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MNRR/Metro-North train Collides with cars in Valhalla, NY 2/3/15


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#11 CNJRoss

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Posted 04 February 2015 - 03:59 PM

The New York Times, 2/4:
 

Metro-North Crash Brings New Trouble Amid String of Setbacks for Railroad

 

For Metro-North Railroad, the once-unthinkable has happened twice in 14 months.

 

The fatal, fiery crash on Tuesday evening in Valhalla, N.Y., arrived amid a protracted reckoning for the beleaguered railroad — wrought by a series of stumbles since 2013 across a system that had, over three decades, forged a reputation as one of the country’s most reliable.

 

Before Tuesday, the most devastating crash had occurred at Spuyten Duyvil in the Bronx in December 2013, when four passengers were killed and more than 70 others were injured in a derailment on the Hudson line.

 

It was the first crash to result in passenger deaths in the railroad’s history. Now it has grim company, although the circumstances on Tuesday appeared notably different.

 

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#12 KevinKorell

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Posted 04 February 2015 - 06:18 PM

MTA Metro North website Wednesday evening update:

 


 

Service Plan for the Harlem Line for the Remainder of Wed., Feb. 4th


February 04th, 2015



shuttlebus4_0.jpg?itok=lIBtQF3a



Metro-North Harlem Line train service is still suspended between Pleasantville and North White Plains until further notice due to the train/car collision near Valhalla. Limited bus/train service for Upper Harlem Line customers remains in effect for the remainder of the day until further notice.

 

See the Train/Bus Schedule. http://web.mta.info/mnr/html/planning/schedules/pdf/har-02042015.pdf

 

Please Note:

 

-Customers are strongly encouraged to work from home if possible or should seek alternate service

-Harlem Line tickets will be cross honored on the Hudson and New Haven Lines

-Free parking will be available at Cortlandt Station on the Hudson Line

-Westchester County parking available on a first-come, first-served basis:

Up to 300 spaces at the County Center near White Plains Station

Up to 50 spaces at the North White Plains Station

-Parking is also available at the White Plains Galleria

-Customers should expect crowded conditions and delays

-Listen for announcements at your station

 

Off Peak & PM Peak Southbound Service

 

Train service is available from Southeast and Wassaic to Pleasantville.

 

A shuttle bus service will operate between Pleasantville and North White Plains.

 

From North White Plains, there will be train service to all points south.

 

There will not be service at Hawthorne and Valhalla Stations. Customers should go to an alternate station. Northbound PM Service There will be train service to North White Plains Station with bus service to Pleasantville; train service will continue northbound to Southeast with connections to Wassaic. The train cars cannot be removed until the on-scene investigation is complete, and they will need to be removed before service can be restored. Regular service through this area is not expected to resume until a full investigation is complete, the infrastructure is fully assessed, and repairs are made. As more information becomes available we will notify you as soon as possible. Please continue to visit mta.info for updates and listen for announcements at your station.

 

 


 

Special Service Notices


 
HARLEM LINE UPDATE: Metro-North Harlem Line train service remains suspended between Pleasantville and North White Plains until further notice due to the train/car collision near Valhalla. Limited bus/train service for Upper Harlem Line customers continues to be in effect until further notice. See full details and a new PM bus/train schedule.

 

And that is because Upper Harlem Line service is limited to shuttles -- whatever equipment is temporarily stranded north of the incident. The through service from GCT is impossible right now.



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#13 KevinKorell

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Posted 04 February 2015 - 06:49 PM

ABC News, 2/4/15:

 


Driver of Car in Train Collision Was Mother of 3

 

The female driver who died after her SUV was hit by a commuter train at a Valhalla, New York, railroad crossing Tuesday night has been identified as Ellen Brody, a mother of three from a nearby town.

 

Story



Kevin Korell


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#14 CNJRoss

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Posted 04 February 2015 - 11:08 PM

AP via WTOP radio, 2/4:
 

SUV driver’s behavior under scrutiny in deadly train crash

 

VALHALLA, N.Y. (AP) — Federal investigators looking into a fiery commuter train wreck that killed six people zeroed in Wednesday on what they called the big question on everyone’s mind: Why was the driver of an SUV stopped on the tracks, between the lowered crossing gates?

