DANBURY, Conn. — The Connecticut Department of Transportation has announced a 17-day shutdown of Metro-North’s Danbury Branch, set to begin Aug. 1.
Bus service will replace trains from Friday, Aug. 1, to Sunday, Aug. 17. CTDOT said the shutdown, for state-of-good-repair work, saves costs and is more efficient compared to daily mobilization and demobilization of work crews. Along with track work, the project will include improvements at grade crossings in Norfolk, Wilton, and Bethel, Conn.
“We understand this work can be disruptive, and we appreciate the patience and understanding of customers during these important infrastructure improvement projects,” Benjamin Limmer, Connecticut Department of Transportation bureau chief of public transportation, said in a press release.“The work is being scheduled before Labor Day and school starts to minimize impact. We encourage members of public to plan ahead, review the temporary bus schedule, and follow all posted detour routes.”
Substitute bus schedules are available here. While frequencies are similar to those of trains, departure times for buses bound for South Norwalk will be earlier than their rail counterparts.
The 24-mile branch normally sees 13 round trips on weekdays and six on weekends and holidays. It saw about 330,000 riders in 2024, a 17.4% increase over the previous year.
Metro-North’s P32AC-DM 222 New Haven heritage locomotive looks like a piece of art in Emily Moser’s photo.
Dr. Güntürk Üstün
CDOT seems to have a difference of opinion vis-a-via NY MTA over the “ger-r’don” vs. the MTA’s East River repair idea of “shut, fiddle-open, lather repeat” style of business.