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Fairfield (Metro-North station)
Encyclopedia
The Fairfield Metro-North
station is the main train station in Fairfield, Connecticut
, serving commuters, students of Fairfield University
and Fairfield Prep, and casual travelers via the New Haven Line. It is one of three stations in the town; the others being Southport
and the yet-to-be-opened Fairfield Metro Center
. The station is the transfer point for the Fairfield University
Shuttle.
It is 50.5 miles from Grand Central Terminal
, and the average travel time to New York City
is one hour, 14 minutes on the express trains.
The station has 1,216 parking spaces, 376 owned by the state and operated by the town. Almost all of the parking is located on the east side of the station.
Both the east-bound and west-bound station buildings are listed on the National Register of Historic Places
as Fairfield Railroad Stations.
The west-bound station, on the other hand, "stands as an excellent example of the New Haven Railroad's 1890s passenger facilities" reflecting changed priorities. It is a wooden structure.
The stations as a pair were listed on the National Register of Historic Places
in 1989.
According to the 1988 NRHP application:
The 0.7 acre (0.2832802 ha) listed area was defined to include the two stations and their immediate surroundings, but to exclude a passenger cross-over and stairway, and to exclude associated parking areas.
The busy Unquowa Road overpass crosses the northern end of the station. In order to cross from one platform to another, passengers must climb a staircase to this overpass and walk on the road's sidewalk across the tracks. Then, they must descend another staircase on the other side.
This station has two high-level side platform
s, each six 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 except when track 3 or 4 is closed for maintenance.
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 is the main train station in Fairfield, Connecticut
Fairfield, Connecticut
Fairfield is a town located in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. It is bordered by the towns of Bridgeport, Trumbull, Easton, Redding and Westport along the Gold Coast of Connecticut. As of the 2010 census, the town had a population of 59,404...
, serving commuters, students of Fairfield University
Fairfield University
Fairfield University is a private, co-educational undergraduate and master's level teaching-oriented university located in Fairfield, Connecticut, in the New England region of the United States. It was founded by the Society of Jesus in 1942, and today is one of 28 member institutions of the...
and Fairfield Prep, and casual travelers via the New Haven Line. It is one of three stations in the town; the others being Southport
Southport (Metro-North station)
The Southport Metro-North Railroad station is one of two New Haven Line stations serving the residents of Fairfield, Connecticut.Southport is 48.9 miles from Grand Central Terminal and the average travel time from Grand Central is one hour, 12 minutes though this varies depending on run and time of...
and the yet-to-be-opened Fairfield Metro Center
Fairfield Metro Center
Fairfield Metro is a planned commercial development and regional commuter rail station situated on in the town of Fairfield, Connecticut. At present, the station is scheduled to open on December 5, 2011.-Name:...
. The station is the transfer point for the Fairfield University
Fairfield University
Fairfield University is a private, co-educational undergraduate and master's level teaching-oriented university located in Fairfield, Connecticut, in the New England region of the United States. It was founded by the Society of Jesus in 1942, and today is one of 28 member institutions of the...
Shuttle.
It is 50.5 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...
, and the average travel time to 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...
is one hour, 14 minutes on the express trains.
The station has 1,216 parking spaces, 376 owned by the state and operated by the town. Almost all of the parking is located on the east side of the station.
Both the east-bound and west-bound station buildings are listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
as Fairfield Railroad Stations.
Station buildings
The east-bound station, is brick and was built in 1882. It replaced a station burned by a fire, and "is typical of the substantial brick stations built at small-town stops throughout the state in the period. Whereas earlier stations had been small wood-frame buildings, often in a picturesque Gothic or Italianate style, the stations of the 1880s were brick" to be fire-resistant and were larger to accommodate larger waiting areas and other amenities. They were "well-built but utilitarian" structures.The west-bound station, on the other hand, "stands as an excellent example of the New Haven Railroad's 1890s passenger facilities" reflecting changed priorities. It is a wooden structure.
The stations as a pair were listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1989.
According to the 1988 NRHP application:
The Fairfield railway stations are significant as reminders of the important role of railroad passenger service in the historical development of Fairfield, as artifacts of the New Haven Railroad, a company that virtually monopolized the state's public transportation at the end of the 19th century, and as well-preserved examples of small-town station architecture.
The 0.7 acre (0.2832802 ha) listed area was defined to include the two stations and their immediate surroundings, but to exclude a passenger cross-over and stairway, and to exclude associated parking areas.
Platform and track configuration
The main station house is wooden and on the eastern platform. It contained a ticket window that was closed July 7th 2010. All tickets must now be purchased from vending machines adjacent to the platforms. Southbound trains stop on this side of the station. The station house on the west side is made of brick and entirely filled with businesses, including the Nauti Dolphin Pizza restaurant and the Fairfield Cab Company. Northbound trains stop at this side of the station.The busy Unquowa Road overpass crosses the northern end of the station. In order to cross from one platform to another, passengers must climb a staircase to this overpass and walk on the road's sidewalk across the tracks. Then, they must descend another staircase on the other side.
This station has two high-level side platform
Side 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 six 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 except when track 3 or 4 is closed for maintenance.
See also
- Southport stationSouthport (Metro-North station)The Southport Metro-North Railroad station is one of two New Haven Line stations serving the residents of Fairfield, Connecticut.Southport is 48.9 miles from Grand Central Terminal and the average travel time from Grand Central is one hour, 12 minutes though this varies depending on run and time of...
, Fairfield's other train station. - Fairfield Metro CenterFairfield Metro CenterFairfield Metro is a planned commercial development and regional commuter rail station situated on in the town of Fairfield, Connecticut. At present, the station is scheduled to open on December 5, 2011.-Name:...
, a third station scheduled to open in November 2011. - 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 train commuters and brings station problems to the attention of officials.
External links
- Metro-North Railroad - Fairfield
- List of upcoming train departure times and track assignments from MTA
- Fairfield University Shuttle Schedule
- Bureau of Public Transportation of the Connecticut Department of Transportation, "Condition Inspection for the Fairfield Station" report dated July 2002
- Station House and Station from Google Maps Street View