Metro-North Fire: Delays on Metro-North, Regular Service Schedule Friday: UPDATE

• PHOTOS: Engineers assessed the stability of the Metro-North Viaduct after the fire as Gov. Andrew Cuomo toured the site. Credit: Marc A. Hermann / MTA New York City Transit

UPDATE—Friday, May 20, 2016, 10:30 a.m.: As anticipated, due to the speed restrictions traveling over the fire-damaged East Harlem viaduct, Metro-North said passengers can expect 5 to 10 minute delays on all three lines.

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UPDATE—Friday, May 20, 2016, 6:45 a.m.: We are seeing something Friday morning we haven’t seen this Tuesday: Good Service notifications for the Hudson, Harlem and New Haven Lines on Metro-North.

The railroad is operating on a normal weekday schedule, according to lohud.com, but don’t be surprised if there are some delays.

Crews have shored up the support beams at the East Harlem viaduct, but trains will be slowing down as they pass over that area, lohud. com said.

See the update immediately below for more information from Metro-North.

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UPDATE—Thursday, May 19, 2016, 6:45 p.m.: Friday's morning commute should be a relief to people traveling to New York City.

Metro-North said it will resume operating on a regular weekday schedule.

For the remainder of Thursday, the railroad will continue an enhanced Saturday schedule.

For train times, please see Metro-North's schedules page at http://as0.mta.info/mnr/schedules/sched_form.cfm.

The statement from Metro-North:

The return to a full schedule was made possible by round-the-clock work on the part of dedicated employees who on Thursday safely completed the installation of six temporary steel columns to brace a column damaged in Tuesday’s fire.

After the temporary columns were put into place and fully secured, Metro-North performed a number of required test train runs over the section of damaged viaduct, and the railroad pronounced that all four tracks are ready for service for the first time since the fire, although there will be speed restrictions of 30 miles per hour for the time being.

Customers should be prepared for minor delays resulting from the track speed restriction, which the railroad hopes to clear in the coming days. Customers should continue to check the website and news media for any updates, and listen for announcements at stations.

“I would like to thank our customers for bearing with us during what has been a very challenging two-and-a-half-day period,” said Joseph Giulietti, President of Metro-North Railroad.

“I also thank all the employees who responded to this crisis starting the moment it was reported, and who will continue to respond to it in the weeks ahead as we build permanent repairs to the viaduct,” President Giulietti continued. “It took a team effort of enormous proportions to get this service back as quickly as we did and to manage limited service over the past two and a half days, while dealing with reduced track capacity, and reduced fleet size and shorter trains on Wednesday that resulted when trains were blocked from leaving Grand Central on Tuesday evening.”

Metro-North crews will continue to work aggressively at the site, making other needed structural repairs to the viaduct, including the reinforcement of horizontal steel girders that run east-west along the width of the underside of the viaduct.

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UPDATE—Thursday, May 19, 2016, 9:45 a.m.: There’s some good from Metro-North.

The railroad got another track open Thursday night and is anticipating full service through the fire-damaged viaduct Friday.

Spokeswoman Meredith Daniels said the fourth track is expected to reopen in time for Friday’s morning rush, according to lohud.com.

Metro-North said on its website that Thursday’s enhanced Saturday schedule, which provided customers with additional trains during peak travel periods, represents 75% of ridership capacity.

The railroad is still advising its customer to consider working from home or finding alternate ways to get into the city—and that delays and crowding can be expected.

A fire that according to fire officials accidentally started when fuel spilled onto a hot generator caused a four-alarm blaze Tuesday. It heavily damaged a critical support column and other parts of the structure.

Metro-North has been shoring up the center portion temporarily so that trains can use all four tracks. There are still speed restrictions in place.

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UPDATE—Thursday, May 19, 2016, 6:30 a.m.: Commuters are still expected to face delays and crowded conditions as Metro-North continues to repair the East Harlem viaduct that was severely damaged Tuesday by a fire.

The railroad's statement on its website as of 5:49 a.m. Thursday is as follows:

Metro-North is operating an Enhanced Saturday Schedule for Thursday, May 19. The enhanced schedule, which is in effect on all three lines, will provide more peak period trains for customers than a regular Saturday Schedule. Meanwhile, repairs continue in order to bring the remaining track back into service. See service alternatives and more details at http://bit.ly/SeCMH3. See our schedules page at http://bit.ly/1th6oEF

Metro-North officials have said they are working toward normalizing service by Friday but, for the time being, riders should expect to follow a modified Saturday schedule until further notice. As of Wednesday evening, the railroad was implementing an enhanced Saturday schedule with more peak hours trains.

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UPDATE—Wednesday, May 18, 2016, 7:30 p.m.: There might be some relief for commuters heading to Grand Central Terminal Thursday morning.

Metro-North said it will operate an “Enhanced Saturday Schedule” for Thursday, May 19.

The enhanced schedule will provide more peak period trains for customers than a regular Saturday schedule, according to information posted at mta.info.

More details can be found at http://bit.ly/SeCMH3.

