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New London (Amtrak station)
Encyclopedia
New London Union Station is an historic regional rail
station located in New London, Connecticut
, United States. It is served by both Amtrak
and the Connecticut Department of Transportation
's Shore Line East
. Located on the Northeast Corridor
, the busiest railway in the United States, Union Station is the primary station in southeastern Connecticut and sees more rail service than Old Saybrook
and Mystic
to its west and east, respectively. Most Northeast Regional Amtrak trains stop, as do select Acela Express
trains. Along with this long-distance service, Shore Line East operates limited local service to New London; it thus serves as the eastern terminus of commuter rail service in Connecticut. Greyhound
bus services are also available at the station.
Of the twelve Connecticut stations served by Amtrak, New London was the fourth busiest in FY2010, boarding or detraining an average of nearly 450 passengers daily.
. This was the last of many railroad stations design by Richardson before his death in 1887, though numerous others (including Boston's South Station) were designed by his students. Union Station is particularly large for a Richardson train station and stands out as the only station not built in the style of Trinity Church in Boston. The station building features many of Richardson's characteristic motifs, including its multi-faceted roof, prominent arched entrance, and elegant brickwork.
New London has a similar track layout to the nearest station to the west, Old Saybrook
. There is one island platform
and one side platform
, both of which are high level for handicapped accessibility and to accommodate the Acela Express, which requires high platforms in order to serve a station. The station, built in 1889, was originally built for the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad
and Central Vermont Railroad; the two railroads met at the station, hence the title of 'Union Station'. It has been on the National Register of Historic Places
since 1971.
. By using a combination of the Shore Line East
, Metro-North
, New Jersey Transit
, and SEPTA Regional Rail
, it is possible to travel all the way to Newark, Delaware
, a distance of 258.31 miles (415.7 km). It is necessary, however, to use the NYC Subway
, take a cab, or walk to NJ Transit service at New York City's Penn Station
from Metro-North service at Grand Central Terminal
.
This is necessitated by the fact that the Metro-North deviates from the Northeast Corridor, providing service to Grand Central and eastern Midtown Manhattan
. The Northeast Corridor leaves Penn Station through the East River Tunnels
used (though not owned) by the Long Island Railroad, then finds its way through Long Island City
and Astoria
in Queens
, over Wards and Randall's Island
s and through the South Bronx
. The Metro-North's New Haven Line rejoins the Northeast Corridor between its Pelham
and New Rochelle
stations in Westchester County
.
Game-day service to the Meadowlands
Sports Complex links Metro-North to Penn Station (bypassing Grand Central via the Northeast Corridor). It began in September 2009, allowing the full trip, albeit with a great deal of planning ahead of time. Service is currently provided on game days only.
After the East Side Access
project opens in 2016, a commuter-rail only connection through New York City will be made possible by detouring on the Long Island Rail Road
from Grand Central east onto Long Island
, then returning on a different train to Penn Station.
On a related note, the Maryland Transit Administration
has made steps to extend its Penn Line
from Perryville, Maryland
to Newark, Delaware, which would allow a continuous journey from Fredericksburg, Virginia
to New London. The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority
has also begun extending service beyond Providence, Rhode Island
to Wickford Junction
in North Kingstown, Rhode Island
, though no serious talks have begun on linking the MBTA and Shore Line East
. Such a venture, coupled with other planned service, would provide a very slow journey all the way from Virginia to New Hampshire, traveling through ten states and the District of Columbia.
Regional rail
Commuter rail, also called suburban rail, is a passenger rail transport service that primarily operates between a city center, and the middle to outer suburbs beyond 15km and commuter towns or other locations that draw large numbers of commuters—people who travel on a daily basis...
station located in New London, Connecticut
New London, Connecticut
New London is a seaport city and a port of entry on the northeast coast of the United States.It is located at the mouth of the Thames River in New London County, southeastern Connecticut....
, United States. It is served by both Amtrak
Amtrak
The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union...
and the Connecticut Department of Transportation
Connecticut Department of Transportation
The Connecticut Department of Transportation is responsible for the development and operation of highways, railroads, mass transit systems, ports, waterways and aviation facilities in the U.S. state of Connecticut. The current Commissioner of ConnDOT is Jeffrey Parker...
