.gif)
Darien (Metro-North station)
Encyclopedia
The Darien Metro-North Railroad
station serves the residents of Darien, Connecticut
via the New Haven Line. It is 37.7 miles from Grand Central Terminal
. A small station house is located on the north side of the tracks (New York City
-bound side). The station is wheel-chair accessible, with elevators at the east end, near the Boston Post Road.
The station is located downtown at the intersection of the Post Road (U.S. Route 1
, the town's main thoroughfare) and West Avenue. A small bus-stop shelter is located on the Boston Post Road at the southeast corner of the station (near the New Haven-bound tracks) for buses going along the Post Road into Stamford
. Across the Post Road, buses can be boarded for trips into Norwalk
. In the small parking lot around the station house, a Connecticut Transit Stamford
bus on Bus Route 42 takes passengers along West Avenue and Glenbrook Road into the Glenbrook section of Stamford. Taxis regularly wait for passengers in the small parking lot adjacent to the New Haven-bound tracks. Entrances and exits to Interstate 95 are on Tokeneke Road (Exit 12) and the Boston Post Road (Exit 11).
) is across the street from the Post Road; and the three-story Darien Library (which moved in late 2008 from Leroy Avenue) is a 10–15 minute walk from the station on the Boston Post Road; small office buildings can be found on Thorndale Circle (near the town library), on Tokeneke Road and Old Kings Highway South, just off of Tokeneke Road, a block from the station. On the New York City-bound side of the tracks, a shopping plaza with a supermarket can be found off of Mechanic Street, the roadway across the Post Road from the station. Tilley Pond Park, with park benches, picnic tables and a covered stone gazebo looking out to the pond, is located across West Avenue.
In the 1890s, the railroad tracks were raised above the street level, creating the railroad bridges over the Post Road, which marks the east side of the station, and over Leroy Avenue, at the western end. A Chinese laundry business has been located near the station since the 1890s, operated by various owners.
The historic station building was rehabilitated in 2002. "In general, the station is in good condition with one major exception," according to the January 2007 "Darien Train Station Visual Inspection Report" prepared by the Connecticut Department of Transportation. "Illumination installed under the rehabilitation contract is substandard." The department has reached an agreement with the manufacturer of the lights to replace them.
In recent years the town government of Darien has been collecting parking revenue from the station, which has gone into an improvement fund. As of 2007, the town received revenues of about $100,000 from both stations in Darien.
s, each 10 cars long. The northern platform, adjacent to Track 3, is generally used by westbound or Manhattan
-bound trains. The southern platform, adjacent to Track 4, is generally used by eastbound or outbound trains.
The New Haven Line has four tracks at this location. The two inner tracks, not adjacent to either platform, are used only by express trains.
Metro-North Railroad
The Metro-North Commuter Railroad , trading as MTA Metro-North Railroad, or, more commonly, Metro-North, is a suburban commuter rail service that is run and managed by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority , an authority of New York State. It is the busiest commuter railroad in the United...
station serves the residents of Darien, Connecticut
Darien, Connecticut
Darien is a town in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. A relatively small community on Connecticut's "Gold Coast", the population was 20,732 at the 2010 census. Darien was listed at #9 at CNN Money's list of "top-earning towns" in the United States as of 2011...
via the New Haven Line. It is 37.7 miles from Grand Central Terminal
Grand Central Terminal
Grand Central Terminal —often incorrectly called Grand Central Station, or shortened to simply Grand Central—is a terminal station at 42nd Street and Park Avenue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City, United States...
. A small station house is located on the north side of the tracks (New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
-bound side). The station is wheel-chair accessible, with elevators at the east end, near the Boston Post Road.
The station is located downtown at the intersection of the Post Road (U.S. Route 1
U.S. Route 1 in Connecticut
In the U.S. state of Connecticut, U.S. Route 1 is a major east–west state highway along Long Island Sound. It has been replaced by Interstate 95 as a through route, which it closely parallels, and now primarily serves as a local business route...
, the town's main thoroughfare) and West Avenue. A small bus-stop shelter is located on the Boston Post Road at the southeast corner of the station (near the New Haven-bound tracks) for buses going along the Post Road into Stamford
Stamford, Connecticut
Stamford is a city in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. According to the 2010 census, the population of the city is 122,643, making it the fourth largest city in the state and the eighth largest city in New England...
