Bronx commuters on Metro-North who’ve had to take shuttle buses from the Melrose and Tremont stations are now back on track for their regular commute with the completion of extensive track reconstruction.
Regular riders will also be seeing a fast ride.
MTA Metro-North Railroad announced the completion of the work that began in July 2013 on the tracks through the central Bronx used by New Haven Line and Harlem Line trains.
It called the result “a safer, smoother ride and improved operating speeds.”
Full service returned Sunday, May 11.
All four tracks on a six-mile stretch from Melrose to Woodlawn now allow for speeds up to 75 miles per hour, resulting in improved performance and reliability.
Trains were limited to 60 miles per hour prior to the start of the track reconstruction project.
“This project began out of an intensive focus on track safety that led to rigorous inspections using the most advanced rail inspection technologies that exist,” said Metro-North Railroad President Joseph Giulietti. “Its completion, and the enhanced safety it provides, allows us to lift the permanent and temporary speed restrictions that had existed on these tracks in time for our new May 11 schedule.”
The full train schedules restored to Melrose and Tremont stations, were welcome relief to riders during the morning rush hour recently who had to use temporary shuttle buses to connect to the Fordham Metro-North stop on Fordham Road.
During the track reconstruction, Metro-North also noted that workers removed a significant amount of debris, garbage and graffiti on railroad property, as well as excavating and removing 4,995 cubic yards of mud created by poor drainage along the tracks.
