Waterbury Branch

The Waterbury Branch is a branch of the Metro-North Railroad 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 morning peak train that operates from Waterbury to Stamford, all trains on this branch operate as shuttles between Waterbury and Bridgeport.

Waterbury Branch
Metro-North FP10 No. 413 in Bridgeport pulling Train 1926 in 2005.
Overview
StatusOperational
OwnerNaugatuck Railroad (1849–1887)
NYNH&H (1887–1969)
Penn Central (1969–1971)
ConnDOT (1971–present)
LocaleNaugatuck River Valley of Connecticut, USA
TerminiBridgeport
Waterbury
Stations6
Service
TypeCommuter rail
SystemMetro-North Railroad
Operator(s)Penn Central (1969–1976)
Conrail (1976–1983)
Metro-North Railroad (1983–present)
Rolling stockGE Genesis P32AC-DM
Brookville BL20GH
Shoreliner coaches
History
Opened1849
Technical
Line length28.5 mi (45.87 km)
Number of tracks1
CharacterSingle track, diesel motive power
Track gauge4 ft 8 12 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
ElectrificationNone
Route map

87.5 mi
140.8 km
Waterbury
82.5 mi
132.8 km
Naugatuck
78.5 mi
126.3 km
Beacon Falls
75.0 mi
120.7 km
Seymour
71.1 mi
114.4 km
Ansonia
69.5 mi
111.8 km
Derby–Shelton
Zone 51
Zone 20
Devon Transfer (closed)
Housatonic River
Railroad Bridge
59.0 mi
95 km
Stratford
Zone 20
Zone 19
55.4 mi
89.2 km
Bridgeport
New Haven intermediate stops
Zone 19
Zone 16
33.0 mi
53.1 km
Stamford
Distances shown from Grand Central Terminal

For most of its route, the branch runs parallel to the Housatonic River, viewable on the left side northbound and the right side southbound.

History

In 1906, work on double-tracking the branch between Seymour and Waterbury was underway.[1]

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.[2] The upgrades include a new signal system with multiple passing sidings to increase service, newer equipment, and station rehabilitation.[3] 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.[3] 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 is schedule to be completed in November 2020 and will cost $73 million.

Stations

The following connecting services are available to Amtrak,[4] Metro-North Railroad,[5] Shore Line East,[6] CTtransit,[7] and Greater Bridgeport Transit Authority.[8]

Zone Location Station Miles (km)
from GCT
Date
opened
Date
closed
Connections / notes
16 Stamford Stamford 33.0 (53.1) 1849 Metro-North Railroad: New Haven Line
Amtrak: Acela, Northeast Regional, Vermonter
Metro-North Railroad: New Canaan Branch
CTrail: Shore Line East (limited service)
CTtransit Stamford: 311, 312, 313, 321, 322, 323, 331, 332, 333, 334, 341, 342, 343, 344, I-BUS Express,
Stamford Commuter Shuttle, Bulls Head, North, Route 1 East[7]
Greyhound Lines, Peter Pan Bus Lines, UConn Stamford Shuttle
Limited service station
19 Bridgeport Bridgeport 55.4 (89.2) 1840[9] Metro-North Railroad: New Haven Line
Amtrak: Northeast Regional, Vermonter
CTrail: 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[8]
Greyhound Lines, Peter Pan Bus Lines
Bridgeport & Port Jefferson Ferry
Sacred Heart University Transit Shuttle, University of Bridgeport Shuttle
20 Stratford Stratford 59.0 (95.0) Metro-North Railroad: New Haven Line
CTrail: Shore Line East (limited service)
Greater Bridgeport Transit: 1, 10, 16, 23, Coastal Link[8]
51 Derby Derby–Shelton 69.5 (111.8) 1849 Greater Bridgeport Transit: 15, 23
CTtransit New Haven: 255
Ansonia Ansonia 71.1 (114.4) 1849 CTtransit New Haven: 255
Seymour Seymour 75.0 (120.7) 1849 CTtransit New Haven: 255
Beacon Falls Beacon Falls 78.5 (126.3) 1849
Naugatuck Naugatuck 78.5 (126.3) 1849 CTtransit Waterbury: N1, N2, T74
Waterbury Waterbury 87.5 (140.8) 1849 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

References

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