There’s little left to remind you of the historic building that once served passengers at Berlin, Connecticut.
In December 2016, during construction of the modern building, the historic New Haven Railroad station was suspiciously destroyed in a fire.
Last weekend was my first visit to the new station. This features some impressive looking architecture, elevators and a high glass enclosed footbridge.
However, it seems to be notably lacking a proper waiting room where passengers can get out of the elements, and features only a ‘portapot’ in place of proper toilets.
In place of our friendly ticket agent, there’s a modern CT rail ticket machine to dispense tickets. You can buy your Amtrak ticket on-line, over the phone, or using an App on your smart-phone.
Also on the ‘plus side’ the station is well suited to photography and will make for a nice place to board and photograph trains. Also, with the expanded Amtrak service and new CT rail Hartford Line trains, there’s more service than there has been in many years.
Any thoughts?
I think the problem is mostly peeling paint – if they wash it there will be even less paint!
Regarding the fire that destroyed the old Berlin station building, from what I understand the investigation on the cause was never completed. According to a newspaper report the local fire marshal was not allowed to enter the building and the insurance carrier had taken the investigation responsibility but this may have been after the remnants of the old building were removed.
I hope that those overseeing the rebuilding of the former New Haven Railroad Windsor Locks station have fire protection in the building. Over my final few years working in the old building I wondered what the future would be for old station as constant requests for repair were ignored until the governor’s office intervened after a member of his staff saw about 10 coffee cans on the waiting room floor to catch dripping rain water. We then got a tarp on the roof and the failed heating system was resurrected. Perhaps the town should have purchased it instead of leaving its fate to others. (see Brian’s link to the station fire for more info)
The new station, with it’s coach floor level platforms is more user friendly for many passengers. But, as Brian mentioned, no toilets or heated waiting rooms are available. When I worked there I occasionally allowed passengers wait inside after hours until I left for home during the colder months. From what I saw passengers could go up inside the bridge passageway to get out of the wind although I don’t believe it is heated. From what I heard the ADA-grade porta-potty near the platform is a result of the lack of accessible toilets on the leased coaches used by CT Rail. Most Amtrak cars have unlocked toilets so those who have need should ride the Amtrak services. In my opinion it is a shame that some accommodation could not be reached to use the toilets on the CT Rail leased cars especially as an upgrade program is underway. Other passengers that are inconvenienced by “the new order” are those without computers or travel planning skills, many of them elderly, who liked to use their local ticket agent for ticket planning and purchases. They are not the target market for ridership and have no advocates as the mobility challenged do.
It is nice to see such a full train schedule, probably the best since the days of the New Haven Railroad. Many thanks to those – I imagine in the Connecticut Department of Transportation – for establishing the cross-honoring of tickets on the CT Rail and Amtrak services, and also for whoever was responsible for the timetable that shows all the services and most connections at New Haven. All this was a great service to the Hartford Line passengers no matter what carrier they used.
Despite the loss of my beloved old station where I worked for ver 20 years, I do like many of the changes and wish the Hartford Line all the best in the future.
Too bad that washing the Amtrak locomotives seems to be a lost art. Looks like several weeks of road grime on the 405. Sigh !