Fairfield (Metro-North station)

Fairfield
Station statistics
Address	165 Unquowa Road (Westbound), Fairfield, CT 06824
Coordinates	41.144132°N 73.257737°W / 41.144132; -73.257737
Lines	New Haven Line
Connections	Greater Bridgeport Transit Authority: Coastal Link, 7 Fairfield University Shuttle
Platforms	2 side platforms
Tracks	4
Parking	1,216 spaces
Other information
Electrified	12,500V (AC) overhead catenary
Traffic
Passengers (2006)	686,660  0%
Services
Preceding station   Metro-North Railroad   Following station Southport toward Grand Central New Haven Line Fairfield Metro toward New Haven – State Street
Fairfield Railroad Stations U.S. National Register of Historic Places Location: Fairfield, Connecticut Coordinates: 41°8′34″N 73°15′29″W Area: 0.7 acres (0.3 ha) Built: 1882 Architectural style: Stick/Eastlake Governing body: State NRHP Reference#: 89000926 Added to NRHP: July 28, 1989

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 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.

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 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 (0.28 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 platforms, 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.

See also

• Southport station, Fairfield's other train station.
• Fairfield Metro Center, a third station scheduled to open in November 2011.
• Connecticut Rail Commuter Council 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

Postcard from c1915 showing a train wreck near Fairfield Station