Trains were slowed from their normal 60 miles per hour to 30 miles per hour Wednesday as repairs continued on a center column beneath the elevated tracks that was damaged by the fire.
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Crews were installing six temporary steel columns until permanent repairs could be made. Some of the smaller stations along the way were being skipped because trains were simply packed too full of passengers to take on any more at those stops. “I was only delayed like 30 minutes”, said Mike Joshi, who got on at Southport, Connecticut, headed to NY for his teaching job in Brooklyn. If that’s successful, restricted-speed trains could resume over tracks that are now out of service.
This Wednesday, early morning commuters dealt with delays at Grand Central Terminal in New York City. Train service into and out of Grand Central was suspended on Tuesday night after the fire large tractor-trailer caught fire under the tracks.
“I had to stand the whole time”.
A raging fire underneath elevated Metro-North train tracks in East Harlem brought rail service to a halt during Tuesday’s evening rush. “I was only delayed like 30 minutes”, said Mike Joshi, who got on at Southport, Connecticut, headed to NY for his teaching job in Brooklyn.
Metro-North is advising riders to work from home or find an alternative way to travel into the city.
A train that left White Plains at 06:30 was so crowded that by the time it traveled seven stops, to Mount Vernon, no one could get on. The passengers included many teens on their way to school.
Gov. Dannel Malloy urged people Wednesday to work from home if they were able to.
As of Wednesday night, commuters said they saw service improve with delays reduced to around 15 minutes leaving New York City.
Officials say the blaze ignited Tuesday evening at a garden center business underneath Metro-North tracks in East Harlem, halting train service and stranding thousands of commuters.
A train information board displays a delay alert for Metro-North trains at Grand Central Terminal, Wednesday, May 18, 2016, in NY.
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The commuter line was operating on a Saturday schedule at 60% of capacity, MTA spokeswoman Meredith Daniels said, the Associated Press reports.
