Metro-North wraps up Cos Cob switching complex restoration ahead of schedule

MTA Metro-North Railroad has completed a project to rebuild a switching control house in Cos Cob, Conn., four months ahead of schedule, railroad officials announced this week.

The project's completion means that a nine-mile section of the New Haven Line between Port Chester, N.Y. and Stamford, Conn., is fully operational for the first time since May 10, when a fire destroyed the previous control house, Metro-North officials said in a press release.

The restored control house allows train dispatchers to switch trains from one track to another by moving small segments of rail in a complex of switches. Metro-North was able to speed up the restoration by using equipment already built and ready for installation at another complex with an identical switch layout. The repurposed, modern equipment reduced the amount of complicated wiring damaged in the fire, Metro-North officials said.

Building a new control house would normally take 18 months of design, fabrication, installation and testing. Initially, Metro-North had expected to expedite that by using a retired switching complex. The railroad ultimately expedited the project further by repurposing the modern complex.

"Metro-North is to be commended on a very creative solution to a complex problem," said Connecticut Department of Transportation Commissioner James Redeker. "In addition, getting the job done ahead of time gives us more operating flexibility and improves reliability on the busiest rail line in the country."