A kind of a timeline was provided by Metro-North on their Twitter page Friday -- @MetroNorth -- as to the suspension of train service between Golden's Bridge and Southeast. Normally I would expect them to operate the rush hour schedule and
then suspend, but this time they abruptly announced the suspension at 12:35 PM Friday, several hours in advance of the rush hour. That seems to indicate conditions deteriorated and did so rapidly.
This is the first announcement on Twitter at 12:35 PM:
Harlem Line service suspended between Southeast and Goldens Bridge due to multiple downed utility poles in the vicinity of Brewster obstructing the tracks. Service between Katonah and GCT & between Southeast and Wassaic is still operating. We will update as we get more info.
12:35 PM - 9 Mar 2018 Link
Note the typo and the fact they are announcing the suspension but not busing. Not yet anyway. Next they correct the typo:
Correction: Trains will operate from GCT to Goldens Bridge.
Service between Golden's Bridge remains suspended until further notice.
Trains will operate from Southeast to Wassaic.
12:59 PM - 9 Mar 2018 Link
Another typo actually. "Service between Goldens Bridge remains..." Between Goldens Bridge and where? Sounds like events were moving quickly. Undoubtedly they were. Not until 1:00 PM, twenty-five minutes after announcing train suspension, do they mention busing. And then only that they are "trying to arrange it."
Customers are advised to consider traveling via the Hudson Line and tickets will be cross-honored.
We are working with the MTA Bus Company and other bus companies to arrange for substitute bus service. We will provide further information when it is available.
1:00 PM - 9 Mar 2018 Link
At 2:01 PM they announced, "The 5:17PM and 6:04PM trains from GCT to Wassaic have been canceled due to due to multiple downed power poles." Then at 2:41 PM (two hours after the train suspension was announced at 12:35 PM) they announce that bus service has been set up.
Bus Service is now being provided on the Harlem Line between Southeast and Goldens Bridge until further notice. Train Service is operating between GCT and Goldens Bridge and between Southeast and Wassaic.
2:41 PM - 9 Mar 2018 Link
All in all a pretty good job by Metro-North in what must have been difficult circumstances. If this had been scheduled I would expect them to have set up the bus service first, not afterwards. I do think they did a good job here (and most commuters that 'Tweet' seemed to think so too). Around 12 o'clock they find they have to shut down train service between Goldens Bridge and Southeast. Two hours later buses are running. I'm sure it wasn't easy to pull that off.