Union Station (New Haven) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids New Haven–Union Station
New Haven Union Station in September 2018
Location	50 Union Avenue, New Haven, Connecticut
Coordinates	41°17′51″N 72°55′36″W / 41.29750°N 72.92667°W / 41.29750; -72.92667
Owned by	ConnDOT
Line(s)	Northeast Corridor New Haven–Springfield Line
Platforms	4 island platforms
Tracks	9
Connections	CT Transit: 212, 265, 268, 271, 272, 278, Union Station Shuttle Greyhound Megabus Yale Shuttle
Construction
Parking	Union Station parking garage
Bicycle facilities	Yes
Disabled access	Yes
Other information
Station code	NHV (Amtrak) ZVE (IATA)
Fare zone	21 (Metro-North)
History
Opened	1920
Rebuilt	1985
Electrified	12.5 kV AC overhead catenary
Traffic
Passengers (FY2019)	778,534  11.6% (Amtrak)
Passengers (2018)	3,216 (MetroNorth)
Rank	16 of 124 (MetroNorth)
Services
Preceding station Amtrak Following station Stamford toward Washington, D.C. Acela New London toward Boston South Bridgeport toward Norfolk, Newport News or Roanoke Northeast Regional Old Saybrook toward Boston South New Haven State Street toward Springfield Terminus Hartford Line Valley Flyer New Haven State Street toward Greenfield Bridgeport toward Washington, D.C. Vermonter Meriden toward St. Albans Preceding station Metro-North Following station West Haven towards Grand Central New Haven Line New Haven State Street limited service Terminus Preceding station ConnDOT Following station Terminus Hartford Line New Haven State Street toward Springfield West Haven limited service toward Stamford Shore Line East New Haven State Street toward Old Saybrook or New London
Former services Preceding station Amtrak Following station Terminus Beacon Hill Branford toward Boston South Clamdigger Branford toward New London Bridgeport toward Washington, D.C. Montrealer Meriden toward Montreal Stamford toward New York Cape Codder Providence toward Hyannis Bridgeport toward Atlantic City Atlantic City Express Wallingford toward Springfield Preceding station New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad Following station Woodmont toward New York Main Line Terminus New York Penn Terminus Main Line through service Terminus Shore Line East Haven toward Boston
New Haven Railroad Station
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Location	Union Avenue, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
Built	1920
Architect	Cass Gilbert
Architectural style	Late 19th and 20th Century Revivals, Second Renaissance Revival
NRHP reference No.	75001941
Added to NRHP	September 3, 1975

Union Station is the main train station in New Haven, Connecticut. It's also known as New Haven Railroad Station. This important station connects people to many places.

A famous architect named Cass Gilbert designed the station. It opened in 1920. Before that, an older Union Station burned down. For many years, the station was very busy. It served the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad.

After World War II, fewer people traveled by train. The station became less busy. It even closed in 1972. Only the underground area for passengers stayed open. People almost tore it down!

But in 1975, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This helped save it. The station was fixed up and reopened in 1985. Today, it's a major way to get into New Haven.

The building is special because Cass Gilbert designed it. He also designed the Woolworth Building in New York. And he designed the United States Supreme Court Building.

Inside, the station has beautiful limestone walls. The ceilings are fancy, and there are cool chandeliers. The tunnels to the trains have shiny stainless steel ceilings. The main waiting room is super tall, about 35 feet high! It has models of old trains on the benches.

Before 2002, this station was just called "New Haven." That changed when the State Street station opened nearby.

Trains and How They Serve New Haven

Amtrak Train Services

The Acela Express train at New Haven in 2007.

Amtrak trains use Union Station often. Many trains run on the electric Northeast Corridor line. These include the fast Acela trains. They also include Northeast Regional trains. These trains travel between Washington, D.C. and Boston.

Other Amtrak trains are the Hartford Line and Valley Flyer. They go north to Springfield, Massachusetts. Some trains even continue to Greenfield, Massachusetts. These trains connect with Northeast Regional trains.

Trains going north of New Haven must change locomotives. This is because the tracks to Springfield are not electric. An electric Siemens ACS-64 locomotive is swapped for a diesel P42DC. This happens for trains like the Vermonter. The Vermonter goes all the way to St. Albans, Vermont.

Amtrak has a train yard next to the station. This is where they store and work on trains.

