View source for Meriden Transit Center

{{Short description|Train station in Meriden, Connecticut, US}}
{{Use American English|date=February 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2018}}
{{Infobox station
| name               = Meriden
| style              = CTrail
| image              = Meriden station platforms and overpass, December 2017.JPG
| image_caption      = The newly rebuilt Meriden station in December 2017
| address            = 60 State Street, [[Meriden, Connecticut]]
| country            = United States
| coordinates        = {{coord|41.5394|-72.8008|type:railwaystation_region:US-CT|display=inline,title}}
| owned              = [[Connecticut Department of Transportation|ConnDOT]]
| line               = [[New Haven–Springfield Line]]<!-- the physical "line" is not the same as "services" which are detailed below -->
| platform           = 2 [[side platform]]s
| tracks             = 2
| bus_stands         = 4
| connections        = {{plainlist|
*{{bus icon|12px|Local Transit}} [[CT Transit]]: 215, 511, 561, 563, 564, 565, 566
*{{bus icon|12px|Local Transit}} [[Middletown Area Transit]]: M Link
}}
| parking            = {{plainlist|
*Surface lot: 65 spaces
*Garage: 225 spaces<ref name="celebrates" />
}}
| bicycle            = [[Bicycle parking rack|Racks]]
| architect          = Michael Baker International
| accessible         = Yes
| code               = {{Amtrak code|MDN}}
| opened             = {{Start date|1838|12|03}}<ref name="1942opening">{{cite news |title=New Haven Road Has Served City 104 Years |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/78179329/meriden-rail-history-september-21-1942/ |access-date=May 22, 2021 |work=The Meriden Record |date=September 21, 1942 |pages=11, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/78179369/meriden-history-pt-2-september-21-1942/ 13]|via=Newspapers.com}} {{open access}}</ref>
| rebuilt            = July&nbsp;22, 1882<ref name="1942opening" /><br>September&nbsp;21, 1942<ref name="1942opening2">{{cite news |title=New Railroad Station Formally Opened Here Today |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/78179540/meriden-station-september-21-1942/ |access-date=May 22, 2021 |work=The Meriden Record |date=September 21, 1942 |page=11|via=Newspapers.com}} {{open access}}</ref><br>October&nbsp;15, 1970&ndash;August&nbsp;30, 1971<ref>{{cite news |title=Railroad Station Due for Wreckers |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/78179654/meriden-station-october-14-1970/ |access-date=May 22, 2021 |work=The Meriden Journal |date=October 14, 1970 |page=39|via=Newspapers.com}} {{open access}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=No Relief is in Sight From Lowered RR Gates |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/78179844/meriden-station-august-28-1971/ |access-date=May 22, 2021 |work=The Morning Record |date=August 28, 1971 |location=Meriden, Connecticut |page=1|via=Newspapers.com}} {{open access}}</ref><br>2014&ndash;2017
| mpassengers        = {{rail pass box|system=Amtrak|passengers={{Amtrak ridership|Meriden}}{{Amtrak ridership|citationCT}}|pass_year={{Amtrak ridership|date}}}}
| services           = {{Adjacent stations
  |system1=Amtrak
    |line1=Regional|left1=Wallingford|right1=Berlin|to-right1=Springfield
    |line2=Hartford Line|left2=Wallingford|right2=Berlin
    |line3=Valley Flyer|left3=Wallingford|right3=Berlin
    |line4=Vermonter|left4=New Haven|right4=Hartford
  |system5=CTrail
    |line5=Hartford Line|left5=Wallingford|right5=Berlin
  }}
| other_services_header = Former services
| other_services_collapsible = yes
| other_services     = {{Adjacent stations
  |system1=Amtrak
    |line1=Montrealer|left1=New Haven|right1=Berlin
    |line2=Atlantic City Express|left2=Wallingford|right2=Berlin|to-left2=Atlantic City|to-right2=Springfield|note-mid2=1991–1995
  }}
 | mapframe = yes
 | mapframe-custom = {{Infobox mapframe |shape=none |line=none |marker=rail |marker-color=#000 |zoom=14 }}
}}

'''Meriden Transit Center''' is a [[train station]] on the [[New Haven–Springfield Line]] located in [[Meriden, Connecticut]]. It is served by [[Amtrak]]'s {{lnl|Amtrak|Northeast Regional}}, {{lnl|Amtrak|Valley Flyer}}, and {{lnl|Amtrak|Vermonter}}, in addition to [[Hartford Line]] commuter rail service, consisting of [[Connecticut Department of Transportation]] and [[Amtrak Hartford Line|Amtrak]] trains. The station was rebuilt from 2014 to 2017 for the Hartford Line service, which began on June 16, 2018.<ref name="thousands">{{Cite web |url=http://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-hartford-line-opens-20180615-story.html |title=Thousands Take A Free Ride On Hartford Line's Inaugural Run |last=Porter |first=Mikaela |last2=Owens |first2=David |date=June 17, 2018 |access-date=June 17, 2018}}</ref>

