Our next schedule change on Monday, August 30 is being initiated to accommodate a major multi-year Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) catenary and bridge improvement project on the New Haven Line.
The work involves the replacement of the 100-year old overhead catenary wires that supply power to our trains as well as the reconstruction of 5 rail bridges in this critical section of the New Haven Line.
The schedule change will affect most peak-hour trains on the New Haven Line. Two of four tracks will be continually out of service between Southport and Bridgeport, limiting our track capacity.
As a result, many peak-hour New Haven Line trains (including some modification to Shore Line East trains) will operate up to 6 minutes earlier or up to 14 minutes later. Also, station stops made by some trains will change.
There will also be track outages that will require you to board trains from temporary platforms, and occasionally from opposite-side platforms.
Metro-North and CTDOT worked together in an effort to limit the project’s impacts on providing reliable train service.
As part of this effort, trains will be utilizing the new interlocking at Southport, which has been built to mitigate more significant schedule impacts.
The improvements to the catenary system, bridges and signals will ultimately result in a more reliable service. Metro-North and CTDOT appreciate your patience during this project as we work to provide reliable service during this time with limited operating flexibility due to this major construction effort.
Other changes to look for in the new timetable include:
●Harlem and Hudson schedules will also have some minor adjustments to accommodate this work, since all three lines share tracks between Grand Central and the Bronx.
●Changes to the New Haven Line schedule will also require some customers traveling to stations within Connecticut to transfer at Stamford to get to their station, instead of using direct train service.
●There will also be a direct train added to the New Canaan Branch departing Grand Central at 4:43 PM.
●Beginning in September, a signal replacement project will require off-peak busing for four weekends and up to 16 weeks on weekdays on the Danbury branch. Buses are highlighted in the timetable.
New timetables are available in Grand Central and outlying ticket offices. Or view one on our schedules page. New train times are also currently available in the interactive timetable.
Be sure to pick up a new timetable for possible changes to your commute.