's Shore Line East
Shore Line East
Shore Line East is a commuter rail service operating in southern Connecticut, USA. A fully owned subsidiary of the Connecticut Department of Transportation , SLE provides service seven days a week along the Northeast Corridor from New London west to New Haven, with continuing service to Bridgeport...
. Located on the Northeast Corridor
Northeast Corridor
The Northeast Corridor is a fully electrified railway line owned primarily by Amtrak serving the Northeast megalopolis of the United States from Boston in the north, via New York to Washington, D.C. in the south, with branches serving other cities...
, the busiest railway in the United States, Union Station is the primary station in southeastern Connecticut and sees more rail service than Old Saybrook
Old Saybrook (Amtrak station)
Old Saybrook is a regional rail station located in Old Saybrook, Connecticut. It is served by both Amtrak regional rail and the Connecticut Department of Transportation's Shore Line East commuter service.- Service :...
and Mystic
Mystic (Amtrak station)
Mystic Depot is a train station in Mystic, Connecticut. It is located on 2 Roosevelt Avenue and is served by Amtrak's Northeast Regional train. The station was originally built in 1905 by the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad...
to its west and east, respectively. Most Northeast Regional Amtrak trains stop, as do select Acela Express
Acela Express
The Acela Express is Amtrak's high-speed rail service along the Northeast Corridor in the Northeast United States between Washington, D.C., and Boston via Baltimore, Philadelphia, and New York...
trains. Along with this long-distance service, Shore Line East operates limited local service to New London; it thus serves as the eastern terminus of commuter rail service in Connecticut. Greyhound
Greyhound
The Greyhound is a breed of sighthound that has been primarily bred for coursing game and racing, and the breed has also recently seen a resurgence in its popularity as a pedigree show dog and family pet. It is a gentle and intelligent breed...
bus services are also available at the station.
Of the twelve Connecticut stations served by Amtrak, New London was the fourth busiest in FY2010, boarding or detraining an average of nearly 450 passengers daily.
Design
Union Station was designed in 1885 by noted American architect Henry Hobson RichardsonHenry Hobson Richardson
Henry Hobson Richardson was a prominent American architect who designed buildings in Albany, Boston, Buffalo, Chicago, Pittsburgh, and other cities. The style he popularized is named for him: Richardsonian Romanesque...
. This was the last of many railroad stations design by Richardson before his death in 1887, though numerous others (including Boston's South Station) were designed by his students. Union Station is particularly large for a Richardson train station and stands out as the only station not built in the style of Trinity Church in Boston. The station building features many of Richardson's characteristic motifs, including its multi-faceted roof, prominent arched entrance, and elegant brickwork.
Old Saybrook (Amtrak station)
Old Saybrook is a regional rail station located in Old Saybrook, Connecticut. It is served by both Amtrak regional rail and the Connecticut Department of Transportation's Shore Line East commuter service.- Service :...
. There is one island platform
Island platform
An island platform is a station layout arrangement where a single platform is positioned between two tracks within a railway station, tram stop or transitway interchange...
and one 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...
, both of which are high level for handicapped accessibility and to accommodate the Acela Express, which requires high platforms in order to serve a station. The station, built in 1889, was originally built for the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad
New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad
The New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad , was a railroad that operated in the northeast United States from 1872 to 1968 which served the states of Connecticut, New York, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts...
and Central Vermont Railroad; the two railroads met at the station, hence the title of 'Union Station'. It has been 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...
since 1971.
Longest (Almost) Continuous Trip on Commuter Rail
New London Union Station is the northern terminus of the longest nearly-continuous trip by commuter rail in the Northeast CorridorNortheast Corridor
The Northeast Corridor is a fully electrified railway line owned primarily by Amtrak serving the Northeast megalopolis of the United States from Boston in the north, via New York to Washington, D.C. in the south, with branches serving other cities...
. By using a combination of the Shore Line East
Shore Line East
Shore Line East is a commuter rail service operating in southern Connecticut, USA. A fully owned subsidiary of the Connecticut Department of Transportation , SLE provides service seven days a week along the Northeast Corridor from New London west to New Haven, with continuing service to Bridgeport...
