Fairfield station (Metro-North) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Fairfield
The westbound platform at Fairfield station in July 2019
Location	165 Unquowa Road (westbound) Fairfield, Connecticut
Coordinates	41°08′39″N 73°15′28″W / 41.144132°N 73.257737°W / 41.144132; -73.257737
Owned by	ConnDOT
Line(s)	Northeast Corridor
Platforms	2 side platforms
Tracks	4
Connections	Greater Bridgeport Transit Authority: Coastal Link, 7 Fairfield University Shuttle
Construction
Parking	1,216 spaces
Disabled access	Partial
Other information
Fare zone	18
History
Opened	December 25, 1848
Traffic
Passengers (2018)	2,311
Rank	27 of 124
Services
Preceding station Metro-North Following station Southport towards Grand Central New Haven Line Fairfield Metro towards New Haven or New Haven State Street
Former services Preceding station New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad Following station Southport toward New York Main Line Bridgeport toward New Haven
Fairfield Railroad Stations
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Location	Fairfield, Connecticut
Area	0.7 acres (0.3 ha)
Built	1882, 1890s
Architectural style	Stick/Eastlake
NRHP reference No.	89000926
Added to NRHP	July 28, 1989

The Fairfield station is a busy train station in Fairfield, Connecticut. It's part of the Metro-North Railroad's New Haven Line. This station helps many people travel for work and fun every day.

The old station buildings are very special. They are even listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means they are important historical sites.

What's a Train Station Like?

This station has two special areas called side platforms. Imagine them as long sidewalks next to the train tracks. Each platform is long enough for six train cars. These platforms serve the outer tracks of the four main tracks.

You can get to the platforms using stairs from the Unquowa Road overpass. This is a bridge that goes over the tracks. While the platforms are easy to use, getting from one platform to the other isn't fully accessible for everyone.

The station also has a large parking area. There are 1,216 parking spots in total. This helps people who drive to the station catch their train.

A Look Back in Time: Fairfield Station's History

The old eastbound station building from 1882

The Fairfield station first opened a very long time ago, on December 25, 1848. Over the years, it has changed quite a bit!

There are old station buildings right next to the train tracks. These buildings are not used for tickets anymore. The brick building on the eastbound side was built in 1882. It replaced an earlier station that burned down.

These brick stations were built to be strong and fire-resistant. They were also bigger than older wooden stations. This meant more space for people waiting for their trains. The wooden building on the westbound side was built in the 1890s. It shows how train stations changed over time.

In 1989, both of these old station buildings were added to the National Register of Historic Places. This was because they showed how important trains were to Fairfield's growth. They also represent the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad. This company was very important for transportation in Connecticut back then.

The ticket window in the westbound station building closed on July 7, 2010. But don't worry, you can still buy tickets from vending machines right next to the platforms!