 

A team from the National Transportation Safety Board arrived to examine the blackened and mangled wreckage and the Metro-North train’s data recorders the morning after the rush-hour collision with the sport utility vehicle about 20 miles north of New York City.

 

The Tuesday evening crash was the deadliest accident in the 32-year history of one of the nation’s busiest commuter railroads — one that has come under a harsh spotlight over a series of accidents in recent years. The SUV driver and five men on the train were killed, burned so badly that authorities were using dental records to identify them.

 

“The big question everyone wants to know is: Why was this vehicle in the crossing?” said Robert Sumwalt, NTSB vice chairman.

 

Continue here w/video report.

Slide show.



#15 KevinKorell

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Posted 04 February 2015 - 11:24 PM

MTA Metro North website:


 


Metro-North Railroad Afternoon Update


February 04th, 2015

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MTA Chairman & CEO Thomas Prendergast and Metro-North President Joseph Giulietti are working today in collaboration with the National Transportation Safety Board on its investigation regarding last evening’s collision between a passenger train and SUV near Valhalla Station. MTA Metro-North Railroad is accompanying the NTSB with its initial on-site investigation of the incident.

 

MTA Chairman and CEO Thomas F. Prendergast said: “The entire MTA family’s thoughts are with the relatives and loved ones of the victims of last night’s tragedy. We are tremendously saddened by this tragic accident, and our thoughts and prayers go out to all of them. We also thank the first responders who assisted with safely removing the passengers from the trains and transporting those who were injured to area hospitals. And we extend our gratitude to the American Red Cross, local hospitals and communities who have provided care and assistance during this difficult time, and Town of Mount Pleasant Supervisor Carl Fulgenzi for making Town Hall available.”

Metro-North Railroad President Joseph Giulietti said: “We want Metro-North’s customers to know that they can remain confident that their safety, and the safety of our employees, is always the first priority in everything we do. We will work closely with the NTSB and local officials to determine the exact cause of this tragedy, and work to ensure such incidents are not repeated.”

 

For people who had loved ones who may have been affected by the accident, Metro-North has established a family assistance center at the Office of the Westchester County Medical Examiner, 10 Dana Road, Valhalla. Information also is available at 1-800-METRO-INFO (800-638-7646). MTA PD have also set up a hotline at (718) 361-2402 for passengers and family members affected by the accident to report missing persons, file claims, inquire about missing property, etc.

 

Metro-North train service will remain suspended between Pleasantville and North White Plains until further notice due to this incident. Limited bus/train service for Upper Harlem Line customers is available on the website at www.mta.info. As the NTSB announced this morning, the train will remain until the NTSB completes the on-site investigation and the train will then be removed. At that time Metro-North will make repairs and regular service through this area will resume.

 

As more information becomes available we will notify customers as soon as possible. Please continue to monitor www.mta.info and local media for regular updates.

 

We appreciate the patience of our customers as we work to recover from this tragedy.

 



Kevin Korell


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#16 KevinKorell

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Posted 05 February 2015 - 03:08 AM

From MTA Metro North website, the plan for Thursday morning, 2/5:

 

Special Service Notices

 

HARLEM LINE UPDATE: For Thurs., Feb 5, regular train service will resume starting with the morning rush hour.  Customers should expect delays up to 15 minutes as trains will have to slow down when passing through the work zone at the site of the accident.

Please visit the schedules page or view a printed timetable for schedule information. Also, listen to station announcements, check news media and visit this website for any service updates/changes.

 

 

Wassaic Line Customers
Service Change  Posted: 02/04/2015 11:40PM

For Thurs., Feb 5, regular train service will resume starting with the morning rush hour. Customers should expect delays up to 15 minutes as trains will have to slow down when passing through the work zone at the site of the accident. Please visit the schedules page or view a printed timetable for schedule information. Also, listen to station announcements, check news media and visit this website for any service updates/changes. For the remainder of tonight, limited bus/train service for the Upper Harlem Line will be in effect. See details and the PM bus/train schedule here.               



