New Canaan Branch

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New Canaan Branch
New Canaan station
Overview
StatusOperating
OwnerConnecticut DOT
LocaleStamford, Connecticut, to New Canaan, Connecticut
Termini
Stations5
Service
TypeCommuter rail
SystemMetro-North Railroad
Operator(s)New Canaan Railroad (1868–1879)
Stamford & New Canaan Railroad (1883–1884)
NY,NH&H (1884–1969)
Penn Central (1969–1971)
ConnDOT (lessor 1971–1976, owner 1976–present)
Metro-North (operator 1983–present)
Rolling stockKawasaki M8
Technical
Line length8.2 miles (13.2 km)
Number of tracks1
CharacterCommuter rail
Track gauge4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
ElectrificationOverhead line, 12.5 kV 60 Hz AC
Operating speed40 mph (64 km/h)
Route map
Map
41.2 mi
66.3 km
 New Canaan
39.0 mi
62.8 km
 Talmadge Hill
Woodway (closed)
Springdale Cemetery (closed)
36.9 mi
59.4 km
 Springdale
35.2 mi
56.6 km
 Glenbrook
New Haven to New Haven
Zone 31
Zone 16
33.0 mi
53.1 km
 Stamford
Amtrak Shore Line East
New Haven intermediate stops
Zone 16
Zone 1
0.0 mi
0 km
 Grand Central

The New Canaan Branch is an 8.2-mile (13 km) long branch line of the Metro-North Railroad New Haven Line that begins from a junction east of downtown Stamford, Connecticut, north to New Canaan. It opened in 1868 as the New Canaan Railroad.

History[edit]

The New Canaan Railroad was chartered in May 1866 as a short branch of the New York & New Haven Railroad. It opened July 4, 1868 when a train ran from Stamford to New Canaan.[1] Within a year of the opening of operations a branch from the NY&NH main line south in Stamford to the pier at the Pine Island Steamboat Landing was opened to allow passengers and freight to switch to steamboats running on Long Island Sound.[2] Despite such attempts to increase revenue on January 1, 1879, the company went bankrupt, and it was taken over in foreclosure in 1883 by the Stamford and New Canaan Railroad, which incorporated in 1882.[3] The New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad leased the line on October 1, 1884, and on October 1, 1890, it was merged into the NYNH&H.

On August 7, 1898, the line was electrified using 500V DC overhead catenary.[4] On November 1, 1907, the use of 500-volt DC overhead catenary was discontinued, and in 1908, it was replaced with 11,000 volt AC operation.[5] Costs were reduced by supplying the line from the Cos Cob station instead of by independent power.[6]

The NYNH&H was merged into Penn Central in 1969. On January 1, 1971, the State of Connecticut leased operation of passenger service along the New Canaan Branch to Penn Central for $100,000 per year. On July 17, 1972, the stations at Woodway and Springdale Cemetery were both closed.[7] On April 10, 1972, Penn Central briefly suspended off-peak service on the branch to install high-level platforms at stations.[8] In 1983, the Metro-North Commuter Railroad took over the operation of trains on the branch.[9]

Current operation[edit]

Glenbrook station

Like the New Haven mainline from Mt. Vernon, New York, to New Haven, Connecticut, the entire branch is electrified with overhead catenary, although it is currently the only entirely electrified branch of the New Haven Line. Beginning in March 2011, the newly delivered Kawasaki M8 railcars started running in revenue service along the branch, and eventually took over operation from the older Budd M2 railcars. In contrast with the main New Haven Line, the branch is entirely single-tracked except for the storage tracks at New Canaan, and there are frequent grade crossings along the branch.

Improvements[edit]

As of July 2007, a Stamford East Side station is under consideration for the line or just past it on the New Haven Line.[10]

In 2011 the 3 tracks at the terminus: the 10-car main track, a middle track and what was a short 4-car "Bulk" track were improved. The "Bulk" track was extended absorbing a row of parking to meet the length of the middle and main track allowing for 3 full trains to 'stack' at the end of the line during the morning and evening rush hours. Electronic switching was added in the years following this improvement. This was recommended in the 2010 Branch Study.[11]

PTC (Positive Train Control) was installed on the branch in 2019 completing the full signalization of the branch line.[12]

In 2019 the Stamford Atlantic Bridge replacement project incorporated a new "Track 7" for the New Canaan Branch operation. A new Platform, canopy, and catenary lines were installed to support this new capacity at the Stamford Station. The platform construction was halted during 2022 and remains unfinished as of 2023.[13]

