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Peak-hour trains will continue to operate; buses will be used during off-peak and weekend hours on the Danbury Branch.
A detailed interim service plan will be announced Wednesday with service changes to begin Saturday, March 1, DOT said.
In recent weeks, the Danbury branch has experienced problems with the new technology implemented at certain railroad crossings in late 2013 as part of the Danbury Signalization Project. The issues cause grade crossing gates and lights to activate on occasion when no train is in the area. Metro-North Railroad has taken steps to reduce impacts on traffic and ensure safe train operation.
As a result, Danbury Branch riders will be able to present their tickets for travel on Harlem Line trains in New York while the railroad works to correct the problems.
“We recognize that recurring delays on the Danbury Branch are causing difficulties for our commuters’ daily schedules,” Metro-North Railroad President Joseph J. Giulietti said in a statement. “We are working with the manufacturers of the newly installed system, Alstom and Siemens, to resolve the underlying issues affecting the system.
"In the interim, we are going to make this change, and any other change possible, to help our customers until we can restore reliability to train schedules on the branch.”
Since the issues were identified, trains have been operating on a “stop and warn” system, requiring the train to stop before each crossing and warn motorists that a train is coming through. This practice has reduced train speeds and affected service.
About 2,200 commuters use the Danbury branch on an average weekday.
The trains, pulled or pushed by diesel engines make many grade crossings along its 23.9-mile route. Danbury branch train stations are at Danbury, Bethel, West Redding, Branchville, Cannondale, Wilton, Merritt 7 and South Norwalk.
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