Extreme Heat Could Mean Delays On Metro-North
BRIDGEPORT, Conn. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Delays are possible on the Metro-North railroad when temperatures soar, officials warned.
The Connecticut Post reported that Metro-North spokesman Aaron Donovan says temperatures above 90 degrees can add five to 10 minutes to the commuting time between New Haven and Grand Central Terminal.
The gap between the pantograph, which is the arm on top of the train car that draws power from overhead lines, and the catenary system must remain within a precise distance and tension.
The heat causes the wires to expand very slightly and invisibly, and could affect speed, Donovan told the newspaper.
Donovan says slowing train speed is not automatic, but delays could be longer if the temperature rises above 100 degrees.
Only the main New Haven lines would be affected by the heat, since many other branch lines use diesel engines and the Harlem-Hudson line uses a subway-style third-rail system, the newspaper reported.
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