Travel Woes Continue On Metro-North Hudson Line After Derailment
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Riders who use Metro-North's Hudson Line had a tough Friday commute and traveling on the rails over the weekend was expected to be rough as well.
Service remains suspended following the Thursday night derailment of a freight train hauling garbage between stations in the Bronx.
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Crews worked all day and night Friday to remove damaged rail cars. However, the tracks remained unusable at a difficult-to-access stretch just east of Spuyten Duyvil Station, across the Harlem River where it bends to meet the Hudson, CBS 2's Lou Young reported.
Commuter Woes Continue On Metro-North Hudson Line After Derailment
Getting the derailed flatbeds out and then repairing the rails underneath will likely take all weekend, Young reported.
"With three days, we believe Metro-North forces will be able to clear the wreck, rebuild the infrastructure and test all systems in time to provide regular train service come Monday morning," said Metro-North President Howard Permut. "Our crews have been working hard in very difficult conditions – around the clock in blazing heat and humidity. They deserve high praise and gratitude."
Metro-North continued to urge customers to make alternate travel arrangements.
Garbage Train Derails
This weekend, limited Hudson Line service will operate between Poughkeepsie and Yonkers stations, including hourly service through this weekend. Customers are strongly recommended to make alternate service plans.
Customers with Hudson Line tickets can use them on the Harlem Line, transit officials said.
For southbound service, limited train service will operate between Poughkeepsie and Yonkers stations only and connect with shuttle bus service to Van Cortlandt Park-242 Street for No. 1 Subway service into Manhattan.
For northbound service between Yonkers and Poughkeepsie stations only, customers should take the S Shuttle from Grand Central to Times Square for No. 1 Subway Service to Van Cortlandt Park-242 Street. Bus service will operate to Yonkers Station and connect with limited train service to Poughkeepsie.
Special schedules to/from Yonkers and Poughkeepsie stations are posted on the schedules page and mta.info/mnr
Customers at stations between Riverdale and Yankees-E.153rd Street stations are urged to use NYCT subway and/or bus service. Ludlow customers should use Yonkers Station.
Free subway transfers will be provided.
"It affects everybody's commute," said commuter Thomas Aubel. "Getting to work, you lose a day's pay if you can't get there on time so you know people are going to make a decision to stay home or come in or deal with it later."
"It could have been a lot worse, but they made it work," said another commuter.
Video released by the MTA shows the heavy steel cars turned on their sides and the tracks a mess of twisted metal.
Derailment Causing Morning Rush-Hour Woes
The train was moving garbage from New York City and had an engineer, a conductor and a brakeman. All three crew members wee unharmed.
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