Metro-North Rail Halted by NYC Bridge Fire

A large fire under a bridge sent billowing smoke over New York and shut down commuter rail service between Manhattan and the northern suburbs for over two hours on Monday.

No injuries were reported.

Television images showed pilings burning in the Harlem River under the 138th Street lift bridge and FDNY marine units hitting the fire with water. Huge orange flames were visible, and plumes of white and black smoke wafted over the river and East Harlem.

The fire began shortly before noon and was declared under control around 1:30 p.m.

Metro-North resumed service around 2:30 p.m., with scattered delays of up to 15 minutes. It said two of the four tracks on the bridge had been restored. The railroad was assessing damage on the remaining tracks and its impact, if any, on the evening rush-hour.

Riders were instructed to use subway connections during the Metro-North shutdown.

The fire department said the cause of the fire was not immediately known.

Suburban commuters have had a tough go of it recently. The Long Island Rail Road suffered a week of service disruptions following an Aug. 23 fire in Jamaica, Queens, that damaged a switching system. On Thursday evening, a storm left downed trees on the tracks, causing LIRR suspensions.

According to CBS-2 New York, Metro-North is providing customers with the following alternative service plan:
Southbound:

- New Haven Line customers get off at Woodlawn and transfer to the #2 at 233rd Street for service to Manhattan

- Harlem line customers get off at Wakefield to get to 241st street #2 subway OR Yankees - E. 153rd Street to get the #4 or D subway.

- Hudson Line customers also get off at Yankees-E. 153rd Street for the D train or #4 Or at Marble Hill to transfer to the #1 at 225th Street.

All southbound trains will go to and terminate at Yankees - E 153rd Street Station.

Northbound:

- ALL Metro-North customers should take the #4 or D to get a MNR train at Yankees - E 153rd Street Station.

- All three lines, Hudson, Harlem and New Haven will be served by the new Yankees-E 153rd Street station.