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Gov. Dannel P. Malloy said Saturday now is the time to start making alternative transportation plans for those who depend on Metro-North trains.

When asked when he thought train service would return to normal, Malloy said,  “We really cannot give you good information on that. We will set up a system to move people from Bridgeport to the next possible station that can handle that traffic. Folks east of Bridgeport, you should begin making plans for alternate travel.”

Metro North officials said any repairs will have to wait until after a full investigation into the crash has been completed.

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The Metro North collision between two commuter trains has tied up traffic in Bridgeport’s West End, as Fairfield Avenue between Railroad Avenue westbound and Pine Street is closed to both traffic and pedestrians.

Westbound traffic has been detoured onto Commerce Drive, also known as State Street Extension. Eastbound vehicles are being diverted onto Railroad Avenue.

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The transit authority has released the following statement regarding the train derailment and collision in Bridgeport:

At approximately 6:10 p.m., a Metro-North train (the 4:41 p.m. departure from Grand Central, due to New Haven at 6:32 p.m.) traveling to New Haven with an estimated 300 passengers derailed in the vicinity of the I-95 overpass in Bridgeport, Connecticut.

 

A passenger train traveling in the opposite direction carrying an estimated 400 passengers on the adjacent track (the 5:30 p.m. departure from New Haven-State Street, due Grand Central at 7:18 p.m.) then struck the derailed train.

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo has deployed MTA Chairman Tom Prendergast to the scene as well as additional MTA and emergency personnel and resources. The Governor has spoken with Governor Dannel Malloy of Connecticut to coordinate the two states’ responses.

Train service is operating between South Norwalk Station and Grand Central Terminal. Metro-North service is suspended between South Norwalk and New Haven until further notice.

There are four tracks in this segment of the New Haven Line, but two of those tracks are out of service for a long-term project to replace overhead wires. On the remaining two tracks, there was extensive infrastructure damage as a result of the collision. Both the track and the overhead wire have been damaged.  The train cars cannot be removed until the on-scene investigation is complete, and they will need to be removed by crane.

Normal service through this area is not expected to resume until a full investigation is complete, the infrastructure is fully assessed, and repairs are made.

MTA Police, local police, Connecticut Office of Emergency Management, the Federal Railroad Administration and the FBI are all involved in the investigation. The National Transportation Safety Board will have lead on the investigation, and investigators are en route.

As more information becomes available we will notify you as soon as possible.  Please visit mta.info for updates and listen for announcements at your station.

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The train derailment has upset regular train service in a few ways. See what is and is not running below and check back for updates to the schedule:

• North of South Norwalk: As of Saturday there is no train service between New Haven and South Norwalk.
• Bridgeport: Trains are not running, but there is bus service between Waterbury and Bridgeport.
• South Norwalk: Trains departing South Norwalk for Grand Central Station will run at a reduced rate, leaving every hour, 39 minutes after the hour. Trains leaving Grand Central Station for South Norwalk will leave every hour, 7 minutes after the hour.
• Rowayton: Trains run hourly, leaving 42 minutes after each hour.
• Darien: Trains are running hourly, leaving every hour 45 minutes after the hour.
• Noroton Heights: Trains are running hourly, departing 48 minutes after every hour.
• Stamford: There is regular service between Stamford and Grand Central.
• New Canaan: The New Canaan branch is operating normally.
• Danbury: The Danbury branch of Metro North is running on a regular schedule.
• Yankees-E. 153rd: Trains between Stamford and E 153rd are running on a Yankees Game Day schedule.

Metro North officials do not have an estimate when full regular service will be restored, but say any repairs will have to wait until after a full investigation into the crash has been completed.

A full train schedule can be found at this link.

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OXFORD – There will be a rabies vaccination clinic from noon to 2 p.m. on Sunday, June 9, at the Oxford Animal Shelter, 486 Oxford Road.

Vaccinations are $15 each and proof of prior rabies vaccination should be brought to the clinic.

Dogs must be on a leash and cats must be in a carrier.

For more information, contact the shelter at 203-881-3653.

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This morning, Mayor Bill Finch attended the Police Department’s Compstat meeting, where they share the week’s crime data, and brought a special guest along; none other than actor John Ratzenberger, a Bridgeport native.

“I’m here in Bridgeport to let the world know Bridgeport, Connecticut beat Kittyhawk by two years on first controlled air flight,” he said, when he introduced himself at the meeting.

Apparently, Ratzenberger is working with the mayor on a way to celebrate and let the world know Gustav Whitehead, German native, was the first in flight — in Bridgeport. A movie maybe? Stay tuned…

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After learning that Colorblends, on the corner of Barnum Avenue and Helen Street, had planted 10,000 tulips, I just had to stop by and check it out. The company, a wholesale flower bulb business, bought this lot at the corner of Maple and Hallett streets and planted these gorgeous flowers. As someone who grew up on the East Side, I love seeing color here!

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There will be a household hazardous waste collection for residents of Trumbull, Easton and Monroe on Saturday, June 1, 2013 from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. at Indian Ledge Park in Trumbull.

The park is located at 307 Indian Ledge Park Drive.

A Connecticut driver’s license is required. Items to bring include oil-based paints, varnishes, pesticides, insecticides and pool chemicals.

Please do not bring latex paint (can be dried with kitty litter and thrown in the garbage), alkaline batteries, motor oil, antifreeze and asbestos products.

For a complete list refer to the Trumbull website at www.trumbull-ct.gov. The next collection will be in the fall of 2013.