CTDOT Begins Construction on Four Metro-North Rail Stations

Connecticut DOT has begun construction to upgrade four stations along Metro-North Railroad’s Waterbury Branch Line, part of the vast network operated by New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (NYMTA). The work is part of a broader program to modernize the six station lines by 2028 while coordinating other infrastructure improvements to reduce future service disruptions.

At each station, CTDOT plans to install new platforms to accommodate full-train boarding, along with covered canopies and enclosed windscreens. Additional upgrades include real-time arrival information, ticket vending machines, improved lighting, clearer wayfinding, and safer pedestrian circulation. In Derby, the project includes restoring the vacant historic station building to add indoor waiting space and constructing new bus bays to strengthen connections with local transit service.

“As ridership continues to increase on the Waterbury Branch—at some stations exceeding 200 percent of 2019 levels—these upgrades will help provide a more seamless travel experience across the region,” said NYMTA Metro-North Railroad President Justin Vonashek.

During part of the construction period, rail service on the Waterbury Branch Line will be temporarily paused and replaced with bus service. CTDOT plans to use the outage window to advance bridge, signal, and other infrastructure upgrades included in its Track Improvement Mobility Enhancement for Connecticut Program. By combining station upgrades with the track improvement plan, the state estimates savings of more than $47 million and within a shorter period than if the work were staged separately.

Learn more about the Waterbury Branch Line Improvements.