SLE Westbrook Station (was: What happened to the new?)

Is it a dead project or just in limbo? I know CDOT has plans to expand (at least) the Branford and Madison stations but shouldn't getting Westbrook finished before all the M-8s are delivered more of a priority? Seems as if that stop is always the last to get any improvements.

The only info I've found from CDOT is this SLE expansion status report from January:

From http://www.ct.gov/dot/lib/dot/documents ... 11revX.pdf:

Construction of the north side high level platforms at Branford, Madison and Clinton and the
construction of a new Westbrook station are needed to implement full Phase 3 bi-directional
service. (Guilford Station is the only intermediate station with both south and north side
platforms. Note: Some reverse peak service now operates between New London/Old Saybrook
and Guilford to New Haven with direct connections to Metro-North service.) Westbrook,
Branford and Guilford (for a platform extension) designs are under final review.

Expansion info for Westbrook I've seen has it expanding at its present site, but IIRC, it requires the removal of the public works garage. That site is pretty tight and it seems to be a more open spot would be along Flat Rock Place between Rt 153 and the outlets. Lots and lots of undeveloped land along that roadway which parallels the railroad. I'm guessing there's going to be an environmental cleanup project if/when the public works garage moves and before construction can begin on an expanded Westbrook station at its present location.

That report says a midday New London roundtrip will come second quarter 2011. That means May or June. Is this still on?

i did hear that they approached the Flat Rock place owner to put that station there But he was Against it.

That's too bad - there is lots of land along Flat Rock Place thats largely undeveloped and directly parallels the tracks and served by a very nice 4-lane access road:

http://www.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s ... 9&t=h&z=16

While there would have been a grade challenge to overcome (as the tracks are in a cut in that area), you could have a nice commuter station and even couple that with a regional tourist information center (since the one on I-95 will get axed when (if) the widening project ever takes place) with large surface parking facility. And since the parking/station would be at an elevation already above the tracks, you'd eliminate a set of stairs to climb when thinking of "up and over" facilities.

But I digress............

http://www.ct.gov/dot/cwp/view.asp?A=2135&Q=491406

The Connecticut Department of Transportation is announcing that the construction of the new Westbrook Shore Line East Railroad Station on Route 153 in Westbrook, CT is scheduled to begin December 1, 2011.

About time!!! At least they're building both platforms as one project. It has been "sooo ConnDOT" to build only one side, then two years later, come back in and finish the job.
Completion set for spring 2013.

That's one more stop for the reverse peak expresses.

Now what about the other 3 stops' opposite platforms?

UPDATE 1/2:

The station is in full-swing construction. As of August, the westbound platform was in place, and the new parking lot was partially built. A temporary wooden platform was in place. As always, click the link for the full-size image.

Looking east:

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File: ... t_2012.JPG

Foundations for the eastbound platform:

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File: ... uction.JPG

Part of the new parking lot:

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File: ... ng_lot.JPG

Temporary platform:

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File: ... atform.JPG

UPDATE 2/2:

I passed the station on Friday. I was on a Regional so I didn't get a great look, but the eastbound platform is now definitely in place. I would guess the station is on track for the planned 2013 opening.


As for the other stations, take a look at the Wiki article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shore_Line_East . I wrote about 90% of the article, and it's accurate to the latest information I have. Highlights:

A bond in February 2011 provided $60 million for three projects: platform extensions at Guilford, second platform/bridge at Branford, and electrifying sidings. The last of those is significant - it foretells increased operations and use of M8s (which was officially listed in a 2007 planning document). Report: http://www.ct.gov/dot/lib/dot/SLE_Servi ... Report.pdf

The second platform at Branford is to start construction in November. Lots of info in the 2009 ROD: http://www.ct.gov/dot/lib/dot/documents ... le-rod.pdf

Madison is planned to get a second platform and a 3-story, 500-space garage (first on the 1990 system). Bidding starts in 2013. Again, 2009 ROD: http://www.ct.gov/dot/lib/dot/documents ... le-rod.pdf

I have not yet heard any plans for Clinton.

Here is progress seen on 09-30-12:

The EGE wrote:I have not yet heard any plans for Clinton.

From the ConnDOT web site:

Advertising Date 6/19/2013:
Clinton Station - North Platform & Pedestrian Bridge
http://www.ct.gov/dot/lib/dot/documents ... hedule.pdf

As of a visit yesterday, the framework of the elevator tower on the westbound platform at Westbrook was in place.

shadyjay wrote:

The EGE wrote:I have not yet heard any plans for Clinton.

From the ConnDOT web site:

Advertising Date 6/19/2013:
Clinton Station - North Platform & Pedestrian Bridge
http://www.ct.gov/dot/lib/dot/documents ... hedule.pdf

So...with Westbrook taken care of and Clinton hopefully starting when they say it will, what platform work does that leave left to do on SLE to get up to full bi-directional spec?

-- Brandford 2nd platform (is construction still set to begin this fall?)
-- Madison 2nd platform

Assuming trains are going to terminate at the short high platform in New London, with Westbrook nearing completion they've zapped all the low-level platforms left and will be 100% ready for the M8's...correct?

Last I heard (about 2 months ago) Branford construction begins November 1st, and Madison advertised around the same time Clinton is next year (though it'snot on that document). So that means we're looking at sometime in 2014 to 2015 as when M8s could conceivably run to Old Saybrook. (Dutch has noted that the quarter doors would make platforming at New London difficult).

The EGE wrote:Last I heard (about 2 months ago) Branford construction begins November 1st, and Madison advertised around the same time Clinton is next year (though it'snot on that document). So that means we're looking at sometime in 2014 to 2015 as when M8s could conceivably run to Old Saybrook. (Dutch has noted that the quarter doors would make platforming at New London difficult).

Westbrook was the last low-level, right? Shouldn't that mean M8's can run at least as far as Old Saybrook once that new station is complete? Branford and Clinton already have single-side highs so that shouldn't be any operational constraints to initiating EMU service.

New London's most definitely a whole other ball of wax. Never mind funding, I'm wondering if they even have a design in mind for how to fix that platform mess.