MTA Metro-North restores service on New Haven Line

MTA Metro-North Railroad resumed full service on the New Haven Line yesterday following successful initial tests of a major new electrical substation at Mount Vernon, Metro-North officials announced.


The line was shut down late last month after a Con Edison feeder cable knocked out service on an eight-mile section of the line. The outage occurred during construction and commissioning of a new $50 million substation, Metro-North officials said in a press release.

"We have coped with many challenging situations in the past, including blackouts, but this persistent power outage was especially challenging, both to our customers and to Metro-North employees who worked relentlessly to provide the best possible alternative service," said Metro-North President Howard Permut.  "We are grateful to Metro-North workers who expedited testing of the new substation once Con Edison completed its work and we are grateful most of all to our customers who persevered with us through this latest adversity."

After the outage occurred, electrical engineers determined the fastest way to restore power was to expedite completion of the substation rather than repair the failed feeder, which is not expected to be returned to service until Oct. 22, railroad officials said.