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Amtrak service suspended from NYC to CT after transformer explosion and track fires
By
Brittany Kriegstein
Published Nov 13, 2024
Modified Nov 13, 2024
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Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images
By
Brittany Kriegstein
Published Nov 13, 2024
Modified Nov 13, 2024
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Amtrak service between New York Penn Station and New Haven is expected to be suspended until Wednesday afternoon after a fire on the tracks in the Bronx scrambled trains on Tuesday.
“Amtrak personnel are currently assessing and repairing damages done to the tracks,” the company wrote in an update on its site, adding that normal service likely would not resume until 2 p.m. Wednesday. Agency officials were not available for questions Wednesday morning.
Commuters with tickets on the affected trains are encouraged to use Metro-North to go between New York City and New Haven. The MTA train operator will honor Amtrak tickets while the disruption lasts. Amtrak said it will also waive additional charges for customers looking to change their reservations.
Customers will still have to get from Penn Station – where Amtrak train service stops – to Grand Central Station, which is the hub for Metro-North service.
The reason for the disruptions was an explosion and a fire that broke out around 2:15 p.m. Tuesday at an Amtrak transformer near Bronxdale Avenue, fire officials said.
FDNY Chief of Operations Kevin Woods said the fire spread to three cars nearby, and firefighters had to use foam to extinguish the blaze and suppress burning vapors.
“It took us quite a while to extinguish that fire,” he said at a press conference Tuesday evening. “We had to have all train traffic stopped, we had to have [power removed from] the overhead catenary wires, we needed power also removed from the transformer.”
About half a mile away, firefighters also battled a 3-alarm blaze at a 60,000 square-foot warehouse used to store auto parts, hydraulic equipment, pallets and vehicles, according to FDNY officials. Some brush outside the building also burned.
Woods said the causes of the transformer explosion and the warehouse fire were both still under investigation. He said they were “separate and distinct,” and it was still unclear if they could be at all related. No injuries were reported.
Amtrak service alerts can be found on X at @AmtrakNECAlerts. Customers can also call Amtrak’s reservation center at 1-800-USA-RAIL.
The track fires come as the region faces dangerously dry weather conditions and officials continue to battle wildfires throughout New Jersey and New York.
FDNY Commissioner Robert Tucker issued a warning Wednesday morning about the "unprecedented" amount of brush fires breaking out around the city this year, saying between Oct. 29 and Nov. 12 there were 229 fires citywide, compared to just 200 total for the entire month of October over the last three years.
“Remarkably dry conditions in October and so far in November have resulted in a historic amount of brush fires over the last two weeks and we need the public to remain vigilant,” Tucker said. “Due to a significant lack of rainfall, the threat of fast spreading brush fires fueled by dry vegetation and windy conditions pose a real threat to our members and our city."
The department shared a video it produced of some of the fires it's been battling. FDNY also reminded New Yorkers of the following safety tips.
- Avoid any campfires, bonfires or other open flames.
- Grilling is banned in city parks while drought conditions remain.
- Smokers should dispose of cigarette butts and matches properly.
- Take extra precautions when welding or undertaking other hot construction activities, particularly when near dry grass or leaves.
- Stay on designated trails in parks to protect vegetation and reduce the risk of accidental fires.
- Don't set off fireworks; they're illegal.
- Remove litter and any excessive brush or leaves from sidewalks near homes and businesses.
This story has been updated with additional information from the fire department.
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Brittany Kriegstein
Brittany Kriegstein covers all breaking news around New York City, with a focus on crime and gun violence. Got a tip? Email Brittany at [email protected].
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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