Community Corner

MTA Will Run Fewer Trains on the New Haven Line Starting Monday

Commuters will have fewer morning and evening trains to choose from, as well as reduced weekend service.

Beginning Monday, the Metropolitan Transit Authority will reduce the number of trains operating on the New Haven line in order to improve the reliability of its train service, the MTA said in a statement Thursday afternoon.

From Feb. 7 through March 4, the New Haven line will operate with a reduced winter schedule. The new schedule reduces morning and evening peak service by 10 percent and will affect weekend service. Starting, Feb. 5, a Sunday schedule will be in effect throughout the weekend.

Due to a recent rash of winter storms, commuters on the New Haven Line have experienced severe delays and even suspended train service. 

Find out what's happening in Ryewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Extreme temperatures and large amounts of snow have been partially to blame for the failure of air and electronic systems on the more than 40-year old New Haven Line. Some of the most time-intensive and frequently occurring repairs are to traction motors, frozen brakes and sticky doors that won’t cooperate when snow and ice get inside door pockets.

Several commuters who Patch spoke to before the MTA's recent announcement already were expressing their frustrations. The new schedule is sure to draw even more public ire.

Find out what's happening in Ryewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Larchmont resident Sam Porat said he remains disgusted with the current delays and cancellations he’s experienced with local trains.

 “The service has degraded materially over the past six months and starting in January, it has fallen apart completely. Trains [are] routinely late, cancelled, overcrowded.”

Scarsdale resident Richard Lee complained that there were hundreds of commuters packed into the Main Concourse at Grand Central last Friday, Jan. 28 for approximately 20-30 minutes. No trains appeared to be arriving or departing the station in a situation resembling mass pandemonium, and information screens listing track numbers appeared to be blank.  A Metro-North customer service representative did not acknowledge any delays in service when Lee called to inquire about the situation.

The New Haven Line makes stops in eight Westchester locations, including Mt. Vernon East, Pelham, New Rochelle, Larchmont, Mamaroneck, Harrison, Rye and Port Chester. 

To view the amended New Haven line schedule, click here.


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