A Disruptive Mudslide in Westchester County Disrupts Train Service
On Saturday, October 21, 2023, a mudslide caused by inclement weather disrupted train service on Metro-North’s Hudson Line and Amtrak in the Westchester County area. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) captured drone photos that revealed the extent of the damage.
The MTA’s workers were observed removing hundreds of cubic yards of debris from two of the four tracks in Westchester County on Sunday, following the mudslide that brought train service to a halt.
The state of train service between Albany and New York City is expected to be restored by Monday, thanks to the tireless efforts of workers who spent 43 hours clearing the debris off the tracks. Commuters can expect a “near-normal” schedule for Metro-North trains outside the city, beginning at 5 a.m. on Monday.
Governor Kathy Hochul praised the extraordinary effort to restore service, stating that hundreds of thousands of commuters will benefit from Monday morning’s resumption of Metro-North service.
While service is being substantially restored, a few select Empire Service trains will remain canceled on Monday, primarily as a result of equipment repositioning. Delays are expected for trains resuming service between Albany and New York City.
Metro-North is making adjustments to schedules and canceling four out of the 158 daily trains operated on the line. During peak hours, trains traveling in the reverse-peak direction will operate express between Tarrytown and Croton-Harmon.
The mudslide occurred near the Scarborough station in the village of Briarcliff Manor, obstructing Metro-North Railroad tracks. As a result, there was no service between Tarrytown and Croton-Harmon stations. Travelers south of Tarrytown were advised to use the Harlem line as an alternative.
Crews worked diligently to clear 350 cubic yards of soil and debris, as well as 250 cubic yards of rock and cement walls from two of the four tracks. They utilized broken rock walls from homeowners to stabilize the land surrounding the tracks. The task of clearing remaining mud and debris is expected to continue for several days. Additionally, crews worked overnight to rebuild 140 feet of damaged third rail.
While the mudslide occurred as a result of heavy rainfall, the amount of rain on the day of the incident was within the normal range. However, the nearby White Plains area had experienced substantial rainfall in September.
Drone photos shared by the MTA depicted the magnitude of the mudslide’s impact, almost reaching the foundation of the affected home and causing visible damage to the stone patio. Metro-North spokesperson Aaron Donovan reported that crews worked tirelessly to remove mud, break rocks, repair damaged tracks, and restore power to the trains.
As train service resumes, residual delays of approximately 30-45 minutes are expected between Albany, NY, and New York City, according to Amtrak’s statement. A few Empire Service lines, including 233, 244, 238, and 235, will remain canceled on Monday.
Riders are advised to check train schedules before departing their homes on Monday.
