Railroad Forums 

Discussion relating to the operations of MTA MetroNorth Railroad including west of Hudson operations and discussion of CtDOT sponsored rail operations such as Shore Line East and the Springfield to New Haven Hartford Line

Moderators: GirlOnTheTrain, nomis, FL9AC, Jeff Smith

 #1538527  by daybeers
 
I think another reason Wassaic service is suspended is to prevent people from flocking to the "country" from NYC. Can't have infected people bringing COVID out to rural hospitals, but I think, like Florida, the barn door may have been closed after the animals got out.
 #1539087  by MACTRAXX
 
daybeers wrote: Fri Apr 03, 2020 1:46 am I think another reason Wassaic service is suspended is to prevent people from flocking to the "country" from NYC. Can't have infected people bringing COVID out to rural hospitals, but I think, like Florida, the barn door may have been closed after the animals got out.
DB: Affluent people from the City with second residences are NOT using public
transportation to access their (most likely) single-family homes - they are using their
own vehicles (or renting one) to stay at their second properties long term.

CTG: The new MNCR essential service schedule is similar to what the LIRR now offers.
Hourly service on the busiest routes and lower on lines with less ridership...MACTRAXX
 #1539101  by Jeff Smith
 
Starting Monday, April 13, Metro-North will operate on an hourly schedule on the Hudson, Harlem and New Haven Lines on both weekdays and weekends.

The new temporary schedule is in response to a reduction in ridership of more than 95 per cent as customers in the region have honored stay-at-home orders as a precaution against COVID-19.

We would like to remind customers that trains are running for health-care workers, first responders and essential personnel only. If you don't absolutely need to be traveling, please stay home.

The service modifications on April 13 also include the following changes:

On the Harlem Line, trains will operate every two hours on weekdays between Southeast and Wassaic; there is no service between Southeast and Wassaic on weekends.

Trains will operate hourly on the New Canaan Branch and every three hours on the Danbury branch daily, and on the Waterbury branch there will be busing approximately every three hours daily, see details http://web.mta.info/mnr/pdf/03-29-20_Wa ... ing_v3.pdf.
The new schedule is accessible through our electronic system at https://new.mta.info, or at http://as0.mta.info/mnr/schedules/sched_form.cfm , or use our TrainTime application, http://web.mta.info/mnr/html/traintimeapp.htm .

If you must travel, customers should be aware of the following additional changes that were made to our operations to accommodate COVID-19 precautions:

All ticket offices are temporarily closed.

Cash is temporarily no longer accepted for ticket purchases on board Metro-North trains. We encourage our customers to use MTA eTix on your smartphone, which is the easiest (and safest) way to purchase train tickets. Customers can also use credit or debits cards on board, or can also purchase tickets with cash at our Ticket Vending Machines located at our stations.
Please continue to check back at our website for updates at www.mta.info/mnr, or https://new.mta.info. You can also visit us at our Facebook page, or on Twitter for up-to-date- information.

For real time alerts, please register at https://m.mymtaalerts.com/LoginC.aspx
 #1543853  by GirlOnTheTrain
 
As per an email alert that MNRR sent out this afternoon:
Effective Wednesday, May 27, Metro-North is increasing peak train service on the Hudson, Harlem and New Haven Lines. This increase is due to the scheduled Phase I reopening of the Mid-Hudson region.

The expanded service represents an overall increase of 26 percent in peak train availability since Metro-North's essential service went into effect on April 13. During this time, Metro-North will also have 14 trains strategically positioned at major facilities to operate additional service as may be necessary.

For full details on Metro-North's increased service, see http://web.mta.info/mnr/html/May_27_Schedule_Change.htm.

We continue to undertake the most aggressive cleaning and disinfecting program in agency history - fully sanitizing our stations every 12 hours, and our trains every 24 hours.

At Metro-North, we're here for the region's critical workers and first responders. Please only use the trains for essential travel
The Mid-Hudson region, which encompasses Westchester and Dutchess County reopened under phase 1 today. NYC proper needs to train contact tracers and bump overall hospital bed availability by 2% to begin reopening.

