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Special Weekend Train Schedules Planned for WALK Bridge Construction: Major Reductions to Train Service Between Stamford and New Haven Planned for Select Weekends Beginning September 12

Posted By Cheyenne Mathews On In News | Comments Disabled
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Train Customers Encouraged to Seek Alternate Forms of Transportation; Local Metro-North Service Between Grand Central and Stamford Not Affected.

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The Connecticut Department of Transportation, Metro-North Railroad, and Amtrak today 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.

“The WALK Bridge Replacement Program continues to make progress, with work this fall marking a major milestone for a new, modern, resilient bridge along the Northeast Corridor. The Northeast Corridor is vital to Connecticut and the region, and this project delivers much needed, long-term improvements,” Connecticut Department of Transportation Commissioner Garrett Eucalitto said. “None of this would be possible without the strong partnerships between federal, state, and local governments and the collaboration with Metro-North and Amtrak. We thank customers for their patience as we deliver a bridge that will serve them and the entire Northeast Corridor for generations to come.”

“The WALK Bridge replacement is a generational investment in the New Haven Line and the customers that rely on it,” Justin Vonashek, president of Metro-North Railroad said. “The major improvement projects on the New Haven Line will reduce travel times, increase reliability, and improve our customers’ experience. We’re proud to partner with the State of Connecticut on upgrades that will strengthen the region and support a modern, resilient railroad for the future.”

“Investing in modern rail infrastructure is essential to delivering the safe, reliable, and efficient service our customers expect, and Amtrak is proud to partner with CTDOT on this important project,” Amtrak Executive Vice President, Strategy, and Planning Jennifer Mitchell said. “While this work will require short-term weekend schedule adjustments, the end result will deliver long-term benefits for travelers in Connecticut and across 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.

Plan Before You Travel

The construction schedule is subject to change.

Customers are encouraged to review train schedules and service information using the MTA TrainTime and Amtrak apps before traveling.

Project Information: WALKBridgeCT.com  [1]

Stay informed:

Customer information:

  • Connecticut: 877-690-5114
  • New York: 511

About the WALK Bridge Replacement Project

The WALK Bridge Replacement Project replaces the 130-year-old railroad bridge over the Norwalk River, a critical link on the New Haven Line and Northeast Corridor that serves hundreds of passenger trains each day, including Metro-North and Amtrak service. The new bridge will improve reliability, reduce service disruptions, and enhance rail operations for decades to come.

Media Contacts

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