Darien train station construction passes 2-year mark and there are signs of progress
Virtually no progress has been shown regarding the renovations at the Darien train station.
With construction now passing the two-year mark at the Darien train station, there are signs that there has been progress.
The Connecticut Department of Transportation started the renovations near the end of 2023, replacing the platforms on both side, making the station more accessible and replacing other parts of the infrastructure.
"It's a huge inconvenience, parking's a pain," said Erin Dunne, who takes the train from Darien almost every day.
"It does get frustrating when you're hurrying to catch the train," agreed Robin Woods, who said she takes the train from Darien occasionally for social outings.
While the DOT originally expected the work to be done in the summer of 2025, in January 2026, it is still continuing.
"If they could just speed it up for Pete's sake," said Ryan Krwaski, another regular train rider, "it's just been forever."
Darien First Selectman Jon Zagrodzsky tells News 12 that multiple issues have led to the delays.
"This has been an enormous source of irritation," he admitted. "I would say that the Department (of Transportation) though has been very forthright in explaining what those are."
Among the issues, the platform, which will be the first in Connecticut to be electrically heated to melt ice on it, took longer than expected to make.
The company making the metal railings on the station also went out of business, leading to temporary wooden ones on the platform now.
On the New Haven-bound side, construction crews also found the remains of an abandoned Great Depression-era building, which had been buried.
"When I hear about the delays, it's disappointing, but I understand why they're there," Zagrodzsky said. "The main thing is just for everyone to be patient, because when they do finish, this station is going to look terrific."
Things are moving along.
As of the first full week of January, the east side of the platforms on both sides are the track and been finished and reopened, with the west sides now being closed to be demolished and replaced.
"You do see progress, and that's important so, when it's done, I'll be happy," said Woods. "It is going to be worth it."
The DOT tells News 12 that work should be fully finished some time this year, with Zagrodzsky saying he expects it to be finished around the end of the summer.
In November, the town also purchased the 270-spot parking lot on the Manhattan-bound side, which had been privately owned by a family.
While there had been a separate booth and attendant, payment for the lot is now either on the app or at the pay station, like the rest of the lots around the train station.
"It would have been very unpopular if we had not bought that lot, and it had been sold to say a developer who took out all the parking," Zagrodzsky said. "In terms of what comes next, in terms of if we put in a parking garage, let's see."
