Noroton Heights (Metro-North station)

Noroton Heights
Station building, an "overgrown Plexiglass [sic] shelter protected by a metal lean-to" — consultant's report
Location	325 Heights Road, Darien, CT 06820
Coordinates	41°04′12″N 73°29′52″W / 41.070099°N 73.49787°W / 41.070099; -73.49787Coordinates: 41°04′12″N 73°29′52″W / 41.070099°N 73.49787°W / 41.070099; -73.49787
Line(s)	New Haven Line
Platforms	2 side platforms
Tracks	4
Connections	CTTransit Stamford: 42
Construction
Parking	772 spaces
Other information
Fare zone	16
Electrified	12,500V (AC) overhead catenary
Traffic
Passengers (2006)	301,080  0%
Services
Preceding station   Metro-North Railroad   Following station Stamford toward Grand Central New Haven Line Darien toward New Haven State Street Stamford toward Grand Central Danbury Branch Darien toward Danbury

The Noroton Heights Metro-North Railroad station serves the residents of Darien, Connecticut via the New Haven Line. It is 36.2 miles from Grand Central Terminal.

The station is located near Exit 10 on Interstate 95. The highway borders the southern side of the station, which faces Heights Road to the north, Hollow Tree Ridge Road to the west and has access to Noroton Avenue to the east (via Ledge Road). The station is one of two in Darien; the other is the Darien Metro-North train station.

The Noroton Heights station building is "unique in that it resembles an overgrown Plexiglass [sic] shelter protected by a metal lean-to," according to a January 2007 state Department of Transportation report. According to the report, the station is a "notable alternative to the downtown Stamford train station. The Noroton Heights station is not compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act. All the railroad parking at the station (772 spaces) is owned by the state. The farthest available parking spaces are as much as 1,500 feet from the station.

This station has two high-level side platforms, each 10 cars long. The northern platform, adjacent to Track 3, is generally used by westbound trains. The southern platform, adjacent to Track 4, is generally used by eastbound trains.

The New Haven Line has four tracks at this location. The two inner tracks, not adjacent to either platform, are used only by express trains.

As of January 2007, Northeast Utilities had plans to put an underground 345-kV cable along the south edge of the eastbound parking lot (just north of Interstate 95). The state Department of Transportation agreed to the location because it would "minimize the potential impact to any future parking structure built at this site."

In 1989, the attractive former station building was slated for demolition. Instead, a group of Darien residents changed it into "The Depot", a youth center. The building remains at the far end of the train station, near the intersection of Noroton Avenue and Heights Road. Across the train tracks from "The Depot" is the Post 53 ambulance unit (which previously occupied "The Depot" building before moving into its more modern headquarters).