Rebuilding effort continues as service returns to Metro-North Hudson Line

Written by Jenifer Nunez, assistant editor
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MTA

New York's Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) Metro-North Railroad resumed more than 98 percent of its regular Hudson Line service December 4, following last weekend's derailment.

 

The railroad was able to clear debris, begin rebuilding tracks and restore one of the three tracks in the area that was not significantly damaged in the accident.

“Thanks to an extraordinary effort and around the clock work, more than 98 percent of service will be restored for Hudson Line commuters in time for tomorrow morning’s rush hour,” New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said. “As the National Transportation Safety Board continues its investigation of the derailment on Sunday morning, the MTA is fully cooperating to ensure we find out exactly what caused this horrific incident that took the lives of four individuals and injured many others. The families of those we lost and those still recovering continue to be in our thoughts and prayers. I’d like to thank our Metro-North crews and first responders who have been working tirelessly to reopen the Hudson Line as quickly as possible.”

Metro-North crews have been rebuilding about 800 feet of track that were damaged by Sunday’s derailment at Spuyten Duyvil in the Bronx. The section where the accident occurred has three tracks. The middle track was badly damaged and the outer track, closest to the river, was destroyed. Crews will continue to rebuild the two damaged tracks while service resumes on a single track.

The work continues with the Track Department installing new ties and running rails, in addition to laying down new ballast. New third rail will be installed by the Power Department followed by the Signal Department working to restore the signal system. When that work is completed, test trains will be run before service can be resumed. MTA said this work will take all day Tuesday and likely run into the next few days. The goal is to restore all tracks as soon as possible.

The railroad will operate all but three of its 175 regular daily Hudson Line trains on a single track.

 

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