Two Connecticut passenger lines undergoing improvements

Written by Jenifer Nunez, assistant editor
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Cross track excavation at MIDLAND Interlocking in Hartford, Conn.
Connecticut Department of Transportation

Crews will be out along Metro-North Railroad's New Canaan Branch in Connecticut during the first four weekends of August to renew railroad crossings at three intersections with local streets and rebuild the railroad bridge over the Merritt Parkway.

 

Metro-North workers will renew the tracks and crossing surfaces at two railroad crossings in New Canaan and two in the Springdale section of Stamford, as well as improve drainage and install cable conduits. The railroad crossings are at Camp Avenue in Springdale and Talmadge Hill Road and Grove Street in New Canaan.

At the same time, workers from the Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) will rebuild the bridge that carries the track of the New Canaan Branch over the Merritt Parkway in Talmadge Hill.

Additionally, construction is underway for a second track as part of the New Haven – Hartford –Springfield (NHHS) Rail Program. CTDOT says the start of major track construction marks a significant milestone toward the launch of enhanced Hartford Line rail service. The addition of a second track will allow for an increase in Amtrak service from the current six round trip trains per day to 17 round trips per day south of Hartford and 12 round trips per day north of Hartford.

Work for the NHHS Rail Program includes 27 miles of additional double track on existing single track sections; two miles of new passing sidings; five new interlockings; signaling and control systems, including Positive Train Control; repair, rehabilitation and replacement of bridges and culverts; improvements at grade crossings and obtaining new equipment to augment Amtrak’s fleet and build Connecticut’s regional train fleet.

 

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