Metro North: 'All in All It Was a Horrible Morning'

This morning’s delays on all three Metro North commuter lines were caused by a combination of problems, including weather-related train issues, a broken water main that cascaded and froze switches, and police activity in the Bronx.

Electric trains unable to draw power from the third rail because of snow and ice conditions from yesterday’s snow and ice storm became disabled around Harlem-125th Street Station around 8 AM, Metro North officials said.

That took two of four tracks out of service during the height of the rush hour at two vital points in the area between Mott Haven in the Bronx and Grand Central Terminal where all three lines converge, therefore limiting operating flexibility.

No trains went out of Grand Central at all between 8:20 and 9 a.m.

“All in all it was a horrible morning,” said Metro North spokeswoman Marjorie Anders explaining the details:

The biggest issue was ice build-up on third rail shoes that prevented the trains from drawing power. In addition, several trains failed to make the changeover at Pelham and had to be dealt with manually by crews stationed there. There were intermittent switch failures around the territory. Several trains suffered mechanical failures, notably at 125th Street and one in the Park Avenue Tunnel.

Lots of trains were caught behind these disabled trains. Many were put in reverse to get around and congestion built quickly as this occurred during the very peak of the AM peak.

Northbound service out of Grand Central also was temporarily suspended at about 8:20 a.m. Some trains began moving again at about 9 a.m.

A rescue engine was dispatched from Mott Haven (in the south Bronx) to 125th Street to hitch up to the first disabled train, which died at about 8:05 a.m. and was on the move again at about 9 a.m.

One train was backed up to hitch onto the train that became disabled in the tunnel at about 8:15 a.m.

Customers were transferred from disabled trains onto alterative equipment at 125th Street.

So lots of things were going on that were very out of the ordinary.

There even was police activity in the Bronx briefly that caused some southbound trains to skip stops from Woodlawn to Melrose for about a half hour.

In addition, there was limited switching capacity in the Melrose area as a result of a water main break that occurred yesterday and spewed water onto the tracks that froze switches overnight.

The branch lines also had problems. Buses operated in place for various trains on the Waterbury, Danbury, New Canaan and Wassaic branches.

All in all it was a horrible morning.

Yesterday, with its heavy precipitation, most of the delays were caused by third rail fires caused by salt water (snow, slush rain, and de-icing crystals) coming into contact with electricity, arcing and causing the wooden third rail covers to smolder.

There also were switch issues caused by ice/slush build up in the narrow spaces between the “point” where the running rails “switch,” or move so that a train can change from one track to another.

Pantograph issue, which plagued us this morning at Pelham where the changeover from third rail to/from catenary, also caused by slush in the mechanisms.

1:40PM Hudson Line service is currently experiencing scattered residual delays up to 20 minutes due to an earlier disabled train. Substitute Bus Service was provided on the Danbury Branch for the 1:27PM train departing Danbury, but the bus was operating 15 to 20 minutes late. New Haven Line is now operating on or close to schedule. New Canaan Branch Line Service is now operating on or close to schedule.

NOON: New Canaan Branch customers should anticipate delays of 15 to 20 minutes due to a late connecting train and congestion. Danbury Branch customers should anticipate delays of 15 to 20 minutes due to mechanical difficulties and congestion.

11:52AM: New Haven Line service is experiencing residual delays up to 60 minutes due to earlier disabled trains and weather-related power issues. Hudson Line service is currently experiencing residual delays up to 30 minutes due to earlier disabled trains at Harlem 125th & Park Avenue. Harlem Line service is currently experiencing residual delays up to 20 minutes due to earlier disabled trains at Harlem & Park Avenue Tunnel.

11:16AM: Danbury Branch Northbound service is currently experiencing 20 to 30 minutes delays. Danbury Branch Southbound service is being delayed due to mechanical difficulties.

10:56AM Customers are experiencing residual delays up to 60 minutes due to earlier disabled trains at Harlem 125th St and the Park Avenue tunnel.

Substitute Bus Service will be provided on the New Canaan Branch for the 10:58 AM train departing Stamford making all stops to New Canaan.

Update: Morning and night substitute bus service will be provided on the New Canaan Branch for the 10:02 AM train departing Stamford making all stops to New Canaan.

Original story: It’s the second day in a row Metro North has had problems during the morning’s commute.

Yesterday morning, as usual the overhead wires on the New Haven Line were a problem. Also the commuter railroad became what you might call collateral damage from yesterday’s storm: De-icing salt used by crews to clear roadways got to and damaged a electrified third rail insulator, and the system had to be shut down to fix it.

This morning, several disabled trains, at 125th Street and in the Park Avenue Tunnel, stopped or slowed everything down. Riders tweeting from trains described going backward or just sitting; commuters stranded at stations where the temperatures are at single digits tweeted fury and frustration.

The disabled trains weren’t Metro North’s only problem this morning. The New Haven Line had weather-related power issues in the vicinity of Pelham that caused 10-15 minute delays around 7:30 a.m.

Danbury Branch southbound service was delayed due to mechanical difficulties.

Substitute Bus Service was provided on the Waterbury Branch for the 9:12 AM train departing Waterbury making all stops to Bridgeport.

Substitute Bus Service was provided on the Wassaic Branch for the 7:40 AM train departing Southeast due to mechanical difficulties.

This service update at 9:27AM:

Hudson, Harlem and New Haven Line service is currently experiencing residual delays of 30 to 60 minutes traveling into and out of Grand Central Terminal due to earlier disabled trains at Harlem 125th Street and in the Park Avenue Tunnel. Please listen for announcements at your station.

The MTA posted this service status at 8:44AM:

Hudson, Harlem and New Haven Line Customers should anticipate delays of 30 to 60 minutes traveling into and out of Grand Central Terminal due to a disabled trains at Harlem 125th Street and in the Park Avenue Tunnel. Please listen for announcements at your station.

SCREENGRAB: @EmanYouL

Last night, the snow caused small, ongoing delays everywhere.

Yesterday morning, 20-40 minute delays.

Metro North issued this explanation:

The delays you experienced this morning were due to power problems in the vicinity of 79th Street in the Park Avenue Tunnel.

Shortly before 8 AM, a third rail insulator failure knocked one of four tracks in the area out of service, creating train congestion and delays. This condition was caused by the effects of roadway deicing salt contaminating the electrified third rail insulators.

This failure requires us to shut off power, which enables crews to safely repair the condition.

Adding to the delays on the New Haven Line were weather-related issues with the roof-mounted pantographs that supply power to the trains from the overhead wire.

We apologize for any inconvenience you may have experienced as a result of these weather-related incidents.