Improvements are planned on the line to make service more frequent. A siding and 2nd platform will be built at Springdale. Construction is expected to cost $15 million with construction starting in 2020.[14]

Platform 7 at Stamford under construction October 2023

On May 30, 2023, and continuing through August 2023, the New Canaan Branch was shut down for track rehabilitation work, with all service being replaced by shuttle buses. The work entails replacing 8,000 rail ties, 1,600 feet (490 m) of rails, and insulating rail joints. Repairs will also be made to mud spots, drainage and rail anchors, along with replacing bridge timbers on the Noroton River Bridge and resurfacing the entire line. Upon completion, a stretch of the branch within the Stamford region will have its speed limit increased, from 30 miles per hour (48 km/h) to 50 miles per hour (80 km/h).[15]

Incidents[edit]

On August 20, 1969 at about 8:20 p.m., a northbound commuter train with a 3-man crew and about 60 to 80 passengers hit an empty southbound train carrying only 5 employees, killing 4 and injuring 40 just north of the Hoyt Street crossing in Darien. The lead cars of each train were almost completely destroyed. The National Transportation Safety Board report concluded that the cause was the northbound train's failure to stop at a meeting point as stated on train orders.[16]

On July 13, 1976, two trains collided, killing two and injuring 29.[17] In October 1976, the CDOT released their report which only blamed the engineer of the northbound train (Number 1994) for excessive speed. The engineer's union contended that there was a problem with the train brakes, that there was an automatic track lubricator which had been putting down excessive oil for two weeks before the incident and an insufficient signal system.[18] The National Transportation Safety Board released their final report on the incident on May 19, 1977 as Report Number RAR-77-04. That report concluded that the cause was "the failure of the engineer of train No. 1994 to perceive the train ahead and to apply the brakes at the earliest possible time". It also cited problems with the design of the signal system, design of the M2's exit doors and interior design of the trains.[19]

The New Canaan Branch was severely impacted by Hurricane Sandy on October 29–30, 2012. The line was blocked by fallen trees in 37 different locations; many of these trees also brought down the overhead catenary wires. Shuttle buses replaced all trains.[20] The railroad announced that regular service resumed on November 13.[21] This resumption was marred by slippery rails caused by rain and fallen leaves, to the extent that service had to be shut down again that afternoon to deploy Metro-North's rail-washing train. Train service resumed in time for the evening commute.[22]

On February 14, 2023 at approximately 7:30 a.m., an out of service train being moved to enter passenger service overran the New Canaan station, running through the bumper block and crashing through the station fencing before coming to a stop. The engineer and conductor onboard were injured, but not seriously. While this incident caused a suspension of service on the branch throughout the morning rush and midday hours; following repairs, service was restored with the 4:39 p.m. train from Stamford.[23]

Stations[edit]

Talmadge Hill station over Merritt Parkway
The end of the line in New Canaan

The following connecting services are available to Amtrak,[24] Metro-North Railroad,[25] Shore Line East,[26] and CT Transit.[27]

Zone Location Station Miles (km)
from GCT 		Date
opened 		Date
closed 		Connections / notes
16 Stamford Stamford Disabled access 33.0 (53.1) 1849 Metro-North Railroad: New Haven Line
Amtrak: Acela, Northeast Regional, Vermonter
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[27]
Greyhound Lines, Peter Pan Bus Lines, UConn Stamford Shuttle
Limited service station
31 Glenbrook 35.2 (56.6) July 4, 1868 CTtransit Stamford: 344
Springdale 36.9 (59.4)
Springdale Cemetery July 17, 1972[28] Penn Central consolidated the Springdale Cemetery station with Springdale on July 17, 1972.[28]
Darien Woodway Penn Central consolidated the Woodway station with Talmadge Hill on July 17, 1972.[28]
New Canaan Talmadge Hill 39.0 (62.8) July 4, 1868
New Canaan 41.2 (66.3) July 4, 1868[29]