==History==
[[File:Railroad Station, Meriden, Conn (77932).jpg|thumb|left|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.<ref>{{Cite book |title=The Rail Lines of Southern New England |last=Karr, Ronald Dale |publisher=Branch Line Press |year=1995 |isbn=0942147022 |pages=74–78}}</ref> The initial station was "shed-like"; services were moved to Conklin's Hotel in 1840 and the Rodgers Building in 1842.<ref name="great">{{Cite web |url=http://www.greatamericanstations.com/Stations/MDN |title=Meriden, CT (MDN) |website=Great American Stations |publisher=Amtrak |access-date=December 9, 2015}}</ref>

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.<ref name="great" />

===Reconstruction===
The station was reconstructed for use by [[Hartford Line]] commuter service, which began operation on June 16, 2018.<ref name="thousands" /> The new station, located on the site of the 1970-built station, has two [[accessibility|accessible]] six car long, high-level [[side platform]]s 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.<ref name="celebrates">{{Cite press release |title=Gov. Malloy Celebrates Grand Opening of Hartford Line Station in Meriden, Reiterates Call to Stabilize Special Transportation Fund |date=April 19, 2018 |publisher=The Office of Governor Dannel M. Mall |url=http://portal.ct.gov/Office-of-the-Governor/Press-Room/Press-Releases/2018/04-2018/Gov-Malloy-Celebrates-Grand-Opening-of-Hartford-Line-Station-in-Meriden |access-date=April 25, 2018}}</ref> Demolition of an adjacent building to make room for the parking lot began in October 2014.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.myrecordjournal.com/meriden/meridennews/5964559-129/another-downtown-demo-project-begins-in-meriden.html |title=Another downtown demo project begins in Meriden |last=Callahan |first=Molly |date=October 28, 2014 |work=Record Journal |access-date=November 3, 2014}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.myrecordjournal.com/news/state/8554057-129/meriden-train-station-to-close-temporary-structure-being-built.html |title=Meriden train station to close, temporary structure being built |date=March 10, 2016 |website=My Record Journal |access-date=April 25, 2018}}</ref> The old platform was replaced by a temporary boarding area on March 28, 2016.<ref>{{Cite press release |title=Temporary Boarding Platform to Open March 28 in Meriden: New Station to be Constructed as part of NHHS Rail Program |date=March 9, 2016 |publisher=Connecticut Department of Transportation |url=http://www.ct.gov/dot/cwp/view.asp?A=1373&Q=577940}}</ref> The frame of the new station was completed in July 2016.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.myrecordjournal.com/news/meriden/meridennews/9125797-154/meriden-train-station-on-schedule-to-be-complete-by-november.html |title=Meriden train station on schedule to be complete by November |last=Callahan |first=Molly |date=July 22, 2016 |work=Meriden Record Journal |access-date=July 22, 2016}}</ref> The rebuilt Meriden station opened on November 19, 2017, though final construction lasted until December 18.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.nhhsrail.com/pdfs/winter%202018%20final%20draft.pdf |title=Winter 2018 Newsletter |date=January 17, 2018 |website=NHHS Rail Program |access-date=January 17, 2018}}</ref>

<gallery heights="150px" mode="packed">
File:Meriden station 1908 postcard.jpg|The 1882-built station on a 1908 postcard
File:Meriden station from platform, December 2015.JPG|The 1970-built station in 2015
File:Temporary platform at Meriden station, December 2016.JPG|Temporary platform used in 2016–17
File:New pedestrian bridge at Meriden station under construction, December 2016.JPG|New station under construction in 2016
</gallery>

==Connections==
[[File:CT Transit route C5 bus at Meriden station, December 2016.JPG|thumb|left|A route C5 bus at Meriden in December 2016]]
Meriden is served by bus routes on three local systems:
*[[Northeast Transportation Company|Connecticut Transit Meriden]]: 561, 563, 564, 565, 566
*[[CT Transit New Britain & Bristol|Connecticut Transit New Britain]]: 511
*[[Connecticut Transit New Haven]]: 215M/215Mx
*[[Middletown Area Transit]]: M-Link
{{clear left}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Meriden station}}
{{Amtrak web|MDN|Meriden, CT}}
*[https://hartfordline.com/route_stations/meriden/ Meriden – Hartford Line]
*[http://www.trainweb.org/usarail/meriden.htm Meriden Amtrak Station (USA Rail Guide -- Train Web)]

{{Amtrak Connecticut stations}}
{{Hartford Line stations navbox}}

[[Category:Amtrak stations in Connecticut]]
[[Category:Stations on the New Haven–Springfield Line]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Meriden, Connecticut]]
[[Category:Railroad stations in New Haven County, Connecticut]]
[[Category:Railway stations in the United States opened in 1838]]
[[Category:Railway stations in the United States opened in 2017]]