, Metro-North
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...
, New Jersey Transit
New Jersey Transit
The New Jersey Transit Corporation is a statewide public transportation system serving the United States state of New Jersey, and New York, Orange, and Rockland counties in New York State...
, and SEPTA Regional Rail
SEPTA Regional Rail
The SEPTA Regional Rail system consists of commuter rail service on thirteen branches to over 150 active stations in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States and its suburbs. Service on most lines runs from 5:30 AM to midnight...
, it is possible to travel all the way to Newark, Delaware
Newark, Delaware
Newark is an American city in New Castle County, Delaware, west-southwest of Wilmington. According to the 2010 Census, the population of the city is 31,454. Newark is the home of the University of Delaware.- History :...
, a distance of 258.31 miles (415.7 km). It is necessary, however, to use the NYC Subway
New York City Subway
The New York City Subway is a rapid transit system owned by the City of New York and leased to the New York City Transit Authority, a subsidiary agency of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and also known as MTA New York City Transit...
, take a cab, or walk to NJ Transit service at New York City's Penn Station
Pennsylvania Station (New York City)
Pennsylvania Station—commonly known as Penn Station—is the major intercity train station and a major commuter rail hub in New York City. It is one of the busiest rail stations in the world, and a hub for inbound and outbound railroad traffic in New York City. The New York City Subway system also...
from Metro-North service at 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...
.
This is necessitated by the fact that the Metro-North deviates from the Northeast Corridor, providing service to Grand Central and eastern Midtown Manhattan
Midtown Manhattan
Midtown Manhattan, or simply Midtown, is an area of Manhattan, New York City home to world-famous commercial zones such as Rockefeller Center, Broadway, and Times Square...
. The Northeast Corridor leaves Penn Station through the East River Tunnels
East River Tunnels
The East River Tunnels are 4 single-track railroad tunnels that extend from the eastern end of Pennsylvania Station under 32nd and 33rd Streets in Manhattan and cross the East River to Long Island City in Queens. The tracks carry Long Island Rail Road and Amtrak trains travelling to and from Penn...
used (though not owned) by the Long Island Railroad, then finds its way through Long Island City
Long Island City, Queens
Long Island City is the westernmost neighborhood of the borough of Queens in New York City. L.I.C. is notable for its rapid and ongoing gentrification, its waterfront parks, and its thriving arts community. L.I.C. has among the highest concentration of art galleries, art institutions, and studio...
and Astoria
Astoria, Queens
Astoria is a neighborhood in the northwestern corner of the borough of Queens in New York City. Located in Community Board 1, Astoria is bounded by the East River and is adjacent to three other Queens neighborhoods: Long Island City, Sunnyside , and Woodside...
in Queens
Queens
Queens is the easternmost of the five boroughs of New York City. The largest borough in area and the second-largest in population, it is coextensive with Queens County, an administrative division of New York state, in the United States....
, over Wards and Randall's Island
Randall's Island
Randall's Island is situated in the East River in New York City, part of the borough of Manhattan. It is separated from Manhattan island on the west by the river's main channel, from Queens on the east by the Hell Gate, and from the Bronx on the north by the Bronx Kill. It is joined to Wards...
s and through the South Bronx
South Bronx
The South Bronx is an area of the New York City borough of The Bronx. The neighborhoods of Tremont, University Heights, Highbridge, Morrisania, Soundview, Hunts Point, and Castle Hill are sometimes considered part of the South Bronx....
. The Metro-North's New Haven Line rejoins the Northeast Corridor between its Pelham
Pelham (Metro-North station)
The Pelham Metro-North Railroad station serves passengers who wish to travel to or from Pelham, New York, via the New Haven Line. The station is one mile west of the point where the New Haven Line joins the Northeast Corridor and just east of the end of third rail power and start of overhead...
and New Rochelle
New Rochelle (Metro-North station)
The New Rochelle station serves New Rochelle, New York, via the New Haven Line. Amtrak's Northeast Regional also stops at the station en route to Boston and Washington, DC, serving riders from northern New York City and Southern Westchester who use New Rochelle as a closer alternative to Penn...
stations in Westchester County
Westchester County, New York
Westchester County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. Westchester covers an area of and has a population of 949,113 according to the 2010 Census, residing in 45 municipalities...
