AllAbout the Train

Among the many advantages that Darien offers residents is its convenient proximinity to NYC.

It’s just a 50 minute train ride from Darien or Noroton Heights station to Grand Central Station, the trains are clean and the people riding them – for the most part- are civilized.

Kind of an interesting history of the Metro-North Railroad

** There are 2 train stations in Darien, both on the New Haven Line

—– Darien Train Station (center of downtown Darien, taxi stand, monthly permit-only parking and a daily paid parking lot, free parking on weekends and holidays)

—– Noroton Heights Train Station (not walking distance to downtown Darien; permit-only parking)

** Trains run “Express” and “Local.”

—– Express trains into the city from Darien will stop at Noroton Heights and Stamford Stations, and then go straight into NYC, skipping other stops along the route. Express trains sometimes stop at 125th Street Station, which is the station just before Grand Central Terminal, but either way it’s a much faster trip on an Express train, usually about 50 minutes.

—– Local trains from Darien will stop at every station along the line between Darien and Grand Central Terminal, and the trip from Darien into the city on a Local train is about 1 and 1/2 hrs.

Tickets are priced according to “Peak” and “Off-Peak” hours, and these fares only apply to trains going into the city in the morning and coming out of the city in the evenings (and all the stops in-between)

—– Peak Hours: weekdays only — going into the city: 5am to 10am, coming out of the city: 4pm to 8pm; Cost about $3 more per ticket

—– Off-Peak: all other times

** There is an additional charge for purchasing your tickets on board the train, so definitely try to buy them at the station.

** The Darien station has a manned ticket office that is open weekdays only from 6:10am to 1:30pm (closed briefly between 11 and 11:20am).  The Noroton Heights station does not have a manned ticket office but is open from 5am – 5pm.

** Both stations have outdoor ticket kiosks that accept cash or credit cards; the Darien station also has an ATM machine right on the platform.

** Both stations have covered areas on the platform where you can stand during inclement weather, and while the ticket offices have limited operating hours, the station waiting room is usually open and has a restroom and vending machines.

Tags: Commuting, Train

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