# List of Connecticut railroads

This is a list of railroad companies which currently or formerly operated at least partially in the U.S. state of Connecticut.

## Active railroads
### Freight carriers

Freight carriers :
| Name | Mark | Founded | Predecessor(s) | Description | Owner |
| Branford Steam Railroad | BRFD | 1903 | N/A | Hauls stone from a Tilcon quarry in North Branford. | Tilcon Connecticut |
| Central New England Railroad | CNZR | 1995 | ConrailGuilford Rail System | Operates two branch lines in and around Hartford. | Independent |
| Connecticut Southern Railroad | CSO | 1996 | Conrail | Operates along Amtrak's New Haven–Springfield Line via trackage rights, along with several branches. Hauls freight between Cedar Hill Yard and West Springfield, Massachusetts, for CSX. | Genesee & Wyoming |
| CSX Transportation | CSXT | 1980 | Conrail | Assumed Conrail's Connecticut operations in 1999, chiefly on the New Haven Line and at Cedar Hill Yard. | CSX Corporation |
| Housatonic Railroad | HRRC | 1983 | ConrailGuilford Rail System | Operates a north-south line in western Connecticut, along with several branches. | Independent |
| Naugatuck Railroad | NAUG | 1996 | Guilford Rail System | Primarily a heritage railroad, but also provides freight service between Waterbury and Torrington. | Railroad Museum of New England |
| New England Central Railroad | NECR | 1995 | Central Vermont Railway | Operates a main line between New London and the Massachusetts state line, via Willimantic. | Genesee & Wyoming |
| Pan Am Southern | PAS | 2009 | Pan Am Railways | Joint venture between NS and PAR, operates all former PAR trackage in the state. | Norfolk Southern Railway (50%)Pan Am Railways (50%) |
| Providence and Worcester Railroad | PW | 1847 (original company) | Penn Central Transportation Company | Separated from Penn Central Transportation Company in 1973, operates across central and western Connecticut. | Genesee & Wyoming |

### Passenger carriers

Connecticut passenger rail stations :
Legend :
Services :
This diagram: viewtalkedit :
| Name | Mark | Founded | Predecessor(s) | Description | Owner |
| Amtrak | AMTK | 1971 | Penn Central Transportation Company | National intercity passenger railroad of the United States. Operates on the Northeast Corridor, owns and operates the New Haven–Springfield Line. | Federal government of the United States |
| CT Rail | CNDX | 1990 | N/A | Brand for commuter rail services operated by the State of Connecticut. Includes the Hartford Line, run under contract by TransitAmerica Services and Alternate Concepts, and Shore Line East, run under contract by Amtrak. | Connecticut Department of Transportation |
| Metro-North Railroad | MNCW | 1983 | Conrail | Operates commuter service along the New Haven Line, New Canaan Branch, Danbury Branch, and Waterbury Branch, under contract with the state of Connecticut. | Metropolitan Transportation Authority |

### Heritage railroads

| Name | Mark | Founded | Predecessor(s) | Owner |
| Connecticut Trolley Museum | | 1940 | Hartford and Springfield Street Railway Company | |
| Danbury Railway Museum | DRMX | 1994 | Metro-North Railroad | Independent |
| Naugatuck Railroad | NAUG | 1996 | | Railroad Museum of New England |
| Shore Line Trolley Museum | | 1945 | Connecticut Company | Branford Electric Railway Association |
| Valley Railroad | VALE | 1971 | Penn Central Transportation Company | |

