SEN. CABRERA WELCOMES $193 MILLION IN UPGRADES TO WATERBURY RAIL LINE STATIONS IN ANSONIA, BEACON FALLS AND DERBY

State Senator Jorge Cabrera (D-Hamden) today applauded the groundbreaking for the start of construction on major upgrades to four stations on the Metro-North Waterbury Branch Line, stations that are located in Derby-Shelton, Ansonia, Beacon Falls, and Seymour.

The $193 million project, which is a combination of state and federal funds, is beginning now and is anticipated to be completed by spring 2028. The upgrades will transform these stations with new 350-foot platforms designed to accommodate full train boarding, along with covered canopies and enclosed windscreens to improve comfort in all weather. The new stations will also feature real-time arrival information, ticket vending, and improved lighting. Each location will be ADA accessible, with better pedestrian access and safer passenger flow.

In Derby, the project will restore the vacant historic station building to provide indoor waiting space and add new bus bays to strengthen connections with local transit services, creating a more seamless regional hub.

“My constituents in Ansonia, Beacon Falls and Derby are going to love these upgrades,” Sen. Cabrera said. “There are people moving up and down this branch line all the time, going to work or catching a Metro-North train to somewhere else. More modern stations and all their amenities will vastly improve their rail experience.”

To support construction, rail service will be temporarily replaced with bus service on the Waterbury Branch Line from July 20, 2026, through May 31, 2027. The outage also allows CTDOT to advance bridge, signal, and infrastructure upgrades between Stratford and Bridgeport where the Waterbury Branch Line connects to the New Haven Line. Coordinating this work, which is under the Track Improvement Mobility Enhancement for Connecticut (TIME FOR CT) Program, reduces the need for additional future disruptions and keeps the overall project on schedule.

By completing these efforts together, the state expects to save more than $47 million and shorten the Waterbury Station improvements by approximately one year.