Damage to Wires Halts Service on New Haven Line

Metro-North's New Haven line remained shut down as of 9 this evening due to extensive wire damage.

Pantographs, the arms that connect up to the electrical lines, got snarled on two trains on separate tracks within 30 minutes. One of the four tracks was already out of service and the two incidents, which happened around 3:15 p.m. and then again at 3:45 p.m. west of Greenwich, Conn., caused all trains to halt.

Some passengers were forced to remain on trains for several hours. Service remains down and Amtrak trains between New Haven and New York City were also affected.

Dan Brucker, Metro-North spokesman, said he wasn't aware yet how many passengers might have been stranded, but at least one rider who was stuck on a train outside the Port Chester station for about 3 hours said the heat prompted some passengers to require medical attention.

Brett Masterson, ad manager for Rye Patch, said his train stopped outside Port Chester around 3 p.m. and they were finally let off at 6:15 p.m.

"It was overall a bad situation," Masterson said. "One passenger jumped off while we were stopped and ran into the woods. Other passengers were told to stay on the train due to live rails. There were numerous people who needed medical attention due to asthma and overheating. They were let off the train."

Police boarded at one point to reassure everyone, he said.

It's not always possible to get everyone off the trains safely, Brucker said, and the damage in this case was extensive.

No word yet on when service might be restored, though as of about 6:45 p.m. Metro-North started a limited shuttle service between Grand Central and New Rochelle. Bus service was established between New York and Stamford.

At 9 p.m. service remained shut down and it was not expected to be back up this evening.