## Defunct railroads

| Name | Mark | System | From | To | Successor | Description |
| Boston, Hartford and Erie Railroad | | NH | 1863 | 1874 | New York and New England Railroad | |
| Boston and Maine Corporation | BM | | 1983 | | | Still exists as a lessor of Pan Am Railways operating subsidiary Springfield Terminal Railway |
| Boston and New York Air-Line Railroad | | NH | 1875 | 1907 | New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad | |
| Boston and New York Central Railroad | | NH | 1853 | 1858 | Midland Railroad | |
| Boston, Norwich and New London Railroad | | NH | 1832 | 1836 | Norwich and Worcester Railroad | |
| Branch Company | | NH | 1845 | 1850 | Hartford and New Haven Railroad | Built a short spur between the H&NH main line in Hartford, and the Connecticut River. |
| Central New England Railway | CNE | NH | 1899 | 1927 | New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad | |
| Central New England and Western Railroad | NH | | 1889 | 1892 | Philadelphia, Reading and New England Railroad | |
| Central Vermont Railroad | | CN | 1873 | 1899 | Central Vermont Railway | |
| Central Vermont Railway | CV | CN | 1899 | 1995 | New England Central Railroad | |
| Colchester Railroad | | NH | 1876 | 1907 | New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad | |
| Connecticut Central Railroad | CCCL | | 1987 | 1998 | Providence and Worcester Railroad | Shortline railroad that operated former Conrail trackage in and around Middletown, Connecticut. |
| Connecticut Central Railroad | | NH | 1871 | 1887 | New York and New England Railroad | |
| Connecticut Valley Railroad | | NH | 1868 | 1880 | Hartford and Connecticut Valley Railroad | |
| Connecticut Western Railroad | | NH | 1868 | 1881 | Hartford and Connecticut Western Railroad | |
| Consolidated Rail Corporation | CR | | 1976 | 1999 | CSX Transportation | |
| Danbury and Norwalk Railroad | | NH | 1850 | 1907 | New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad | |
| Danbury Terminal Railroad | DTRR | | 1993 | 1996 | Housatonic Railroad | |
| East Granby and Suffield Railroad | | NH | 1901 | 1908 | Central New England Railway | |
| East Thompson Railroad | | NH | 1853 | 1858 | Boston and New York Central Railroad | |
| Fairfield County Railroad | | NH | 1835 | 1850 | Danbury and Norwalk Railroad | |
| Farmington Valley Railroad | | NH | 1852 | 1862 | New Haven and Northampton Railroad | Built an extension of the New Haven and Northampton Railroad from Granby to the Massachusetts state line, leased by the NH&N soon after completion. |
| Hartford and Connecticut Valley Railroad | | NH | 1879 | 1892 | New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad | |
| Hartford and Connecticut Western Railroad | | NH | 1881 | 1947 | New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad | |
| Hartford and New Haven Railroad | | NH | 1833 | 1872 | New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad | The first railroad built in Connecticut; construction began in 1836. Opened from New Haven to Hartford in 1839, to Springfield, Massachusetts in 1844. Merged with the New York and New Haven Railroad in 1872. |
| Hartford and Providence Railroad | | NH | 1847 | 1849 | Hartford, Providence and Fishkill Railroad | |
| Hartford, Providence and Fishkill Railroad | | NH | 1849 | 1879 | New York and New England Railroad | |
| Hartford and Springfield Railroad | | NH | 1835 | 1847 | Hartford and New Haven Railroad | Formed in 1835 to build north from Hartford to the Massachusetts state line. Owned and operated by the Hartford and New Haven Railroad, merged into that company in 1847. |
| Housatonic Railroad | | NH | 1836 | 1898 | New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad | |
| Manchester Railroad | | NH | 1833 | 1847 | Hartford and Providence Railroad | |
| Manufacturers' Railroad | | NH | 1893 | 1907 | New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad | |
| Meriden and Cromwell Railroad | | NH | 1882 | 1888 | Meriden, Waterbury and Connecticut River Railroad | |
| Meriden and Waterbury Railroad | | NH | 1887 | 1888 | Meriden, Waterbury and Connecticut River Railroad | |
| Meriden, Waterbury and Connecticut River Railroad | | NH | 1888 | 1896 | Middletown, Meriden and Waterbury Railroad | |
| Middletown Railroad | | NH | 1844 | 1850 | Hartford and New Haven Railroad | Formed by citizens of Middletown to connect their city to the H&NH main line in Berlin. Built in 1848, purchased by the H&NH in 1850. |
| Middletown Extension Railroad | | NH | 1857 | 1861 | Hartford and New Haven Railroad | Formed to build an extension of the Middletown Railroad to the Connecticut River. Built in 1860, consolidated into the Hartford and New Haven Railroad the following year. |
| Middletown, Meriden and Waterbury Railroad | | NH | 1897 | 1907 | New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad | |
| Midland Railroad | | NH | 1858 | 1862 | Midland Land Damage Company | |
| Midland Land Damage Company | | NH | 1861 | 1863 | Southern Midland Railroad | |
| Naugatuck Railroad | | NH | 1845 | 1906 | New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad | |
| New Britain and Middletown Railroad | | NH | 1852 | 1868 | Hartford and New Haven Railroad | Formed by citizens in New Britain to construct a short branch to the H&NH in Berlin. Constructed in 1862, it was operated by the H&NH until that company absorbed it in 1868. |
| New Canaan Railroad | | NH | 1866 | 1883 | Stamford and New Canaan Railroad | |
| New England Railroad | | NH | 1895 | 1908 | New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad | |
| New Haven and Derby Railroad | | NH | 1864 | 1907 | New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad | |
| New Haven, Middletown and Willimantic Railroad | | NH | 1867 | 1875 | Boston and New York Air-Line Railroad | |
| New Haven and New London Railroad | | NH | 1848 | 1865 | Shore Line Railway | |
| New Haven, New London and Stonington Railroad | | NH | 1858 | 1864 | New York, Providence and Boston Railroad | |
| New Haven and Northampton Railroad | | NH | 1846 | 1910 | New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad | |
| New London Northern Railroad | | CN | 1859 | 1951 | Central Vermont Railway | |
| New London and Stonington Railroad | | NH | 1852 | 1864 | New York, Providence and Boston Railroad | |
| New London, Willimantic and Palmer Railroad | | CN | 1849 | 1861 | New London Northern Railroad | |
| New London, Willimantic and Springfield Railroad | | CN | 1847 | 1849 | New London, Willimantic and Palmer Railroad | |
| New York and Boston Railroad | | NH | 1846 | 1865 | Boston, Hartford and Erie Railroad | |
| New York and Hartford Railroad | | NH | 1845 | 1849 | Hartford, Providence and Fishkill Railroad | |
| New York, Housatonic and Northern Railroad | | NH | 1864 | 1882 | Housatonic Railroad | |
| New York and New England Railroad | | NH | 1873 | 1895 | New England Railroad | |
| New York and New Haven Railroad | | NH | 1844 | 1872 | New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad | |
| New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad | NH | NH | 1872 | 1969 | Penn Central Transportation Company | |
| New York, Providence and Boston Railroad | | NH | 1833 | 1893 | New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad | |
| New York and Stonington Railroad | | NH | 1832 | 1833 | New York, Providence and Boston Railroad | |
| Norwich and Worcester Railroad | | NH | 1836 | 1976 | Consolidated Rail Corporation | |
| Penn Central Transportation Company | PC | | 1969 | 1976 | Consolidated Rail Corporation | |
| Philadelphia, Reading and New England Railroad | | NH | 1892 | 1899 | Central New England Railway | |
| Rockville Railroad | | NH | 1863 | 1907 | New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad | |
| Rockville Branch Railroad | | NH | 1857 | 1863 | New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad | |
| Shepaug, Litchfield and Northern Railroad | | NH | 1866 | 1898 | New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad | |
| Shore Line Railway | | NH | 1864 | 1897 | New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad | |
| South Manchester Railroad | | NH | 1866 | 1976 | Consolidated Rail Corporation | |
| Southbridge and Blackstone Railroad | | NH | 1849 | 1853 | Boston and New York Central Railroad | |
| Southern Midland Railroad | | NH | 1863 | 1863 | Boston, Hartford and Erie Railroad | |
| Stamford and New Canaan Railroad | | NH | 1882 | 1890 | New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad | |
| Thompson and Willimantic Railroad | | NH | 1857 | 1863 | Boston, Hartford and Erie Railroad | |
| Vermont Central Railroad | | CN | 1871 | 1873 | Central Vermont Railroad | |
| Watertown and Waterbury Railroad | | NH | 1869 | 1893 | Naugatuck Railroad | Chartered in 1869 to connect Watertown to the Naugatuck Railroad in Waterbury. Was leased by the Naugatuck Railroad upon opening in the fall of 1870, which absorbed it in 1893. |
| Windsor Locks and Suffield Railroad | | NH | 1868 | 1871 | Hartford and New Haven Railroad | Formed in 1868 to construct a branch between Suffield and Windsor Locks, where it met the H&NH. Built in 1870, it was absorbed by the H&NH in 1871. |