Metro-North officials have said they are working toward normalizing service by Friday but, for the time being, riders should expect to follow a modified Saturday schedule until further notice.

For the remainder of Wednesday, there will be a regular Saturday schedule In effect into and out of Grand Central Terminal for Wednesday, May 18. For Harlem-125th Street Station customers, between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. Wednesday night, all inbound trains and some outbound express trains will not stop at Harlem-125th Street Station in order to relieve congestion in the affected area.

Listen for announcements at the stations, Metro-North said.

Service alternatives and more details can be found at http://bit.ly/SeCMH3. See the schedules page at http://as0.mta.info/mnr/schedules/sched_form.cfm for schedule information.

As of Wednesday evening, Metro-North was saying that customers into and out of Grand Central will experience delays of 10 to 20 minutes due to congestion in the vicinity of Harlem 125th Street.

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UPDATE—Wednesday, May 18, 2016, 5 p.m.: The cause of the fire under the viaduct in East Harlem that severely complicated commuting to and from Grand Central has been determined to be accidental.

Fire marshals said the four-alarm blaze was caused by fuel spilled on a hot generator while it was being re-fueled, according to abc7ny.com.

Traffic was halted for hours Tuesday night, and getting into the city Wednesday morning, commuters faced 60- to 80-minute delays and extremely crowded trains.

A Metro-North spokeswoman said Wednesday afternoon that, between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m., all inbound trains will be skipping the Harlem 125th Street stop as well as some outbound express trains to alleviate some of the evening commute congestion.

The two center tracks are out of service while temporary repairs to viaduct are being made. The two outside tracks are in service but there are speed restrictions in place.

Metro-North is working toward normalizing service by Friday but, for the time being, riders should expect to follow a Saturday schedule until further notice.

Commuters are still be urged to work from home or find alternate transportation.

Eric Bailey of Poughkeepsie considers himself lucky to have started working at home last week.

His previous commute, to a customer call center in Queens, ususally took him almost three hours.

“After hearing the news reports and seeing the video of all the people in Grand Central, I really feel fortunate not to have to be subjected to all that,” he said.

Ossining commuter John Deuel, who had previously told Patch that he saw the news reports and decided to not even try to go into Manhattan to work Wednesday, was asked whether he would attempt the commute Thursday.

"Absolutely not," Deuel said.

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UPDATE—Wednesday, May 18, 2016, 2:20 p.m.: Until the viaduct damaged by Tuesday's four-alarm fire is repaired and tested, commuters going to Grand Central can expect continuous delays and severe overcrowding.

Metro-North Railroad crews are working around the clock making temporary repairs to the Park Avenue Viaduct in Manhattan.

MTA officials said the fire caused structural damage to one steel supporting column and three adjacent horizontal steel girders that run east-west along the width of the viaduct’s underside.

Because of the damage to what is technically known as “floor beam stringers,” Metro-North has taken the two inside tracks out of service, leaving the two outside tracks in service but with speed restrictions.

The result of the speed restrictions is that Metro-North will be operating on a Saturday schedule until further notice, the MTA said.

Scores of workers from Metro-North’s engineering division are installing six temporary steel columns that will surround the damaged column.

They will be connected to it and to each other.

The connected columns will serve as a single structure that will bear the weight of the overhead viaduct until permanent repairs can be put in place.

Once the temporary repairs are finished, tests will be made to see how train movement impacts the viaduct.

If successful, restricted speed train service can resume over all the tracks, including the ones currently out of service.

Construction and testing is expected to take 24 to 48 hours to complete.

There was no damage to Metro-North’s tracks, signals or power systems.

Commuter John Deuel decided to work from home Wednesday.

"I looked at the MTA alert and the news reports and thought—trains going 30 miles an hour, 60 minute delays—there's no way I'm adding to that mess," the Ossining resident said.

Editorial Board Editor Gary Stern at The Journal News was caught in Tuesday night's chaos.

On Facebook, he described the "Great Migration of Commuters" walking to the subway, riding up to Fordham Road, and walking to the Metro-North station near the Botanical Garden.

"So thousands of people started migrating through the Bronx, which really confused the locals. People were coming out of shops and fast-food joints, asking what in the world was going on. Who were these people? Where was everyone going?" Stern wrote.

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The Metropolitan Transportation Authority has issued updates to service on Metro-North due to the fire Tuesday in East Harlem, including NJ TRANSIT cross-honoring Hudson Line tickets on the Port Jervis and Pascack Valley Line trains.

The MTA said customers traveling into and out of Grand Central Terminal are continuing to experience delays of up to 60 to 80 minutes due to congestion in the vicinity of the Harlem 125th Street station.

A Saturday schedule remains in effect for Wednesday on all three lines after a massive four-alarm fire at a local business at 118 Street under Metro-North's Park Avenue Viaduct. Hudson Line customers: NJ TRANSIT is cross-honoring Hudson Line tickets on the Port Jervis and Pascack Valley Line trains. Hudson Line customers should consider this travel option if possible. All customers should refer to the schedules page at http://as0.mta.info/mnr/schedules/sched_form.cfm or a timetable for schedule information. Expect delays and extremely crowded conditions. Continue to check the website and news media for any updates, and listen for announcements at stations. See more details at http://bit.ly/SeCMH3.

