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Danbury Branch Riders: Check Train Schedules For Delays, Bus Service

DANBURY, Conn. -- Riders on the Danbury Branch of the New Haven Line are reminded to check the schedules for the commuter rail starting Monday, Metro-North said on its website

Due to signal issues along the Danbury Branch that are slowing commute times, Metro-North has adjusted the schedule.

Under the new schedule, weekday morning peak-hour trains will leave Danbury at 5:28 a.m., 6:06 a.m., 6:38 a.m., 7:18 a.m. and 7:44 a.m. -- about eight to 10 minutes earlier than on the current schedule.

Afternoon trains starting with the 3:08 p.m. through the 7:12 p.m. from Grand Central Terminal will operate on the current schedule at all stations through West Redding. But trains will arrive eight to 11 minutes later at the stations in Bethel and Danbury.

Also, the AM reverse peak service from South Norwalk -- the 7:33 a.m. and the 8:48 a.m. train -- to Danbury will be on buses instead of trains.

All off-peak weekday trains will be substituted with buses as well. Buses heading to South Norwalk will leave Danbury up to 25 minutes earlier. For those departing South Norwalk for Danbury, all trains will be bused and arrive in Danbury up to 20 minutes later.

In addition, weekend train service is being replaced with bus service to and from South Norwalk and Danbury. 

The schedule will be in effect until further notice, Metro-North said, to provide more reliable service while contractors for Metro-North and the Connecticut Department of Transportation work to resolve the problem with the new grade crossing system.

"This problem has necessitated 'stop and warn' procedures to ensure safe train movements past each crossing, resulting in delays," Metro-North said on its website.

Tickets for the Danbury Branch will be honored on Metro-North's Harlem Line in New York as well to better accommodate some commuters.

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.

"This has affected me personally on a daily basis. Almost every day I am late for work and so stressed," Daily Voice reader RainbowsandUnicorns posted. "I have had more stress over the last few months because all of the trains are getting into NY late. This is a bad situation for people who have to punch a time clock."

Read more about the schedule changes here and the signal problems here on the Daily Voice. 

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