### Street railroads

Entries in this list were interurbans, streetcars, or other electric railroads dedicated to passenger transport.
| Name | Founded | Disestablished | Successor |
| Branford Lighting and Water Company | | 1905 | Consolidated Railway |
| Bridgeport Horse Railway Company | | | |
| Bridgeport Railway Company | | | |
| Bridgeport Traction Company | | | |
| Bristol Traction Company | | | |
| Central Railway and Electric Company | | | |
| Cheshire Street Railway | | | |
| Connecticut Company | | | |
| Connecticut Railway and Lighting Company | | | |
| Consolidated Railway | | | |
| Danbury and Bethel Street Railway | | | |
| Fair Haven and Westville Railroad | | | |
| Farmington Street Railway | | | |
| Hartford and Springfield Street Railway | | | |
| Hartford, Manchester and Rockville Tramway Company | | | |
| Hartford Street Railway | | | |
| Hartford and West Hartford Horse Railroad | | | |
| Meriden Electric Railroad | | | |
| Meriden, Southington and Compounce Tramway Company | | | |
| Middletown Street Railroad | | | |
| Montville Street Railway | | | |
| New Haven Street Railway | | | |
| New London Street Railway | | | |
| Norwich Street Railway | | | |
| People's Tramway | | | |
| Shore Line Electric Railway | | | |
| Stamford Street Railroad | | | |
| Stafford Springs Street Railway | | | |
| Torrington and Winchester Street Railway | | | |
| Waterbury and Milldale Tramway | June 5, 1907 | April 3, 1936 | Replaced by bus line |
| West Shore Railway | | | |
| Winchester Avenue Railroad | | | |

#### Not completed

* New York and Boston Rapid Transit Company
* Ridgefield and New York Railroad