Union Station is the busiest Amtrak station in Connecticut. It's also one of the busiest in the whole country. Nearly two thousand passengers use it every day.

Metro-North Commuter Trains

Metro-North and Shore Line East trains at New Haven.

Metro-North Railroad runs trains from Union Station. Their New Haven Line goes to Grand Central Terminal in New York City. Many people use this service for their daily commute. The trip takes about two hours.

Shore Line East trains also work with Metro-North. They help people transfer quickly. This makes it easier for commuters to reach Grand Central Terminal.

Metro-North has a large train yard in New Haven. It's across from the Amtrak yard. Here, they store and fix train cars and locomotives. Sometimes, trains from the Waterbury Branch are stored here.

A few Metro-North trains start or end their trips at New Haven State Street. This station is just two minutes east of Union Station.

CTrail Services

The Connecticut Department of Transportation runs two train services. They are called CTrail. Both services start at New Haven.

• Shore Line East trains go between New Haven and New London. They run on the Northeast Corridor. Some trains also go west of New Haven during busy times.
• The Hartford Line runs between New Haven and Springfield. It uses the New Haven–Springfield Line. This service began on June 16, 2018.

Buses and Shuttles

Many buses and shuttles serve Union Station. CTtransit offers bus service on several routes.

• One is a free shuttle. It connects Union Station to downtown New Haven. You can reach the New Haven Green from there. This shuttle runs only on weekdays.
• Route 271 goes to Savin Rock and Milford.
• Route 272 connects to downtown New Haven.
• Route 278 is a special "Commuter Connection" bus. It runs in the afternoons for Shore Line East riders.

Other bus companies also stop at Union Station. These include Greyhound and Megabus. The Yale University Shuttle also picks up passengers here.

How the Station is Set Up

The tunnel connecting platforms to the station building.

Union Station has four high-level island platforms. These are raised areas where you wait for trains. Trains use these platforms for travel in both directions. The New Haven Line has nine tracks at the station.

• The northern platform is next to Tracks 1 and 3. Amtrak trains often use it. It can hold 8-car trains.
• The second platform is next to Tracks 2 and 4. Amtrak trains also use this one. It's long enough for 9-car trains.
• The third platform is next to Tracks 8 and 10. Metro-North, Shore Line East, and Hartford Line trains use it. It fits 7-car trains.
• The southern platform is next to Tracks 12 and 14. Metro-North and Shore Line East trains usually use it. It can hold 8-car trains.

Track 6 is in the middle and has no platform. It's used for trains passing through or for trains waiting.

All the tracks are connected by a cool stainless-steel tunnel. You can get to the platforms using elevators and stairs. There are also escalators, stairs, and an elevator to reach the tunnel itself. In 2015, new digital screens replaced an old flip-board sign. The old sign was given to the Danbury Railway Museum.

On both sides of the station, the Northeast Corridor tracks combine into four main tracks.

P Platform level	Track 3	←      Amtrak trains toward Washington (Stamford or Bridgeport) ←      Amtrak trains toward Springfield (New Haven State Street or Meriden) →
	Island platform
	Track 1	←      Amtrak trains toward Washington (Stamford or Bridgeport) ←      Amtrak trains toward Boston (Old Saybrook or New London) →
	Track 2	←      Amtrak trains toward Washington (Stamford or Bridgeport) ←      Amtrak trains toward Boston (Old Saybrook or New London) → ←      Amtrak trains toward Springfield (New Haven State Street or Meriden) →
	Island platform
	Track 4	←      Amtrak trains toward Boston (Old Saybrook or New London) → ←      Amtrak trains toward Springfield (New Haven State Street or Meriden) → ←      Hartford Line toward Springfield (New Haven State Street) →
	Track 6	← Passing track →
	Track 8	←      New Haven Line trains toward Grand Central (West Haven)
	Island platform
	Track 10	←      New Haven Line trains toward Grand Central (West Haven) ←      Shore Line East trains toward New London or Old Saybrook (New Haven State Street) → ←      Hartford Line trains toward Springfield (New Haven State Street) →
	Track 12	←      Shore Line East trains toward New London or Old Saybrook (New Haven State Street) →
	Island platform
	Track 14	←      New Haven Line trains toward Grand Central (West Haven)
T	Tunnel	Connection between platforms and station building