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Metro-North Update

Posted by
on February 10th, 2013 at 9:16 pm

Just a few minutes ago, the MTA sent out an update on Metro-North service. Here are the details from the release I received:

On Monday morning, February 11, regular weekday train schedules will remain in effect on Metro-North Railroad’s entire Hudson and Harlem lines, as well as on the New Haven Line between Stamford and Grand Central Terminal.

And for the first time since the blizzard of 2013 hit, trains will operate between New Haven and Stamford at about half of the normal weekday rush hour service level. Train service also will resume on the Danbury and New Canaan branches, but not the Waterbury branch.

On the Danbury Branch, four of the five regular trains will operate. The 6:18 a.m. departure from Danbury will not operate.

In addition, there are several minor changes in service between Stamford and New York. The 6:11 a.m. from Stamford is cancelled and customers who usually catch the 7:35 a.m. out of Port Chester (that also stops at Rye at 7:39 a.m.) will be accommodated on the local that leaves Stamford at 6:59 a.m. – within five minutes of their regular time.

Also, some of the east end trains that ordinarily stop at Greenwich are not running tomorrow.

Both the Haverstraw and Newburgh ferries and the Hudson Rail Link buses are running tomorrow.

All customers should use caution when entering/existing trains and on the platforms and stairs. New Haven Line customers should anticipate crowded trains.

A regular off-peak/midday scheduled will be in operations. The PM peak schedule will be available Monday morning.

Many Connecticut residents in the New Haven area, including Metro-North employees, may have trouble reaching their train stations and work locations because many local roads remain impassable.

Crews continued working all day and overnight to remove deep snow from yards in New Haven and Bridgeport and to clear the track switches that allow trains to change from one track to another. In addition to Metro-North forces, about 45 maintenance of way workers from New York City Transit rode a diesel train to Bridgeport and New Haven yards to assist in the clean up effort. Another crew of 45 workers were to arrive at about 9:30 pm to continue working in the yards.

There are two jet engine snow blowers at work and CDOT has sent two frontend loaders and several triple axle trucks to remove snow from the yards.

In addition, deep snow has to be removed manually from the roof of each train car so that the pantographs can go up and down. (The pantographs are the mechanical arms that capture electricity from the overhead catenary wires.)

Metro-North has been running empty trains up and down the line this evening to help clear switches, overhead wires and train roofs to ensure that the infrastructure and trains are operating safely and reliably after the three-day hiatus.

For specific schedules, please check http://mta.info/mnr or in New York City call 511. In Connecticut, call toll-free 877-690-5114.

I will post if I receive any other updates so keep checking in here or by following Transit Blogger on Twitter by clicking the button in the sidebar.

xoxo Transit Blogger

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Metro-North, Service Alerts
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Metro-North To Resume Partial Service

Posted by
on February 9th, 2013 at 10:44 am

Just a few minutes ago, the MTA announced that the Metro-North Railroad will resume service on the Harlem & Hudson lines as of 11AM. Service on the New Haven line continues to remain suspended. Here are the details via the press release I received:

With the worst of the storm over, Metro-North Railroad is resuming service at approximately 11 AM on the full Hudson Line and the Harlem Line between Grand Central and Southeast. The following trains will be the first to operate:

Hudson Line:

• 11:20 AM from Grand Central to Croton-Harmon

• 11:45 AM from Grand Central to Poughkeepsie

• 11:00 AM from Croton-Harmon to Grand Central

• 11:40 AM from Poughkeepsie to Grand Central

Harlem Line:

• 11:25 AM from Grand Central to North White Plains

• 11:48 AM from Grand Central to Southeast

• 11:06 AM from North White Plains to Grand Central

• 11:13 from Southeast to Grand Central

Service remains suspended between Southeast and Wassaic.

New Haven Line service remains suspended until further notice. Parts of the line are buried under three feet of snow. Metro-North employees continue to conduct aggressive snow fighting operations.
Many roads remain closed in Metro-North’s service territory.

