The Connecticut Department of Transportation, Metro-North Railroad, and Amtrak announced that to support critical high tower cable removal at the WALK Bridge Replacement Project in Norwalk, Metro-North and Amtrak trains will run on modified schedules with reduced service between New Haven and New York along the New Haven Line during select weekends, beginning September 12 through November 1.
Passengers traveling on Metro-North’s New Haven Line and Amtrak should plan for significant weekend service adjustments as construction continues on the WALK Bridge. Beginning Saturday and Sunday, September 12-13, Metro-North and Amtrak will operate on modified weekend schedules with reduced service. Metro-North schedules will be adjusted across the New Haven Line between New York, Stamford, and New Haven. Metro-North local service on the western half of the line between Grand Central and Stamford, including all stations in Westchester County and Greenwich, will not be affected except for a schedule adjustment to one Saturday-only morning train. Customers are advised to check schedules prior to travel during affected weekends.
The September 12-13 service adjustment is the first of five weekend service reductions over eight weeks scheduled through November 1, 2026. During these weekends, train service between New Haven and Stamford will be significantly limited. Metro-North trains may be crowded because of the reduction in service. To view the latest train schedule and service info, visit MTA.info/alerts or use the MTA TrainTime app.
During these weekends, Amtrak service between New York and New Haven will also be extremely limited. To view the latest ticket availability, visit Amtrak.com or use the Amtrak app.
These schedule modifications are necessary to allow crews to safely remove two 234-foot-tall utility towers and overhead wire systems on the existing 130-year-old WALK Bridge, which crosses the Norwalk River in Norwalk, CT. This work is a major milestone in the WALK Bridge Replacement Program and is essential to maintaining long-term reliability along the Northeast Corridor.
Train Service Changes Planned During WALK Bridge Construction Weekends
To support critical construction activities for the WALK Bridge Program this fall, Metro-North Railroad will operate a modified train service on select weekends while working to maximize travel options and available capacity for customers.
During each affected weekend, Metro-North service will include:
- Grand Central-New Haven trains on reduced frequencies and capacities.
- A shuttle train service operating between New Haven and Bridgeport.
- Main-line trains operating between Grand Central Terminal and South Norwalk, with express service between Grand Central Terminal and Stamford and local service between Stamford and South Norwalk.
Sept. 12-13 and Sept. 19-20: Wire Demolition Work
The weekends of Sept. 12-13 and 19-20 will see the most significant adjustments to New Haven Line schedules during the WALK Bridge reconstruction project because of the demolition of the legacy catenary wire infrastructure that powers the electric trains. A diesel-powered service plan will be implemented for trains between GCT and New Haven during wire-demolition activities. Trains will operate approximately every 90 minutes through the work zone.
Because of the wire-demolition activities, diesel equipment will be assigned to the New Haven Line for these weekends to operate through trains between New Haven and Grand Central. The diesel-hauled trains have less capacity than the normal electric trains, so customers should expect crowding. Customers traveling to and from New York City are encouraged to use the high-capacity parking garages at Stamford and South Norwalk to ride the more frequent trains between those stations. Use the MTA TrainTime app or visit MTA.info/alerts for train-service options.
Customers should expect significantly reduced seating capacity and potential crowding, with approximately 55% fewer seats available compared with a typical weekend schedule.
Oct. 10-11 and Oct. 17-18: High Tower Work
During high tower construction activities on these weekends, electric train service will continue to operate through the WALK Bridge reconstruction zone during scheduled work windows. Approximately five trains are planned to operate during each work window to maximize customer travel opportunities, but there will be approximately 30% fewer seats available compared with a typical weekend schedule.
Metro-North will issue special schedules for the October work weekends in late September. Passengers are encouraged to review schedules before traveling and allow additional time for their trip during these construction weekends.
-via Press Release