. Across the Post Road, buses can be boarded for trips into Norwalk
Norwalk, Connecticut
Norwalk is a city in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the population of the city is 85,603, making Norwalk sixth in population in Connecticut, and third in Fairfield County...
. In the small parking lot around the station house, a Connecticut Transit Stamford
Connecticut Transit Stamford
Connecticut Transit Stamford is the division of Connecticut Transit for the Stamford, area. In Stamford it provides service on 18 routes around Stamford, Connecticut, with routes centered around downtown Stamford and providing local bus service to Norwalk, White Plains, New York via the I-Bus, and...
bus on Bus Route 42 takes passengers along West Avenue and Glenbrook Road into the Glenbrook section of Stamford. Taxis regularly wait for passengers in the small parking lot adjacent to the New Haven-bound tracks. Entrances and exits to Interstate 95 are on Tokeneke Road (Exit 12) and the Boston Post Road (Exit 11).
Station parking
Several parking lots on both sides of the tracks serve the station with a total of 860 spaces. The state owns the parking lots nearest the Post Road and on the west (south) side of the tracks between the Post Road and Leroy Avenue (with 195 spaces). The town owns the "Leroy West" parking lot west of Leroy Avenue (toward New York City). The parking lot at the corner of West and Leroy Avenues is privately owned.Within walking distance
The downtown has a typical variety of retail stores and businesses, with drug stores, banks, restaurants and coffee shops within a 10-minute walk of the station, on either side of the tracks. On the New Haven-bound side of the tracks, Tokeneke Road (Connecticut Route 136Connecticut Route 136
Route 136 is a state highway in southwestern Connecticut, running from Darien to Easton. The route was initially established in 1932 to serve the beach communities between Darien and Southport...
) is across the street from the Post Road; and the three-story Darien Library (which moved in late 2008 from Leroy Avenue) is a 10–15 minute walk from the station on the Boston Post Road; small office buildings can be found on Thorndale Circle (near the town library), on Tokeneke Road and Old Kings Highway South, just off of Tokeneke Road, a block from the station. On the New York City-bound side of the tracks, a shopping plaza with a supermarket can be found off of Mechanic Street, the roadway across the Post Road from the station. Tilley Pond Park, with park benches, picnic tables and a covered stone gazebo looking out to the pond, is located across West Avenue.
History
Downtown Darien, originally known as "Darien Depot", grew up around the train station, replacing the Noroton commercial district (2–3 miles to the east, along the Post Road) by the 1870s. By then, the train connection to New York City allowed wealthy New Yorkers to build vacation homes along the shore, beginning Darien's history as a wealthy suburb.In the 1890s, the railroad tracks were raised above the street level, creating the railroad bridges over the Post Road, which marks the east side of the station, and over Leroy Avenue, at the western end. A Chinese laundry business has been located near the station since the 1890s, operated by various owners.
The historic station building was rehabilitated in 2002. "In general, the station is in good condition with one major exception," according to the January 2007 "Darien Train Station Visual Inspection Report" prepared by the Connecticut Department of Transportation. "Illumination installed under the rehabilitation contract is substandard." The department has reached an agreement with the manufacturer of the lights to replace them.
In recent years the town government of Darien has been collecting parking revenue from the station, which has gone into an improvement fund. As of 2007, the town received revenues of about $100,000 from both stations in Darien.
Platform and track configuration
This station has two high-level side platformSide platform
A Side platform is a platform positioned to the side of a pair of tracks at a railway station, a tram stop or a transitway. A pair of side platforms are often provided on a dual track line with a single side platform being sufficient for a single track line...
s, each 10 cars long. The northern platform, adjacent to Track 3, is generally used by westbound or Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
-bound trains. The southern platform, adjacent to Track 4, is generally used by eastbound or outbound trains.
The New Haven Line has four tracks at this location. The two inner tracks, not adjacent to either platform, are used only by express trains.
See also
- Connecticut Rail Commuter CouncilConnecticut Rail Commuter CouncilThe Connecticut Rail Commuter Council is an independent state board that acts as an advocate for commuters on the Metro-North and Shore Line East railroads....
is the official state advocate for commuters and brings station problems to the attention of officials.