Meriden Transit Center

Meriden Transit Center is a train station on the New Haven–Springfield Line located in Meriden, Connecticut. It is served by Amtrak's Northeast Regional, Valley Flyer, and Vermonter, 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.[7]

Meriden
The newly rebuilt Meriden station in December 2017
General information
Location60 State Street, Meriden, Connecticut
United States
Coordinates41.5394°N 72.8008°W / 41.5394; -72.8008
Owned byConnDOT
Line(s)New Haven–Springfield Line
Platforms2 side platforms
Tracks2
Bus stands4
Connections
Construction
Parking
  • Surface lot: 65 spaces
  • Garage: 225 spaces[1]
Bicycle facilitiesRacks
AccessibleYes
ArchitectMichael Baker International
Other information
Station codeAmtrak: MDN
History
OpenedDecember 3, 1838 (1838-12-03)[2]
RebuiltJuly 22, 1882[2]
September 21, 1942[3]
October 15, 1970–August 30, 1971[4][5]
2014–2017
Passengers
FY 202216,373[6] (Amtrak)
Services
Preceding station Amtrak Following station
Wallingford
toward Norfolk, Newport News or Roanoke
 Northeast Regional Berlin
toward Springfield
Wallingford
toward New Haven
 Hartford Line
Valley Flyer Berlin
toward Greenfield
New Haven
toward Washington, D.C.
 Vermonter Hartford
toward St. Albans
Preceding station CT Rail Following station
Wallingford
toward New Haven Union Station
 Hartford Line Berlin
toward Springfield
Former services
Preceding station Amtrak Following station
New Haven
toward Washington, D.C.
 Montrealer Berlin
toward Montreal
Wallingford
toward Atlantic City
 Atlantic City Express
1991–1995
 Berlin
toward Springfield

History
Postcard of the 1942-built Meriden station shortly after its construction

The Hartford and New Haven Railroad opened from New Haven to Meriden in December 1838, and to Hartford in December 1839.[8] The initial station was "shed-like"; services were moved to Conklin's Hotel in 1840 and the Rodgers Building in 1842.[9]

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.[9]

Reconstruction

The station was reconstructed for use by Hartford Line commuter service, which began operation on June 16, 2018.[7] 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.[1] Demolition of an adjacent building to make room for the parking lot began in October 2014.[10]

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.[11] The old platform was replaced by a temporary boarding area on March 28, 2016.[12] The frame of the new station was completed in July 2016.[13] The rebuilt Meriden station opened on November 19, 2017, though final construction lasted until December 18.[14]

  • The 1882-built station on a 1908 postcard
    The 1882-built station on a 1908 postcard
  • The 1970-built station in 2015
    The 1970-built station in 2015
  • Temporary platform used in 2016–17
    Temporary platform used in 2016–17
  • New station under construction in 2016
    New station under construction in 2016

Connections
A route C5 bus at Meriden in December 2016

Meriden is served by bus routes on three local systems:

References
  1. "Gov. Malloy Celebrates Grand Opening of Hartford Line Station in Meriden, Reiterates Call to Stabilize Special Transportation Fund" (Press release). The Office of Governor Dannel M. Mall. April 19, 2018. Retrieved April 25, 2018.
  2. "New Haven Road Has Served City 104 Years". The Meriden Record. September 21, 1942. pp. 11, 13. Retrieved May 22, 2021 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  3. "New Railroad Station Formally Opened Here Today". The Meriden Record. September 21, 1942. p. 11. Retrieved May 22, 2021 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  4. "Railroad Station Due for Wreckers". The Meriden Journal. October 14, 1970. p. 39. Retrieved May 22, 2021 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  5. "No Relief is in Sight From Lowered RR Gates". The Morning Record. Meriden, Connecticut. August 28, 1971. p. 1. Retrieved May 22, 2021 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  6. "Amtrak Fact Sheet, Fiscal Year 2022: State of Connecticut" (PDF). Amtrak. June 2023. Retrieved August 30, 2023.
  7. Porter, Mikaela; Owens, David (June 17, 2018). "Thousands Take A Free Ride On Hartford Line's Inaugural Run". Retrieved June 17, 2018.
  8. Karr, Ronald Dale (1995). The Rail Lines of Southern New England. Branch Line Press. pp. 74–78. ISBN 0942147022.
  9. "Meriden, CT (MDN)". Great American Stations. Amtrak. Retrieved December 9, 2015.
  10. Callahan, Molly (October 28, 2014). "Another downtown demo project begins in Meriden". Record Journal. Retrieved November 3, 2014.
  11. "Meriden train station to close, temporary structure being built". My Record Journal. March 10, 2016. Retrieved April 25, 2018.
  12. "Temporary Boarding Platform to Open March 28 in Meriden: New Station to be Constructed as part of NHHS Rail Program" (Press release). Connecticut Department of Transportation. March 9, 2016.
  13. Callahan, Molly (July 22, 2016). "Meriden train station on schedule to be complete by November". Meriden Record Journal. Retrieved July 22, 2016.
  14. "Winter 2018 Newsletter" (PDF). NHHS Rail Program. January 17, 2018. Retrieved January 17, 2018.
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