The “enhanced Saturday schedule” that Metro-North will use while the damaged Park Avenue Viaduct is repaired has more trains than a regular Saturday, providing about 75 percent of normal service on Thurday, according to the railroad.
By Thursday morning, the railroad expects to have three of the four tracks in service at the spot where the fire took place, as crews continue to work on the damaged fourth and final track.
Here’s most of the announcement Wednesday afternoon from Metro-North (we’ve left out a few paragraphs about Hudson Line service), followed by two Twitter feeds with ongoing updates:
UPDATE: Metro- North Announces Enhanced Saturday Schedule for Thursday, May 19
Enhanced Schedule Will Provide More Peak Period Trains For Customers Than Typical Saturday Schedule
Metro-North crews continue making progress on repairs to the railroad’s Park Avenue Viaduct that was damaged by last evening’s four alarm fire beneath the structure, allowing the railroad to expand its regular Saturday schedule for tomorrow’s commute.
Thursday’s enhanced Saturday schedule provides customers with additional trains during peak travel periods and represents 75 percent of ridership capacity. The enhanced Saturday schedule will be in effect for Thursday on all three lines. Customers should refer to the schedules page .
Metro-North’s connecting services (the Hudson Rail Link, Haverstraw-Ossining Ferry and Newburgh-Beacon Ferry) will operate on an enhanced Saturday schedule.
Two of the four tracks were restored in time for this morning?s rush hour. Trains are safely operating on the two outside tracks of the viaduct with train speeds reduced from 60 mph to a maximum allowable speed of 30 mph.
A third track will be back in service in time for Thursday’s morning rush hour while repairs continue in order to allow the remaining track to go back into service.
Customers should expect delays and crowded conditions and, if at all possible, are encouraged to work from home or find alternate travel plans.
A Saturday Schedule Remains In Effect Into and Out of Grand Central Terminal For Wednesday, May 18
Limited train service continues into and out of Grand Central Terminal following a massive four-alarm fire Tuesday night at a local business at 118th Street under Metro-North Railroad’s Park Avenue Viaduct. […]
New Haven Line customers can take train service to/from Woodlawn Station with subway connections to 2 train and 5 train at 233rd Street.
NYC Transit is cross-honoring Metro-North tickets at Grand Central, Harlem-125th Street and the Bronx stations.