Metro-North service is expected to return to normal by Wednesday morning, Gov. Dannel Malloy said during a news conference Monday afternoon.
Work continues at the train crash site after Friday's rush hour derailment in Connecticut that injured 72 people.
"While this is definitely great news, residents still need to bear in mind that the commute Tuesday will remain a challenge," Malloy said.
Malloy conceded traffic on Connecticut's highways was not as congested as had been predicted, but urged people to carpool or work from home on Tuesday to avoid major problems.
"We are confident that the reconstruction work, inspection and testing will be completed in time for a normal rush out on Wednesday," said Howard Permut, president of Metro-North. "We are grateful for the tireless work of all departments and employees engaged in this huge task."
About 100 workers have been on the job around the clock since Saturday removing the damaged trains and repairing the track, Permut said. Crews are rebuilding about 2,000 feet of track, according to Permut.
The National Transportation Safety Board authorized the removal of rail cars from the crash site on Saturday night, allowing the investigation and clean-up process to proceed. All rail cars were removed by Sunday afternoon and taken to the Bridgeport railyard, according to the NTSB.
Investigators are looking into a broken part of the rail that underwent repairs last month, but have not determined whether it was a pre-existing fracture or if it occurred as a result of the accident, according to NTSB spokesperson Earl Weener, who spoke at a news conference on Saturday afternoon. The board said the FBI has ruled out foul play in the investigation.
The trains were traveling at approximately 70 mph at the time of the crash, which is the posted speed limit, according to the NTSB.
Connecticut Gov. Dannel Malloy and other officials spoke at a news conference on Saturday morning where they described a grisly scene after a Metro-North commuter train heading east from New York City derailed and was hit by an oncoming train heading west from New Haven.
"The damage is absolutely staggering," Sen. Blumenthal said. "Ribbons on the sides of cars are torn away like ribbons of clothes."
The NTSB's investigation could take seven to 10 days but that does not mean that service shutdown will take that long, board spokesman Earl Weener said..
The eastbound Metro-North train derailed just after 6 p.m. and was hit between the Bridgeport and Fairfield stations, officials said.
Metro-North has set up a toll-free number for customers on the trains involved in Friday’s crash to provide assistance. Call at 1-800-638-7646 for information on referral/support services, lost & found items and assistance with any paperwork.
Photo Credit: AP