There is also an employees only stop between Glenbrook and Springdale known as Reeve's Landing.[citation needed]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "About the New Canaan Branch Line". Retrieved March 4, 2015.
  2. ^ Rosemary H. Burns. "New Canaan Railroad History".
  3. ^ Economics, Association of American Railroads Bureau of Railway (1915). Trial Bibliography on the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad.
  4. ^ "New Canaan Railroad History". www.vizettes.com. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
  5. ^ Thirty-Eighth Year General Statement On The Affairs Of The New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad Company For The Year Ending June 30, 1909. New York, New Haven, and Hartford Railroad Company. 1909. p. 7.
  6. ^ "Conversion of New Canaan Branch From 500-Volt D.C. To 11,000-Volt A.C. Operation". Electric Railway Journal. 33 (20). McGraw Hill Publishing Company: 900–903. May 15, 1909.
  7. ^ Christopher T. Baer. "PRR CHRONOLOGY 1971 (June 2005 Edition)" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on April 29, 2014. Retrieved May 13, 2008.
  8. ^ Christopher T. Baer. "PRR CHRONOLOGY 1972 (June 2005 Edition)" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on August 25, 2012. Retrieved May 13, 2008.
  9. ^ Peter A. Cannito. "On MTA Metro-North Railroad's 25th Anniversary". Archived from the original on April 24, 2008. Retrieved May 13, 2008.
  10. ^ Hughes, C.J. (July 8, 2007). "Living in Glenbrook, Conn.; The Little Town in the City". New York Times. p. RE9. Retrieved July 29, 2011. Anticipating growth, and aiming to alleviate crowding in Stamford's main station, the city may add a second stop in Glenbrook, either on the New Haven line or the New Canaan spur, possibly near the Courtland Avenue overpass, where one existed until the 1950s, Mr. Lecar said.
  11. ^ CT DOT (2010). "Rt 8 Corridor Study" (PDF).
  12. ^ "Rail News - Metro-North to improve infrastructure on New Canaan Branch. For Railroad Career Professionals". Progressive Railroading. Retrieved October 12, 2023.
  13. ^ "Atlantic Street Bridge Replacement | Stamford, CT". www.stamfordct.gov. Retrieved October 12, 2023.
  14. ^ "Let's Go CT Transportation Ramp Up Dashboard". www.letsgoct.com. Connecticut Department of Transportation. Archived from the original on February 3, 2017. Retrieved February 2, 2017.
  15. ^ "CTDOT Preps for Track Improvements on Metro-North New Canaan Branch Line". Railway Track and Structures. March 17, 2023. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
  16. ^ Penn Central Company Collision of Trains N-48 and N-49 at Darien, Connecticut August 20, 1969 (Report). Washington, D.C.: National Transportation Safety Board. October 14, 1970. NTSB-RAR-70-3.
  17. ^ "Two killed, 29 are hurt in New Canaan rail crash". The Day, New London, CT. Front. AP. July 14, 1976. pp. 1, 5. Retrieved June 26, 2012.
  18. ^ Knight, Michael (October 10, 1976). "Connecticut Transportation Unit Links Train Wreck to Speeding". New York Times.
  19. ^ "RAILROAD ACCIDENT REPORT: COLLISION OF TWO CONSOLIDATED RAILROAD CORPORATION COMMUTER TRAINS, NEW CANAAN, CONNECTICUT, JULY 13, 1976". May 19, 1977. Retrieved June 26, 2012. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  20. ^ Cassidy, Martin B. (November 8, 2012). "New Canaan Line restoration work continues". Stamford Advocate. Retrieved November 11, 2012.
  21. ^ "MTA Metro-North Railroad". Metro-North Railroad. Archived from the original on May 11, 2021. Retrieved November 14, 2012. Regular train service resumes on the New Canaan Branch on Tuesday, November 13.
  22. ^ Cassidy, Martin B. (November 13, 2012). "Leaves foul morning rail commute". Stamford Advocate. Retrieved November 16, 2012.
  23. ^ Gurciullo, Brianna; Yankowski, Peter (February 14, 2023). "Service resumes on Metro-North's New Canaan Branch after derailed train". StamfordAdvocate. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
  24. ^ "Amtrak" (PDF).
  25. ^ "Metro-North Railroad". MTA. Retrieved June 24, 2023.
  26. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on December 9, 2018. Retrieved December 18, 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  27. ^ a b "CT Transit Stamford System Map" (PDF). CT transit. Retrieved February 9, 2019.
  28. ^ a b c "Railroad Reworks Timetables". The Hartford Courant. July 18, 1972. p. 8. Retrieved May 16, 2020 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  29. ^ "New Canaan Train Station". Archived from the original on January 26, 2013. Retrieved May 13, 2008.

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