Service interruptions have been the norm, rather than the exception, for Metro North Railroad. And this morning was no different. However, the circumstances were.
An explosion at approximately 9:30 this morning in East Harlem, New York littered Metro-North train tracks near E. 116th St., where the tracks stand raised above Park Avenue.
At least two people were killed in the building explosion and another 12 remained on accounted for as of 5 o’clock this afternoon.
The explosion shut down Metro-North service in and out of New York City’s Grand Central terminal for several hours. Those traveling on the New Haven line were required to take the number five subway from Grand Central terminal to E. 180th St. From that point, they took the number five subway to E. 233rd St. After disembarking there, passengers were required to walk a couple of blocks to the Woodlawn Metro-North station in the Bronx to hook up with the New Haven line.
After structural engineers for the Metropolitan Transit Authority and the New York City fire department deemed the raised railroad tracks structurally sound, train service to and from Grand Central Terminal was fully restored along the New Haven, Harlem and Hudson lines just after 4:30 this afternoon.