Rail work will bring outages

Written by Liz Skalka
Friday, 30 April 2010 12:48

Contracts are ready to be awarded this spring for a signaling project on the Danbury Branch rail line that is expected to purposely cause outages on the line beginning in August and again next spring.

The $67-million project will update signaling on the line, which includes Wilton’s station, eliminating manual checkpoints that require a conductor to exit the train and flip a switch several times during a trip, ultimately costing riders more travel time.

Currently, Metro-North, the operator of the line, is locating existing cables and determining which ones need to be eliminated for the project before contracts are awarded this spring. The new signaling system is slated to be fully operational by May 2012.

“This will hopefully allow the trains to move more efficiently and more frequently, making for better service in the outcome,” said Robert Pettinicchi, a principal engineer for the Connecticut Department of Transportation, which oversees the project.

Part of the funds for the project come from federal stimulus money, he said. The rest come from state and other federal grant money.

Once major work is underway the line will undergo two outages. one will occur after the contract is awarded and last 80 days. that outage is slated to take place from Aug. 2 until Nov. 19 and will affect off-peak service, 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. during that time, service will be suspended and replaced with buses stopping at the stations.

The second outage is scheduled to take place in spring 2011 and will cancel service for 15 consecutive weekends. Service on the line will be halted from 10 p.m. Friday until 4 a.m. Monday. Buses will also be available during that time.

Mr. Pettinicchi also noted that the contractor awarded the job will also have the option of working during the night throughout the duration of construction, a possible disruption to homes nearby stations.

“That’s a touchy subject,” mr. Pettinicchi said, “especially when you’re talking about a branch the runs near people’s homes. We’re going to be very sensitive to noise.”

Currently, mr. Pettinicchi said riders will see activity around the line as it’s prepped for new cables. When the project is completed, signaling on the single-rail line will be able to be controlled electronically from Grand Central Terminal.

“Right now everything’s radio controlled so trains have to stop at intervals on the branch and get clearance from Grand Central,” mr. Pettinicchi said.

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