Circuit failure delays Amtrak in Metro-North area

[krispos42]

Source: WTNH News 8

By STEPHEN SINGER, Associated Press

Updated: Wednesday, September 25, 2013, 1:20 PM EDT
Published: Wednesday, September 25, 2013, 1:20 PM EDT

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — A broken circuit serving Metro-North Railroad interrupted rail service in Connecticut on Wednesday, snarling rush-hour and afternoon commutes into New York City and disrupting some Amtrak service as far south as Washington.

The delays began when a high-voltage feeder cable failed at about 5:20 a.m. in Mount Vernon, N.Y., a suburb of New York. Con Edison, the utility serving the New York City area, said another feeder was out on scheduled repair for Metro-North equipment upgrades.

Metro-North first halted service between Stamford and New York's Grand Central Terminal, then provided diesel-powered trains running in both directions once an hour. Crowds of passengers packed the platform at the Stamford station.

<snip>

Irate passengers took to Twitter to vent and the head of a commuter advisory group complained that rail service was disrupted frequently over the summer for needed track work in New York. The incident on Wednesday, though not Metro-North's fault, adds to frustration among commuters, said Jim Cameron, chairman of the Connecticut Metro-North Rail Commuter Council.

Read more: http://www.wtnh.com/news/national/circuit-failure-delays-amtrak-in-metronorth-area_48398366

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They're saying up to 3 weeks to fix the problem.

So, in a region with transportation networks stretched to the max... we lose the commuter line.

Ah, the fresh smell of tax cuts at work!

[silvershadow]

1. Republicans: It's Obama's fault. 50% of the public: You're right, it is! Never mind Republicans

despise any transportation projects.

[krispos42]

2. Traffic is going to SUUUUUCK tomorrow.

I'm glad I'm done with classes for the week.

Let me put it this way... I-95 can barely handle noontime traffic around here, much less rush hour.

And any attempts to increase capacity run into legacy issues of hugely expensive proportions.


You can't add a highway; there's no room, unless you wanted to purchase the land running through some of the most expensive towns and cities in the country.

You can't expand I-95 or Rt. 15; too many choke points caused by bridges and commercial and residential districts.

The trains are running to max capacity, it seems.

The only thing I can think of is adding a 4-lane elevated cars-only highway above the current I-95. :-/