Published on : Thursday, February 13, 2014
MTA Metro-North Railroad will operate a reduced schedule on Thursday on all three lines, Hudson, Harlem and New Haven, as the latest snow storm arrives in the metropolitan area. Accumulations throughout the day are expected to reach 10-to-14 inches in the northern suburbs and slightly less along the Long Island Sound.
The plan will accommodate 75% of normal weekday ridership. Some local and express trains will be combined and will make additional stops. Consolidated trains will depart at the later of the two times so no one will “just miss” the train.
The trains to be combined were chosen to minimize customer impacts and to arrive within 10-15 minutes of their normal time. The schedule is available at MTA.info.
To prepare for the storm, Metro-North has called in hundreds of extra personnel to salt platforms and clear them as snow begins to accumulate at the railroad’s 122 stations. Switch heaters have been activated to ensure switches continue to function despite cold temperatures and icing. Patrol trains will operate throughout the night to knock snow off the rails and third rail and to keep ice from accumulating on the overhead catenary wire on the New Haven Line.
Snow fighting equipment has been fueled and tuned: five cold air blowers, three hot air jets and two snow brooms. Metro-North trains are equipped with special third-rail shoes designed to shed snow and ice. Crews are armed with chainsaws to clear fallen trees that could block trains. The railroad has treated door panels with anti-freeze agents and pre-positioned rail-mounted snow fighting equipment to combat snow accumulation along the tracks.
During the storm, rescue engines will be manned and positioned at all yards, including Bridgeport, in case a passenger train becomes disabled and need a tow. There will be mechanics positioned at Pelham in case there are problems with the pantographs, the arm-like appendage at the top of New Haven Line trains that draw power from the overhead catenary wires.
Source:- MTA
Tags: Railway News
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