The station has two accessible high-level side platforms, each 10 cars long. The two inner tracks, not adjacent to either platform, are used only by express trains.[4]: 20
Several parking lots on both sides of the tracks serve the station with a total of 860 spaces.[5] The state owns the parking lots nearest the Post Road and on the west (south) side of the tracks between the Post Road and Leroy Avenue (with 195 spaces[6]). The town owns the "Leroy West" parking lot west of Leroy Avenue (toward New York City). The parking lot at the corner of West and Leroy Avenues is privately owned.[5]
History
Platform reconstruction in December 2023
Downtown Darien, originally known as "Darien Depot", grew up around the train station, replacing the Noroton commercial district (2–3 miles to the east, along the Post Road) by the 1870s. By then, the train connection to New York City allowed wealthy New Yorkers to build vacation homes along the shore, beginning Darien's history as a wealthy suburb.[7]
In the 1890s, the railroad tracks were raised above the street level, creating the railroad bridges over the Post Road, which marks the east side of the station, and over Leroy Avenue, at the western end. A Chinese laundry business has been located near the station since the 1890s, operated by various owners. The historic station building was rehabilitated in 2002.[5]
In 2017, a state report concluded that Darien was the highest priority station in the state for needed repairs. By October 2020, platform replacement and accessibility improvements totaling $34M were planned to begin in February 2022.[8] The project ultimately began in November 2023.[9]
^ abc[1] Bureau of Public Transportation of the Connecticut Department of Transportation, "Darien Train Station Visual Inspection Report" dated January 2007 (although parts of the inspection were carried out in September 2006)
