Mudslide Causes Service Disruption on Metro-North and Amtrak in Westchester County
A mudslide caused by severe weather conditions disrupted service on Saturday, Oct. 21, 2023, on Metro-North’s Hudson Line and Amtrak in the Westchester County area. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) captured drone photos that reveal the extent of the damage caused by the mudslide.
The incident occurred around 9:45 a.m. Saturday, obstructing all four Metro-North Railroad tracks near the Scarborough station in the village of Briarcliff Manor. As a result, the Metro-North Railroad announced that there would be no service between Tarrytown and Croton-Harmon stations.
Travelers south of Tarrytown were advised to utilize the Harlem line as an alternative. However, those north of Tarrytown were unable to travel by train to and from New York City. As of Sunday late afternoon, Amtrak and Metro-North had not provided estimates for when the tracks would be cleared ahead of the work week.
Limited hourly service was available between Grand Central Terminal and Tarrytown, as well as between Croton-Harmon and Poughkeepsie, according to Metro-North. However, impacted customers experienced very limited bus service replacing trains between Tarrytown and Croton-Harmon. This transportation arrangement was expected to be in place at least through the weekend.
The Philipse Manor, Scarborough, and Ossining stations had no train or bus services on Sunday. Customers at these stations were encouraged to visit the Tarrytown station for rail service to Grand Central Terminal or the Croton-Harmon station for rail service to Poughkeepsie.
It remains unclear how long it will take to remove the remnants of the mudslide, which occurred after heavy rains throughout the Hudson Valley. The National Weather Service reported that the slide area received less than half an inch of rain between Friday night and Saturday morning, which is not an abnormal amount. However, nearby White Plains experienced 10.45 inches of rain in September, according to meteorologist James Tomasini.
According to The Journal News, the mudslide occurred at the end of Country Club Lane South, just west of Sleepy Hollow Country Club. The land gave way, destroying a stone retaining wall that then fell onto the tracks below. Drone photos shared by Metro-North illustrate the extensive damage caused by the mudslide, reaching almost the foundation of the affected home, with a visibly cracked back stone patio.
Crews from Metro-North worked overnight into Sunday to remove mud and break rocks, as well as repairing the damaged tracks. They also worked on restoring the third rails that power the trains. Aaron Donovan, a spokesperson for Metro-North, stated that the track closest to the mudslide was the most affected. At this point, there is no timeline for when that track will be restored, which is crucial for resuming full service.
Amtrak also experienced service disruptions due to the mudslide. Various lines, including the Empire and Lake Shore Limited, were canceled. Limited services are operating on specific routes, and updates are available from Amtrak.
Passengers are advised to stay updated with the latest information regarding train service in the Westchester County area. The MTA and Amtrak will continue repair and restoration efforts to restore normal operations as soon as possible.