Clinton (Shore Line East station)

Clinton
The platform at Clinton looking westbound
Location	10 John Street Extension Clinton, Connecticut
Coordinates	41°16′46″N 72°31′42″W / 41.2794°N 72.5283°W / 41.2794; -72.5283Coordinates: 41°16′46″N 72°31′42″W / 41.2794°N 72.5283°W / 41.2794; -72.5283
Owned by	CDOT
Line(s)	Northeast Corridor
Platforms	1 side platform
Tracks	2
Connections	Estuary Transit District
Construction
Parking	Small lot available
Disabled access	Yes
History
Opened	1852 (NH&NL), May 29, 1990 (SLE)
Closed	April 30, 1978
Rebuilt	2005
Electrified	25,000V (AC) overhead catenary
Services
Preceding station   ConnDOT   Following station Madison toward Stamford Shore Line East Westbrook toward New London   Former services   Preceding station   Amtrak   Following station Madison toward New Haven Clamdigger Old Saybrook toward New London

Clinton is a regional rail station served by Shore Line East, located near downtown Clinton, Connecticut. Clinton station consists of a small parking lot and one high-level side platform on the southbound side of the tracks. A second platform is planned to be added, but construction-related bidding has been repeatedly delayed.

Clinton is a commuter-only station; Amtrak's Acela Express and Northeast Regional services run through the station without stopping. Clinton is served by about 11 Shore Line East trains in each direction on weekdays and 5 in each direction on weekends.

The New Haven & New London Railroad was charted in 1848, began construction in 1850, and opened for service in July 1852. A station was located between John Street and Commerce Street (the modern location) in downtown Westbrook. The line was owned by the New York, Providence and Boston Railroad (the "Stonington Road") from 1858 to 1862, and by the Shore Line Railway from 1864 until it was acquired by the New York, New Haven, and Hartford Railroad (the "New Haven") in 1870. The New Haven continued local service along the route for nearly another century. Commuter service east of New Haven ceased on January 1, 1969, after the New Haven merged into Penn Central.

The 1852-built depot, similar to others built by the New Haven & New London, still stands on West Main Street. It was replaced by a new station, similar to others along the Shore Line, in the 1890s when the line was moved slightly to realign a curve, though it was used for freight until the 1950s. The newer station was demolished around the time that Clamdigger service was discontinued on April 30, 1978.

From 1910 to 1919, the Shore Line Electric Railway operated local trolley service from New Haven to Old Saybrook and Deep River. The line ran on Main Street (US-1) in Clinton, offering a convenient transfer from mainline rail service.