provide quick transfers of trains for commuters traveling from the Shoreline to Grand Central Terminal or Stamford.

Metro-North operates a large train yard in New Haven on the east side of the tracks, opposite Amtrak's yard. Work is done here, as well as the storing of train cars and locomotives. It is not uncommon to find trains from the Waterbury Branch being stored in New Haven between schedules. The consist usually is made up of one BL20-GH locomotive as well as three Shoreliner passenger cars.^[6] Smaller yards are located in Bridgeport and Stamford.

A select amount of trains head two minutes east by downtown New Haven into State Street Station for most commuters' convenience.

New Jersey Transit

New Jersey Transit train consists allow Connecticut train riders to be able to ride a one-seat train towards Secaucus for football games. This is an exclusive service that started at the beginning of the 2009–2010 football season and was continued for the 2010–2011 season. This is simply an extended version of New Jersey Transit's Northeast Corridor Line, as the trains terminate at New Haven. The train consists of an ALP-46 locomotive as well as double-decker passenger cars. The service is operated by Metro-North from Union Station (New Haven) to Penn Station and by New Jersey Transit from Penn Station through Secaucus Junction, where transfer to the Meadowlands Rail Line is available.

Shore Line East

Shore Line East is a commuter rail service owned by the Connecticut Department of Transportation and operated by Amtrak designed to serve residents living east of New Haven along the coast of Connecticut who work in New Haven, Stamford, or New York. Shore Line East trains run primarily inbound from Old Saybrook, Connecticut in the morning, and primarily outbound in the evening, with a few runs continuing to New London, Connecticut.

Shore Line East trains are also primarily stored at night within the Metro-North train yard. Shore Line East consists can usually be found idling between platforms at New Haven.

CTTransit Buses

CTTransit's New Haven Division provides bus service to the station on two routes. One is a free shuttle that connects Union Station to downtown and the New Haven Green for connection to the remainder of the CTTransit New Haven routes. The J Kimberly Avenue route to Savin Rock and Milford also serves the station.

Station Services

Union Station offers a magazine store that sells quick necessities, there is an AVIS car-rental outlet and restaurants that include Dunkin' Donuts and Subway and parking is available at the station through garages owned by the New Haven Parking Authority.

Free wireless Internet access is available on laptops, on Android and BlackBerry enable devices and on iPad(s), iPhone(s) and iPod Touch devices throughout the station via the AmtrakConnect Wi-Fi connect service. This service extends onboard Acela Express trains operating between New Haven, Boston, New York City and Washington D.C.

Future Use

New Service

The states of Connecticut and Massachusetts are considering establishing the New Haven – Hartford – Springfield Commuter Rail Line from New Haven to Springfield on the current Amtrak line, with a shuttle bus connection in Windsor Locks for Bradley International Airport.^[7]

Projects

There have been many plans for new renovations and additions to be taking place at Union Station.

The Connecticut Department of Transportation plans to replace the mechanical split-flap display departure board made by Solari di Udine with two LCD display boards that will allow more text for messages as well as more-clear viewing and easier maintenance. The two new departure boards will be very similar to the boards in Grand Central Terminal.

New Haven Union Station departure board

This is part of a five million dollar project to replace the board, as well as other things such as upgrading to a better announcement sound-system, replacing the tile in the tunnel connecting platforms, and adding departure LED screens on platforms and in the station tunnel.

There has been much controversy over a large three-phase project that is due at Union Station. The plan calls for new parking garages, office space, more space in Union Station to be opened for retail and restaurants, and apartments. Currently, the plan has had some problems, as there are not enough funds for this project to take place.

Currently a complete renovation of the New Haven rail yard is being planned in conjunction will the new M8 rail cars that have been purchased. Back in October O&G Industries of Torrington placed a bid for $124.8 million to build a new 293,000-square-foot (27,200 m²) maintenance facility. The contract was then awarded on December 11, 2009. Start Date was January 25, 2010. This will be the main repair shop for the electric multiple unit cars, with 13 car spots on three tracks, overhead cranes and floor lifts to allow easy removal of major car components, and a DC Power system. The new facility will also include support shops to store, repair and maintain the major components, with a parts storage area. There will be a second floor which will contain offices and amenities/facilities for Metro-North employees. The upper floors will also contain a training center with simulators a security center and offices for DOT employees and MTA Police officers.

The Estimated construction program cost is $195,000,000.

