Metro-North train derails in New Canaan
NEW CANAAN — Service resumed late Tuesday afternoon on the Metro-North Railroad New Canaan Branch after a train went through the end of the rail line during the morning rush, according to officials.
A train engineer and conductor were the only people on board and were not seriously hurt in the collision, which occurred shortly before 7:30 a.m., according to a Metropolitan Transportation Authority official.
The train struck a bumping block, a device meant to stop the train from going past the end of the tracks. The train came to rest near the sidewalk after breaking through a fence. The fire department estimated the train “exceeded the end of the line by about 20 feet.”
“Earlier this morning, when this train here … was preparing to start its revenue run, it went a little bit past the bumping block, struck the bumping block and caused part of this rail car to derail,” Catherine Rinaldi, president of Metro-North, said during a brief news conference at the scene.
Rinaldi said the two workers were taken to the hospital, but their injuries were not serious.
Hours after the crash, MTA said train service at the New Canaan branch would resume with the 4:39 p.m. train from Stamford.
“The non-passenger train that derailed near New Canaan has been cleared,” MTA said in a tweet.
Earlier in the day, Rinaldi stood next to the site of the derailment as a crew was “in the process of re-railing the train so we can pull it on out of here” and “get the tracks back in shape.” She said a new bumping block would also be installed.
She said the cause of the incident remained under investigation and she did not yet know the estimated cost of the damage.
People walking by navigated around temporary barriers along the damaged sidewalk and stopped to take pictures on their phones. Cars slowed down in the intersection as they drove by, with passengers looking out their windows at the out-ofplace train.
Metro-North provided bus
service for commuters between the New Canaan and Stamford train stations.
New Canaan resident Stephen Shin was planning to take the train to New York City when he came upon the scene at the station.
“I couldn’t believe it,” Shin said. “I’m going to have to drive now, so that incurs parking fees.
Never a great thing.”
The New Canaan branch is a spur off the main New Haven Line. The branch ends in New Canaan and also includes the Talmadge Hill, Springdale and Glenbrook train stations.