Rail passengers in U.S. Northeast brace for hellish week

Two commuter trains collided just outside Bridgeport, Conn., on Friday evening, damaging the tracks and snarling travel in the Northeast. Here’s a look at what commuters can expect Monday, as the work week gets under way, and beyond:

METRO-NORTH RAILROAD SERVICE PROBLEMS:

Connecticut Gov. Dannel P. Malloy says roads could be a mess for a week as Metro-North Railroad crews repair tracks, overhead wires and other equipment.

Reduced service will operate between South Norwalk and New York’s Grand Central Terminal. A shuttle train will operate between New Haven and Bridgeport with shuttle buses running between Bridgeport and Stamford.

Each day, approximately 30,000 Metro-North customers use the stations where service has been shut down, according to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, which operates Metro-North.

Regular service will operate between Stamford and Grand Central Terminal. Regular service will operate on Metro-North’s New Canaan and Danbury branches.

AMTRAK SERVICE PROBLEMS:

Amtrak says its Acela Express and Northeast Regional Service between New York and New Haven are indefinitely suspended. Amtrak says it will provide limited service between Boston and New Haven.

COMMUTING ALTERNATIVES:

Jim Cameron, chairman of a commuter group, wants officials in numerous towns to suspend parking rules to accommodate what could be tens of thousands of motorists driving to unaffected train stations.

SCOPE OF WORK:

Crews must rebuild 2,000 feet of track, overhead wires and signals. Several days of around-the-clock work will be required, including inspections and testing of the newly rebuilt system, said Metro-North President Howard Permut.

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