Kevin Korell


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#17 KevinKorell

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Posted 05 February 2015 - 03:22 AM

Second Avenue Sagas, 2/3/15:


 

Six dead, 15 injured after Metro-North hits Jeep near Valhalla

 

 

Six people are dead and 15 injured after the deadliest accident in Metro-North history. Shortly after 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday evening, Metro-North train number 659 traveling north from Valhalla struck a black Jeep Cherokee that was, by some accounts, stuck or at least stopped in the at-grade crossing at Commerce St. near Kensico Cemetery.

 

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#18 CNJRoss

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Posted 05 February 2015 - 05:54 PM

MNRR news release:

 

NOTE:  NYMTA has this posted on their web site dated 2/5; I believe it was actually announced late on 2/4 and service actually resumed for the morning rush on 2/5.  -Ross

 

Governor Cuomo Announces Metro-North Railroad Will Resume Service on Harlem Line For AM Commute
Customers Should Expect Delays as Trains Must Slow Down Moving Through Accident Site
 

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced tonight that Metro-North will resume train service on the Harlem Line tomorrow morning for the first time since Tuesday night’s collision between a passenger train and a SUV near Valhalla Station.

 

Metro-North customers should expect delays as trains will have to slow down as they pass through the work zone at the site of the accident.

 

The first train to operate over the crossing will be the 4:26 a.m. departure from Southeast, which is due into Grand Central at 5:30 a.m.

Governor Cuomo said: “The MTA is working non-stop through the night to rebuild the damaged section of track and restore service in time for the morning commute. I want to thank everyone for their tireless efforts in the wake of this devastating accident. My thoughts and prayers remain with the family and friends of the victims of Tuesday night's tragedy during this painful time.”

 

The accident had forced Metro-North to suspend service between Pleasantville and North White Plains relying on buses to successfully bridge the gap for thousands of customers while investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) conducted the initial on-site component of their investigation.

Late this afternoon, the NTSB gave Metro-North permission to clear the wreckage from the crash site and workers using a high-rail crane removed the damaged automobile at about 5:30 PM. A locomotive was then attached to the south end of the disabled M-7 train and the eight-car train was towed to the Metro-North yard in North White Plains.

 

Workers from Metro-North’s Power, Track and Signal Departments then began the task of rebuilding some 500 feet of electrified third rail. Workers also had to repair damaged circuits, inspect the running rail and test signals damaged in the accident and subsequent fire.

 

Commerce Street will remain closed to vehicular traffic until the National Transportation Safety Board completes its investigation, which is expected to occur mid-afternoon Thursday.



#19 CNJRoss

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Posted 05 February 2015 - 07:39 PM

CBS New York/AP, 2/5:
 

NTSB: Train Was Within Speed Limit, All Warning Signs Worked At Time Of Metro-North Crash

 

VALHALLA, N.Y. (CBSNewYork/AP) – The National Transportation Safety Board has learned that signals and warning systems were working properly, and a Metro-North train was going below the speed limit, when it struck a sport-utility vehicle in an accident that left six people dead this week.

 

Board member Robert Sumwalt also said Thursday that a witness account suggested the SUV driver seemed to have time to get off the tracks, but did not.

 

The witness had decided to take Commerce Street near Lakeview Avenue in Valhalla due to traffic problems from an earlier accident on the Taconic State Parkway, Sumwalt said.

 

The witness said as he approached the Metro-North Line grade crossing where the accident later happened, traffic was “inching along.” He said he saw the SUV driver – identified as Ellen Brody, 49 — slowly move onto the crossing and stop, Sumwalt said.

 

Continue here w/video report.



#20 CNJRoss

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Posted 05 February 2015 - 07:51 PM

CNN, 2/5:
 

NTSB: Emergency brake applied in deadly N.Y. rail crash

 

New York (CNN)Friends remember Ellen Brody, a 49-year-old mother of three, as someone who was not careless.

 

But the Mercedes-Benz SUV she was driving Tuesday evening suddenly moved into the path of Metro-North train, triggering the deadliest crash in the history of the New York commuter railroad, a safety official said.

 

The engineer saw the SUV and applied the emergency brake as the train traveled at 58 mph, just under the speed limit of 60, National Transportation Safety Board member Robert Sumwalt said Thursday.

 

The train sounded its horn appropriately. The flashing lights and gates at the crossing functioned properly, officials said.

 

Continue here w/video report.






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