• Federal FTA Grants $94,500,00
• State Match to Federal Grant $23,625,000
• Federal ARRA Grant $29,927,641
• State Funding $47,000,000

The total project scope includes:

• M-8 Acceptance Facility -> Construction Complete
• EMU and CSR Shop Improvements -> Completion scheduled for April 2010
• Component Change-Out Facility -> Construction started January 25, 2010, Construction scheduled for completion October 11, 2012 and be fully Operational by the spring of 2013
• Diesel Storage Yard -> Bid Opening Held January 6, 2010. Award was scheduled for March 2010.
• Renovation of the EMU annex for Maintenance of Way
• Stores Building Demolition
• Running Repair shop upgrades
• West End Yard
• EMU/Program Shop Upgrades
• East End Yard
• Main Line Signal System Modification
• Employee Parking
• Purchase and Fit Out Off Site Warehouse
• Independent Wheel Truing Facility
• Fuel Cells for CCO Facility
• Pedestrian Bridge
• Yard Signal System
• Conversion CSR Shop to Paint and Heavy Repair Shop
• Rail Car Wash Facility
• Final Track Completion

Layout of station

Union Station is four stories tall with five floors in total. The waiting room, main concourse, is filled with wooden benches that hold model New Haven Railroad trains. Ticket booths for all trains are located on one side of the room (as well as ticket machines). On the other side of the room, there is an automated teller machine, Subway, Dunkin' Donuts, and Union News (magazine store).

Front of station

At Union Station's main entrance, a lane is before Union Avenue. Taxis line the lane waiting to take passengers, along with a city bus stop, and room for cars to drive through to conveniently drop people off in front of the station without disrupting Union Avenue traffic. Parking is allowed opposite of the taxis as long as the car only remains there for five to ten minutes.

West End

Elevators are located at the West End of Union Station that can bring people to other levels, including the balcony that surround the main concourse. A Greyhound bus station is located here, with a small waiting room, office, and outdoor bus stop. The Amtrak Station Office is also located at the West End.

East End

The East End of Union Station hosts many things. At the far end, a door leads to the main parking garage directly next door to the station. An automated teller machine is located around here, too. Vending machines are located here, as well as restrooms, MTA Police, and MTA/Amtrak offices. The stairs, escalators, and elevators, as well as the departure board, are located on the Eastern side as well.

Upper Levels

A balcony surrounds the main concourse that will probably be used as restaurant space in the near future. Office space is located on the third and fourth floors.

Lower Level

The lower level hosts office space, as well as Amtrak Police, Sbarro, an auxiliary Dunkin' Donuts, and the tunnel to platforms.

Platform and track configuration

Tunnel connecting platforms to station building

This station has four high-level island platforms, each nine cars long. All platforms are used for service in either direction.

The New Haven Line has nine tracks at the station. The northern platform is adjacent to Tracks 1 and 3. The second platform from the north is adjacent to Tracks 2 and 4. The second platform from the south is adjacent to Tracks 8 and 10. The southern platform is adjacent to Tracks 12 and 14. Track 6, not adjacent to any platform in the center of the station, is used only by through trains or idling Shore Line East consists. Tracks 5, 7, 9, 11 and 13 don't exist.

All tracks are connected by the stainless-steel tunnel with elevators and staircases leading onto the platforms, as well as escalators, a staircase, and an elevator leading to the tunnel itself.

Gallery

• 

  Amtrak locomotives at New Haven

• 

  Union Station platform in the Evening

• 

  Two Metro-North Railroad commuter trains at Union Station

• 

  Connecticut Department of Transportation and MTA trains at New Haven

• 

  An Acela Express at Union Station

• 

  Shore Line East consists at New Haven

• 

  Main waiting room

See also

• Connecticut Rail Commuter Council is the official state advocate for train commuters and brings station problems to the attention of officials.

References

1. ^ ^{a b} "Amtrak Fact Sheet, FY2010, State of Connecticut" (PDF). Amtrak. November 2010. http://www.amtrak.com/pdf/factsheets/CONNECTICUT10.pdf. Retrieved 2011-01-06. 
2. ^ ^{a b} "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. 2009-03-13. http://nrhp.focus.nps.gov/natreg/docs/All_Data.html. 
3. ^ New Haven County Listings – National Register of Historic Places
4. ^ http://tylercitystation.info/id6.html
5. ^ Stephen J. Raiche (May 5, 1975). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination: New Haven Railroad Station / Union Station". National Park Service. http://pdfhost.focus.nps.gov/docs/NRHP/Text/75001941.pdf.  and Accompanying three photos, exterior and interior, from 1975
6. ^ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waterbury_Branch
7. ^ Stacom, Don (January 31, 2010). "After Feds Put Connecticut Rail Plan On Slow Track, State Will Seek More Funds". The Hartford Courant. http://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-rail-money-puzzle-0131.artjan30,0,5617970.story. Retrieved 2011-07-16. 

External links

• Amtrak – Stations – New Haven Union Station
• Metro-North Railroad – New Haven-Union Station
• List of upcoming Metro-North train arrival and departure times and track assignments from MTA
• Shore Line East – Union Station, New Haven
• New Haven Amtrak Station (USA Rail Guide – Train Web)
• Photo collection of New Haven Union Station and Solari Departure Board
• The Subway Nut – New Haven Union Station
• One Seat Ticket to Football Games
• New Haven Independent article on the Solari departure board replacement
• The Three-Phase Union Station Plan
• More on the Union Station Plan
• Station Building from Union Avenue from Google Maps Street View