Metro-North Schedules Reduced Weekend Service Amid Bridge Work, Bus Replacements
Riders on the New Haven Line will see fewer seats and some stops closed, while Port Jervis Line service will be substituted with buses.
Metro-North riders are set to experience reduced service on two key lines during October, with fewer seats available on the New Haven Line and bus replacements for some Port Jervis Line trains. These changes are necessary to accommodate ongoing construction and repairs.
On the New Haven Line, a 30% reduction in available seats is planned for weekends on Oct. 10-11 and Oct. 17-18. These service adjustments are due to construction at the Walk Bridge in Norwalk, Connecticut, which will significantly limit service east of Stamford. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) is advising riders traveling between New Haven and Grand Central Terminal to allow for extra travel time and anticipate crowding due to the reduced train availability.
The schedule changes are essential for crews to remove two 234-foot-tall utility towers and overhead wire systems from the 130-year-old Walk Bridge, a critical component of the Northeast Corridor. Connecticut Department of Transportation Commissioner Garrett Eucalitto stated that the Walk Bridge Replacement Program is making progress and that this phase marks a significant milestone for a modernized and resilient bridge. He emphasized the corridor's importance to Connecticut and the region.
To mitigate the impact for New York-bound passengers, Connecticut transportation officials recommend parking at Stamford or South Norwalk and boarding trains from those stations. Local service between Grand Central and Stamford, including stops in Westchester County and Greenwich, will remain largely unaffected, with only a minor schedule adjustment for one Saturday morning train.
The East Norwalk station will be closed to all train traffic in both directions through Oct. 18. Riders are advised to use the South Norwalk or Westport stations as alternatives. Passengers across affected lines are urged to check train schedules prior to their travel.
In addition to the New Haven Line disruptions, riders on the Port Jervis Line have been experiencing buses replacing some midday weekday trains since Sept. 14 due to track repairs, a situation expected to continue through Nov. 13. Weekend service on the Port Jervis Line has also seen buses replace trains between Port Jervis and Ramsey Route 17 in New Jersey, with passengers transferring to trains at Ramsey. These weekend bus replacements are scheduled to continue through Oct. 11.
Conversely, Metro-North plans to enhance service on the Hudson Line. From Oct. 4 through Nov. 8, the MTA will run additional weekend trains between Manhattan and the Hudson Valley to accommodate the seasonal increase in travelers heading upstate for fall foliage viewing.