Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Metro-North New Haven Service Is Now At 50%
By
Jen Chung
Published Sep 30, 2013
Modified Sep 30, 2013
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
MTA Photos
By
Jen Chung
Published Sep 30, 2013
Modified Sep 30, 2013
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Six days after a Con Ed feeder failed on the New Haven line, sending commuters into a hellish tailspin, the MTA has the line at 50% capacity, thanks to a temporary power substation. While the MTA wants commuters back, they hope they'll avoid the rush hour!
MTA Chairman Thomas Prendergast said, "Con Edison’s temporary substation allows us to run very limited electric trains through this critical section of the New Haven Line for the first time since power was disrupted last week, but it’s still far less than the normal service our customers expect. While Con Edison works to restore full power to their damaged feeder cable, the MTA is doing everything it can to accommodate New Haven Line customers on other services."
Which includes offering free park-and-ride spaces in the Bronx and Westchester County, where commuters can get shuttles to the Harlem Line or go to bus and subway stops. Here are the MTA's details:
Orchard Beach - 5,000 parking spaces, with a free shuttle bus to MTA New York City Transit’s Pelham Bay Park station on the 6 Subway Line Icon subway line.
8 E. 153rd St. Garage (Yankee Stadium) - 1,500 parking spaces, a short walk to Metro-North’s Yankees-E 153 St station and the 161 St station on the B Subway Line Icon, D Subway Line Icon and 4 Subway Line Icon subway lines.
Rye Playland - 1,500 parking spaces, with a free shuttle bus to the White Plains station on the Metro-North Harlem Line.
Kensico Dam, 600 Park Drive West, Valhalla - 600 parking spaces, with a free shuttle bus to the North White Plains station on the Harlem Line, and walking distance to the Valhalla Station on the Harlem Line.
The MTA explains, "The new schedule, available at mta.info/mnr, is constrained by the power supply available to the eight-mile section between Harrison and Mount Vernon, which can only accommodate two electric trains at one time under very limited loads. Electric trains draw the most power when starting, so they will only operate express through that eight-mile section. About 20 percent of normal New Haven Line rush-hour service will be provided by electric trains, in addition to the 30 percent provided by diesel trains borrowed from other Metro-North lines."
Senator Chuck Schumer and Senator Richard Blumenthal are annoyed with how this is yet another problem. "The answer we get right now on something this serious is, ‘Blah blah blah,' " Schumer told reporters Sunday at Grand Central Terminal. One big question that remains unanswered is why the feeder cable had been in place for 36 years, when its "useful life" ends at 30.
Tagged
feeder line
metro north
MTA
power outage
rush hour
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
NYPD: Officer shot, injured knife-wielding woman during ‘chaotic’ night at Queens home
The woman is stable condition, police said, but several people were stabbed.
By
Ryan Kost
Published Oct 24, 2026 at 8:35 a.m. ET
3 slates vying to run Jersey City school board as city stares down major tax hikes
The incumbent slate, formerly backed by the teacher's union, lost that influential support over public arguments and controversies.
By
Michael Sol Warren
News
3 slates vying to run Jersey City school board as city stares down major tax hikes
The incumbent slate, formerly backed by the teacher's union, lost that influential support over public arguments and controversies.
By
Michael Sol Warren
5 men charged with trespassing in 2 Manhattan manhole cases
By
Charles Lane
6-year-old girl breaks leg after getting hit by falling bricks in Queens
By
Charles Lane
Mamdani extends ban on permits for new street fairs due to NYPD overtime
By
Carol Chen
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .