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Ice On Wires Creates Problems For Metro-North Trains On New Haven Line

FAIRFIELD COUNTY, Conn. — Wednesday’s snowstorm, complete with sleet and freezing rain, caused a few delays and interruptions along Metro-North’s New Haven Line— all thanks to a buildup of ice on the overhead wires.

Ice on overhead wires caused several delays and interruptions along Metro-North's New Haven Line on Wednesday.

Ice on overhead wires caused several delays and interruptions along Metro-North's New Haven Line on Wednesday.

Photo Credit: Metro-North Flickr

At noon Wednesday, Metro-North began running trains on a reduced hourly scheduled due to the icy wires. But the weather-related woes began much earlier than that.

One of the first problems was reported at 7:30 a.m., when the 7:12 a.m. train from New Canaan became disabled in the Rye/Port Chester area, Metro-North spokeswoman Meredith Daniels said.

The train, which was on the move again by 8:09 a.m., was disabled on purpose, Daniels said.

“When there’s a serious problem with ice on the overhead wires, we have to shut down the power,” she said. “And that’s what happened. We had to disable the train.”

The 6:17 a.m. train out of Stamford ran into the same problem, Daniels said. In this case, the train became disabled at 7:30 a.m. in Mamaroneck. A rescue train was called in to conduct a train-to-train transfer, which was completed by 8:03 a.m., she said.

Just before 7 a.m., a train set to depart from Stamford was disabled, at the station. In response, Daniels said customers were sent westbound to reconnect.

Trains are expected to operate on an hourly schedule through 4 p.m., Daniels said. A total of four eastbound and four westbound trains have been canceled.

Check the Metro-North website for an updated schedule.

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