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READ MORE: Metro-North Runs Limited, Slow Service in and out of Grand Central

RELATED: TZx Buses Maintain Schedule After Fire

Commuters are dealing with overcrowding with typical New York humor:

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MTA News Alert

Metro-North has restored limited service to and from Grand Central Terminal, hours after a massive four-alarm fire underneath Metro-North's Park Avenue Viaduct in Manhattan required a service suspension.

Customers should anticipate delays and extremely crowded conditions, and are encouraged to consider working from home or finding alternative transportation.

Metro-North personnel continue to make repairs to a section of the viaduct, which requires the two inside tracks to remain out of service.

Trains will be able to safely operate on the two outside track of the viaduct with train speeds reduced from 60 mph to 30 mph.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo visited the fire scene Tuesday night and received a briefing from first responders and MTA officials at the site under Metro-North Railroad's Park Avenue Viaduct.

The fire started in a private business near the viaduct, Cuomo told reporters. "It generated a tremendous amount of heat. So much heat that it actually bent the steel girders that support the overpass. You can see the main column itself is actually bent."

The governor said the fire was extraordinarily hot because a generator initially caught fire and ignited chemicals from a garden supply company. "Literally, bolts popped off the bridge. So you know there was a certain amount of movement in the bridge for those bolts literally to shear off," he said.

RELATED: TZx Buses Maintain Schedule After Fire

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UPDATE, Midnight, Wednesday, May 18, 2016:

MTA News Alert

"Metro-North train service remains suspended into and out of Grand Central Terminal for the rest of this evening (Tues., May 17) because of a fire under the Park Avenue Viaduct at 118th Street in Manhattan.

Metro-North personnel are working through the night to inspect the structure to determine the extent of the structural damage and make temporary repairs. Until Metro-North determines that it is safe to operate trains over the Viaduct, service into and out of Grand Central Terminal will remain suspended.

For tomorrow morning, Wednesday, May 18, Metro-North expects to run Saturday service. Should conditions improve overnight, then the level of train service will be gradually increased for the AM rush. Customers should continue to check the website and news media for any updates & listen for announcements at stations.

On the Hudson Line train service will operate to/from Yankees-East 153rd Street with subway connections to the Lexington Ave. 4 train, D train or the 1 train at 225 St-Marble Hill Station.

On the Harlem Line train service will operate to/from Wakefield Station with subway connections to the 2 train at 241st Street.

On the New Haven Line train service will operate to/from Woodlawn Station with subway connections to the 2 train at 233rd Street.

Customers should expect delays and extremely crowded conditions and are strongly encouraged to work from home if at all possible or find alternate travel plans.

NYC Transit is cross-honoring Metro-North tickets at Grand Central and the Bronx stations."

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UPDATE—10:30 p.m., Tuesday, May 17, 2016: From the MTA—Because of a major fire at 118th St and Park Avenue in East Harlem, Metro-North service will remain suspended to and from Grand Central for the remainder of Tuesday night.

Customers should transfer to the Subway to connect to Metro-North trains in the Bronx.

For the New Haven Line, take the 2 subway line to 233 St for Metro-North's Woodlawn station.

For the Harlem Line, take the 2 subway line to 241 St for Metro-North's Wakefield Station.

For the Hudson Line, take the 4 or D subway line to 161st Street-Yankee Stadium for Metro-North's Yankees-E. 153rd Street Station, or the 1 subway line to 225 St-Marble Hill. NYC Transit is cross-honoring Metro-North tickets at Grand Central and those Bronx stations.

The fire began at 6:45 p.m. inside a garden nursery center underneath the tracks, which led to several explosions and flames shooting up into the sky, NBC 4 NY reports.

A large tractor trailer caught fire under elevated Metro North tracks and it likely involved construction debris and several trailers, ABC 7 NY reports. Reports states that numerous propane tanks were involved in the explosion.

It’s possible that the heat from the fire was so severe that some bolts may have been blown right off the track, NBC reports. One firefighter suffered a minor injury and 10 cars were damaged in the four-alarm blaze, which led to nearby building evacuations.

“There were four or five explosions. The flames were roaring. Everything under the overhead was burning,” said Kenny Washington, 59, a retired handyman who witnessed the blaze told the New York Daily News.

We'll continue to update this breaking news story and what impact it will have on Wednesday mornings commute.

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Due to Fire Department Activity near the Park Avenue Tunnel, service is currently suspended into and out of Grand Central Terminal.

Train service is currently being provided on the New Haven Line from Mt. Vernon East to points east and from Stamford to New Haven.

On the Hudson Line, train service is currently being provided from Morris Heights to points north.

For the Harlem Line, train service is currently being provided from Wakefield to points north.

Lohud.com said a fire at a construction site under the elevated Metro-North tracks in East Harlem is the cause of the suspension.