I have heard rumors even more service will be added effective June 15.
 #1545033  by Jeff Smith
 
https://www.ctpost.com/local/article/Me ... 322805.php
...

The current May 27 train schedule will remain in effect until June 15.
...
The North Entrance to the Terminal is closed until further notice.

The Lower Level of GCT will reopen for retail shops doing take-out business only (no sit-down food consumption will be allowed during this time.)

Men’s and women’s restrooms are temporarily located at the Station Master’s Office, and the south side rest rooms will be reopened on the Lower Level.

The Vanderbilt Hall entrance continues to be closed until further notice.

All escalators to the 44th Street/MetLife building will reopen.
...
 #1545034  by Jeff Smith
 
http://web.mta.info/mnr/html/Phase_1_Reopening_MNR.htm

On Monday, June 8, Metro-North’s Phase 1 Reopen Includes Aggressive Disinfection, Masks and Social Distancing
As the region prepares for a Phase 1 reopen on Monday, June 8, Metro-North has put in place protocols to keep our customers and employees safe and healthy. These measures are intended to allow safe and clean travel on our trains as customers begin a slow return to work. The current May 27 train schedule will remain in effect until June 15. In addition:

We continue to provide the most aggressive cleaning and disinfecting program in agency history, fully disinfecting our stations every 12 hours, and trains every 24 hours.
Customers and employees must wear face masks or coverings while on Metro-North property, including in stations, on trains and at Grand Central Terminal, unless it is not medically feasible to do so.
Customers and employees should social distance by 6 -feet or more where possible, especially in stations, on platforms, when entering trains and in the Terminal.
Floor decals indicating safe social distancing have been placed In Grand Central Terminal and select stations, at the Information Booth, in the Station Master’s Office, at any open ticket window, at Ticket Vending Machines (TVMs), and at restroom entries. Please follow the recommended social distancing guidelines.
Hand sanitizer and masks will be given out from Monday June 8 through Friday 12, to customers at some stations located in the Bronx on the Hudson and Harlem lines.
Changes in how you can purchase tickets continue to be effect at Metro-North until further notice to reduce the spread of COVID-19:

Customers should use MTA eTix to purchase their tickets whenever possible to reduce contact.
No cash will be accepted on board trains and at ticket windows, but credit/debit cards will be accepted to purchase tickets;
Cash, credit/debit cards are accepted at all TVMs, and at STVMs, Apple Pay ® is accepted as well.
Starting Thursday June 11th Some ticket offices will reopen with limited hours from Monday to Friday only, at Grand Central Terminal (6 AM – 10:30 PM), White Plains, (6 AM – 10:30 PM), and Stamford, (6 AM – 11 PM).
At Grand Central Terminal, customers can expect the following additional changes:

The North Entrance to the Terminal is closed until further notice.
The Lower Level of GCT will reopen for retail shops doing take-out business only (no sit-down food consumption will be allowed during this time.)
Men’s and Women’s restrooms are temporarily located at the Station Master’s Office, and the south side rest rooms will be reopened on the Lower Level.
The Vanderbilt Hall entrance continues to be closed until further notice.
All escalators to 44th Street/MetLife building will reopen.
At Metro-North, the health and safety of our customers and employees is our top priority. We look forward to a gradual return to service.
 #1549421  by Jeff Smith
 
https://www.greenwichtime.com/opinion/a ... 456070.php

The headline is what kills me; not very friendly to MNRR!
Lettter: Metro-North passes criticism for lack of vending machines along to CT DOT

We are pleased at Metro-North Railroad that we’ve been able to retrofit existing vending machines at New York stations to sell personal protective equipment that will help protect our customers from the spread of the coronavirus.
...
But your criticism over lack of machines in Connecticut (thumbs down, July 28) is misdirected. Train stations in Connecticut and what goes in them are solely and wholly the responsibility of Connecticut’s Department of Transportation. Our colleagues at Connecticut DOT are as committed to the safety of our customers as we are, and we have provided information about the vending machine program to them for potential expansion of the program to their stations.

Catherine Rinaldi is president of MTA Metro-North Railroad.