Metro-North disruption could last weeks

Metro-North rail commuters traveling between Stamford and Grand Central may have to wait several days until service is restored on the New Haven Line.

A 138,000-volt cable feeder, which supplies electricity to overhead wires, lost power at about 5:30 a.m. Wednesday, disrupting the commutes of hundreds of thousands of commuters. Con Edison officials say repairs of this nature typically take two to three weeks.

About 40,000 people take the New Haven Line each morning.

At a news briefing in Hartford, Gov. Dannel P. Malloy urged riders to seek alternative transportation.  Diesel-powered trains will be leaving Grand Central to Stamford every 30 minutes to 40 minutes, making all local stops. The limited service can accommodate about a third of the regular ridership on the line.

All routine road work on Interstate 95, the Merritt Parkway and other state roads in lower Fairfield County have been suspended to ease anticipated congestion. Routine work includes mowing, patching, tree trimming and line striping. Additional trucks to assist broken down cars have also been placed on I-95.

“Needless to say, I am frustrated at this situation and continue to press the folks at Con Ed and Metro North to fix it as quickly as possible,” Malloy said in a release. “But until the problems are alleviated, we need to take whatever steps we can to help mitigate congestion on roadways.”