NEW CANAAN, Conn. — Metro-North’s New Canaan Branch, which has been idled since May 30 for track work, will resume operation on Saturday, Sept. 2, the Connecticut Department of Transportation has announced.
Work on the electrified 8-mile, single-track branch — which normally sees 41 trains each weekday — has included tie and rail replacement, insulated rail joins, and timbers for the Noroton River Bridge [see “Rebuild of Metro-North New Canaan Branch set,” Trains News Wire, May 22, 2023]. Bus service has substituted for trains during the project. The work has eliminated a speed restriction in the Stamford area, allowing trains to operate 20 mph faster through the repaired area.
Test trains will be operating on the branch between Stamford and New Canaan prior to the resumption of regular service with a 6:40 a.m. departure on Sept. 2.
“We appreciate the public remaining patient as this important work took place over the summer months. These infrastructure improvements allow for improved and more reliable service on the New Canaan Branch Line into the future,” Connecticut Department of Transportation Public Transportation Bureau Chief Ben Limmer said in a press release. “We remind the public to use caution around the tracks as trains will resume operation shortly. We look forward to welcoming customers back on Sept. 2 as we head into a busy fall season.”
New Canaan Branch schedules are available on the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s Metro-North website.
Great news for Metro-North Railroad and its customers!
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