Metro-North urges customers to monitor media reports and to check the MTA web site at www.mta.info for the latest updates.

Please take care when traveling during inclement weather and allow for additional travel time. Customers should use caution when entering and exiting trains, and on platforms and staircases.

Quite honestly if you have no legitimate reason to be outside such as emergency, stay home! Why put yourself through what will be a hellish commute.

xoxo Transit Blogger

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Metro-North To Suspend Service At 10PM

Posted by
on February 8th, 2013 at 8:45 pm

Just a few minutes ago, the MTA announced that the Metro-North will suspend service at approximately 10PM. Here are the details via the press release just sent out:

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced tonight that because of the accelerating severity of the current storm as well as projections of heavy snowfall accumulations, Metro-North Railroad will suspend service starting at 10 p.m. to reduce the likelihood of stranding trains and to begin snow clearing operations. The Long Island Rail Road is monitoring snow conditions in its territory and service suspensions remain possible tonight. Tonight’s weather could also force the curtailment or suspension of some subway or bus service, although no major suspensions are currently anticipated. Customers are advised to limit travel or stay home if possible.

Below are the latest service details for MTA services:

New York City Subway:

There are currently no plans to suspend service on any of the subway lines that run overnight. Most express subway lines are operating with local service to allow underground train storage.
Beginning before midnight, 7 train service will be suspended from Times Square to Vernon-Jackson Avenues in order to allow crews to move trains to safe storage underground. 7 service in Queens will operate between Main Street and Queensboro Plaza, with a train shuttle between Queensboro Plaza and Vernon-Jackson Avenues.

Buses in New York City:

As ridership has decreased with inclement weather, frequency of service on many bus routes has been scaled back.

Metro-North Railroad:

Because of the accelerating severity of the storm as well as projected snowfall accumulations of more than a foot, Metro-North Railroad will begin a suspension of train service on the Hudson, Harlem and New Haven Lines at approximately 10 p.m. This service suspension will continue until further notice.

With the significant increase in snowfall and high winds, the risk of a train becoming disabled with customers on board also increases significantly. Therefore, it is important to stop service at this time to ensure customer safety and to allow Metro-North employees to conduct aggressive snow fighting operations to keep the right of way as clear as possible. Road conditions have also deteriorated, with many road closures in Metro-North’s service territory.

In addition, Grand Central Terminal will close after the last trains arrive, approximately midnight.

Long Island Rail Road:

The Long Island Rail Road is monitoring snow conditions in its territory and service suspensions remain possible tonight. Some branch line service suspensions remain possible if snow reaches between 10-13 inches.

Access-A-Ride:

Paratransit sedans were removed from service this evening. The only vehicles on the road will be Access-A-Ride vehicles equipped with chains. In addition, we are cancelled the No Show /Late Cancellation policy for Friday, Saturday and Sunday and the Intermodal Trip Planner (ITP – Feeder/Trip by Trip) for Saturday and Sunday. Customers are being contacted in advance of pick-up to ensure the trips are still desired.

I will post as I receive any info from them.

xoxo Transit Blogger

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Service Diversions 02-04-13

Posted by
on February 4th, 2013 at 6:28 am

I have just updated the Service Diversions by removing the work that wrapped up a short time ago.

As always if I see anything interesting or noteworthy, I will tweet about it so follow @TransitBlogger which you can easily do by clicking the button in the sidebar.

Have a wonderful week!

xoxo Transit Blogger

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Service Diversions 02-01-13

Posted by
on February 1st, 2013 at 8:08 am

I have just updated the Service Diversions for the upcoming weekend, next week & beyond in some cases.

Make sure to follow the @TransitBlogger Twitter account for all sorts of news, random tidbits & pictures. The easiest way to do so would be to click the button in the sidebar.

Have a safe & wonderful weekend!

xoxo Transit Blogger

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