Disruptions to Wednesday Morning Metro-North Train Service [Update]

Update 9:18 a.m.

Metro-North reports that ongoing catenary repair has affected New Haven line a.m. peak service.

What follows is a list of trains that will be canceled or combined to accommodate ongoing repairs to the overhead wire at Noroton Heights:

• The 6:25 a.m. from Bridgeport to Grand Central Terminrriving at New Haven-State Street at 9:28 a.m. is canceled and combined with the 6:11 a.m. from New Haven to Stamford, which will operate to Grand Central and make all stops of both trains.
• The 5:57 a.m. from Waterbury to Stamford is combined with the 6:57 a.m. from Bridgeport to Grand Central Terminal. Customers traveling from Waterbury Branch stations to Stamford should transfer at Bridgeport to the 7:06 a.m. express to Stamford, arriving at 7:32 a.m.
• The 5:50 a.m. from New London (7:02 a.m. from New Haven) to Stamford is canceled at New Haven. Customers will be accommodated on the 7:30 a.m. from New Haven to Grand Central Terminal, arriving Stamford at 8:16 a.m.
• The 6:55 a.m. from Old Saybrook (7:44 a.m. from New Haven) to Stamford is canceled at New Haven. Customers will be accommodated on the 8:22 a.m. from South Norwalk which will originate in New Haven at 7:44 a.m. and make all stops of both trains.
• The 7:26 a.m. from Danbury to Stamford is terminated at South Norwalk. Customers for Stamford will be accommodated on the 8:22 a.m. from South Norwalk, arriving Stamford at 8:37 a.m.
• The 8:49 a.m. from South Norwalk is canceled and combined with the 8:04 a.m. from New Haven, which will make all stops of both trains, arriving at Grand Central Terminal at 9:50 AM.
• The 8:10 a.m. from Stamford to New Haven-State Street is canceled. Customers will be accommodated on the 8:24 a.m. from Stamford, arriving at New Haven-State Street at 9:28 a.m.

"Details on train times are available on our schedules page," Metro-North says. "We regret any inconvenience you may have experienced as a result of this service disruption."

Update 4:29 p.m.

Metro North Railroad has announced changes to the New Haven line morning schedule during peak hours Wednesday as a result of repairs needed on the overhead wire near Noroton Heights. Wire damage in this area led to delays of between 30 and 45 minutes Tuesday morning.

The following trains will be canceled or combined to accommodate ongoing repairs to the overhead wire:

 The following westbound (to Grand Central) trains are canceled and/or combined with other trains:

• The 6:25 a.m. from Bridgeport to Grand Central Terminal is canceled and combined with the 6:11 a.m. from New Haven to Stamford, which will operate to Grand Central and make all stops of both trains.
• Shore Line East/New Haven Line Through Service: The 6:55 a.m. from Old Saybrook (7:44 a.m. from New Haven) to Stamford is canceled at New Haven. Customers will be accommodated on the 8:22 a.m. from South Norwalk which will originate in New Haven at 7:44 a.m. and make all stops of both trains.
• Danbury Branch: The 7:26 a.m. from Danbury to Stamford is terminated at South Norwalk. Customers for Stamford will be accommodated on the 8:22 a.m. from South Norwalk, arriving in Stamford at 8:37 a.m.
• The 8:49 a.m. from South Norwalk is canceled and combined with the 8:04 a.m. from New Haven, which will make all stops of both trains, arriving at Grand Central Terminal at 9:50 a.m.

 The following eastbound (to New Haven) train is canceled:

• The 8:10 a.m. from Stamford to New Haven-State Street is canceled. Customers will be accommodated on the 8:24 a.m. from Stamford, arriving at New Haven-State Street at 8:28 a.m.

 Details on train times are available on the schedules page.

Update 2:23 p.m.

Connecticut Light & Power reports the outage that caused more than 400 residents in the Westport and Norwalk areas to lose power has been restored. No other outages are reported at this time.

"We do not have a definitive cause," CL&P spokesman Mitch Gross said. "Our crews patrolled the lines and found nothing. Obviously, something may have hit the line and triggered the outage. We restored it. We have to check the line and make sure it's okay. We found no damage and restored the power."

As for the weather, coastal communities are out of the winter weather advisory issued this morning.  The winter storm warning for inland communities remains in effect until 6 p.m. More rain is possible tonight and Wednesday and there is a chance for snow Thurdsay and into Friday.

Update 1:03 p.m.

Connecticut Light & Power is investigating the source of an outage that has caused 332 Norwalk residents and 100 Westport residents to lose power. 

CL&P Spokesman Jeff Tillman said the outages could be from the same source. He did not know if the outage was the result of heavy ice and snow on power lines.

Update 11:10 a.m.

As of 11 a.m., all power has been restored in Fairfield County, according to Connecticut Light & Power.

Update 10:20 a.m.

Due to the wintry weather and state of today's icy roadways, Governor Dannel P. Malloy has ordered a partial activation of the State Emergency Operations Center to monitor power outages and road conditions as this messy storm continues to move through Connecticut, according to a news release. Malloy has scheduled a call with key commissioners and departments at 11:30 a.m., to further assess the situation.

As of 10:20 a.m., only 10 customers are without power in Greenwich. No other Fairfield County towns are reporting outages at this time, according to Connecticut Light & Power.

 “I am urging everyone to take it slow on the roads, and if you don’t have to go out, please consider staying home until the plows have a chance to get through our roads following the morning commute,” Malloy said in the release. “We are closely monitoring the situation and will make any necessary decisions in terms of staggered release or other actions later this morning. But in the meantime, please be safe and mindful of the elements at hand.”

Malloy again urged residents to alert authorities of any drooping power lines and be mindful of snow piled up on flat surfaces, which will continue to get heavier as rain and ice are added on top.

Update 9:46 a.m.

Inland towns in Fairfield County remain under a winter storm warning but the coastal communities in southern Fairfield County are in a winter weather advisory until 1 p.m. The advisory calls for sleet, ice and freezing rain that could cause "hazardous" driving conditions, according to the National Weather Service.

The outlook for the rest of the week could bring more snow Thursday night into Friday, according to the weather service.

Original Story

The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning for Fairfield County and cautions residents of snow, sleet and freezing rain. The warning remains in effect until 6 p.m. today.

As a result of the weather, Metro North trains are operating between 30 and 45 minutes behind schedule. Many schools are closed today as well.

Between 3 and 5 inches of snow and sleet are expected to fall this morning and the weather service predicts ice will accrete on top of that, creating dangerous driving conditions. Precipitation is expected to taper off to drizzle or isolated rain showers this evening. 

Temperatures will be in the upper teens and slowly rise toward freezing later in the day, according to the weather service.

Travel will be hazardous during the morning rush because of the ice and snow. The combined weight of ice and snow could bring down tree limbs and power lines, reports the weather service.

Gov. Dannel Malloy has cautioned residents of the weather and urged anyone who sees droopy power lines to contact local authorities.