.
Game-day service to the Meadowlands
Meadowlands Sports Complex
The MetLife Sports Complex is a sports and entertainment facility located in East Rutherford, Bergen County, New Jersey, United States, owned and operated by the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority...
Sports Complex links Metro-North to Penn Station (bypassing Grand Central via the Northeast Corridor). It began in September 2009, allowing the full trip, albeit with a great deal of planning ahead of time. Service is currently provided on game days only.
After the East Side Access
East Side Access
East Side Access is a public works project being undertaken by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority in New York City, designed to bring the Long Island Rail Road into a new East Side station to be built below and incorporated into Grand Central Terminal in Manhattan...
project opens in 2016, a commuter-rail only connection through New York City will be made possible by detouring on the Long Island Rail Road
Long Island Rail Road
The Long Island Rail Road or LIRR is a commuter rail system serving the length of Long Island, New York. It is the busiest commuter railroad in North America, serving about 81.5 million passengers each year. Established in 1834 and having operated continuously since then, it is the oldest US...
from Grand Central east onto Long Island
Long Island
Long Island is an island located in the southeast part of the U.S. state of New York, just east of Manhattan. Stretching northeast into the Atlantic Ocean, Long Island contains four counties, two of which are boroughs of New York City , and two of which are mainly suburban...
, then returning on a different train to Penn Station.
On a related note, the Maryland Transit Administration
Maryland Transit Administration
The Maryland Transit Administration is a state-operated mass transit administration in Maryland, and is part of the Maryland Department of Transportation. It is better known as MTA Maryland to avoid confusion with other cities' transit agencies who share the initials MTA. The MTA operates a...
has made steps to extend its Penn Line
Penn Line (MARC)
The Penn Line is a MARC commuter rail line running from Union Station, Washington D.C. to Perryville, Maryland via Penn Station, Baltimore, Maryland on Amtrak's Northeast Corridor. It is MARC's busiest and only electric line. Currently the line is the fastest commuter rail line in the country, with...
from Perryville, Maryland
Perryville, Maryland
Perryville is a town in Cecil County, Maryland, United States. The population was 3,672 at the 2000 census. The town is located off Interstate 95, on the north side of the mouth of the Susquehanna River.-History:...
to Newark, Delaware, which would allow a continuous journey from Fredericksburg, Virginia
Fredericksburg, Virginia
Fredericksburg is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia located south of Washington, D.C., and north of Richmond. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 24,286...
to New London. The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority
Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority
The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, often referred to as the MBTA or simply The T, is the public operator of most bus, subway, commuter rail and ferry systems in the greater Boston, Massachusetts, area. Officially a "body politic and corporate, and a political subdivision" of the...
has also begun extending service beyond Providence, Rhode Island
Providence, Rhode Island
Providence is the capital and most populous city of Rhode Island and was one of the first cities established in the United States. Located in Providence County, it is the third largest city in the New England region...
to Wickford Junction
Wickford Junction (MBTA station)
Wickford Junction is a station under construction in North Kingstown, Rhode Island on the Northeast Corridor, extending the Providence/Stoughton Line of the MBTA Commuter Rail south from Providence. It will serve local commuters to Providence and Boston, Massachusetts. The new station will have a ...
in North Kingstown, Rhode Island
North Kingstown, Rhode Island
North Kingstown is a town in Washington County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 26,486 at the 2010 census. The famous American portraitist Gilbert Stuart was born in the village of Saunderstown, located in the southern region of North Kingstown....
, though no serious talks have begun on linking the MBTA and Shore Line East
Shore Line East
Shore Line East is a commuter rail service operating in southern Connecticut, USA. A fully owned subsidiary of the Connecticut Department of Transportation , SLE provides service seven days a week along the Northeast Corridor from New London west to New Haven, with continuing service to Bridgeport...
. Such a venture, coupled with other planned service, would provide a very slow journey all the way from Virginia to New Hampshire, traveling through ten states and the District of Columbia.
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. - National Register of Historic Places listings in New London County, Connecticut