Meriden Transit Center Explained

Meriden
Style:CTrail
Address:60 State Street, Meriden, Connecticut
Country:United States
Coordinates:41.5394°N -72.8008°W
Owned:ConnDOT
Line:New Haven–Springfield Line
Platform:2 side platforms
Tracks:2
Bus Stands:4
Connections:
  • CT Transit: 215, 511, 561, 563, 564, 565, 566
  • Middletown Area Transit: M Link
Parking:
  • Surface lot: 65 spaces
  • Garage: 225 spaces
Bicycle:Racks
Architect:Michael Baker International
Accessible:Yes
Opened:[1]
Rebuilt:July 22, 1882
September 21, 1942[2]
October 15, 1970 - August 30, 1971[3] [4]
2014 - 2017
Other Services Header:Former services
Other Services Collapsible:yes
Mapframe:yes
Mapframe-Custom:
Shape:none
Line:none
Marker:rail
Marker-Color:
  1. 000
Zoom:14

Meriden Transit Center is a train station on the New Haven–Springfield Line located in Meriden, Connecticut. It is served by Amtrak's,, and, in addition to Hartford Line commuter rail service, consisting of Connecticut Department of Transportation and Amtrak trains. The station was rebuilt from 2014 to 2017 for the Hartford Line service, which began on June 16, 2018.[5]

History

The Hartford and New Haven Railroad opened from New Haven to Meriden in December 1838, and to Hartford in December 1839.[6] The initial station was "shed-like"; services were moved to Conklin's Hotel in 1840 and the Rodgers Building in 1842.[7]

The New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad built a brick colonial revival station in 1942. The city demolished that station and built a one-story brick station in 1970 as part of a downtown revitalization program.

Reconstruction

The station was reconstructed for use by Hartford Line commuter service, which began operation on June 16, 2018. The new station, located on the site of the 1970-built station, has two accessible six car long, high-level side platforms connected by an overhead pedestrian bridge. It is not staffed, heated, or equipped with toilet facilities. It has 65 surface parking spaces, and 225 spaces reserved for Hartford Line customers in a nearby garage.[8] Demolition of an adjacent building to make room for the parking lot began in October 2014.[9]

The ticket office in the 1970-built station building was closed on March 4, 2016, and the station building itself closed for demolition on March 12.[10] The old platform was replaced by a temporary boarding area on March 28, 2016.[11] The frame of the new station was completed in July 2016.[12] The rebuilt Meriden station opened on November 19, 2017, though final construction lasted until December 18.[13]

Connections

Meriden is served by bus routes on three local systems:

561, 563, 564, 565, 566

511

215M/215Mx

M-Link

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: New Haven Road Has Served City 104 Years . May 22, 2021 . The Meriden Record . September 21, 1942 . 11, 13. Newspapers.com.
  2. News: New Railroad Station Formally Opened Here Today . May 22, 2021 . The Meriden Record . September 21, 1942 . 11. Newspapers.com.
  3. News: Railroad Station Due for Wreckers . May 22, 2021 . The Meriden Journal . October 14, 1970 . 39. Newspapers.com.
  4. News: No Relief is in Sight From Lowered RR Gates . May 22, 2021 . The Morning Record . August 28, 1971 . Meriden, Connecticut . 1. Newspapers.com.
  5. Web site: Thousands Take A Free Ride On Hartford Line's Inaugural Run . Porter . Mikaela . Owens . David . June 17, 2018 . June 17, 2018.
  6. Book: Karr, Ronald Dale . The Rail Lines of Southern New England . Branch Line Press . 1995 . 0942147022 . 74–78.
  7. Web site: Meriden, CT (MDN) . Great American Stations . Amtrak . December 9, 2015.
  8. Gov. Malloy Celebrates Grand Opening of Hartford Line Station in Meriden, Reiterates Call to Stabilize Special Transportation Fund . April 19, 2018 . The Office of Governor Dannel M. Mall . April 25, 2018.
  9. News: Another downtown demo project begins in Meriden . Callahan . Molly . October 28, 2014 . Record Journal . November 3, 2014.
  10. Web site: Meriden train station to close, temporary structure being built . March 10, 2016 . My Record Journal . April 25, 2018.
  11. Temporary Boarding Platform to Open March 28 in Meriden: New Station to be Constructed as part of NHHS Rail Program . March 9, 2016 . Connecticut Department of Transportation .
  12. News: Meriden train station on schedule to be complete by November . Callahan . Molly . July 22, 2016 . Meriden Record Journal . July 22, 2016.
  13. Web site: Winter 2018 Newsletter . January 17, 2018 . NHHS Rail Program . January 17, 2018.