Metro-North suspended all train service in and out of Grand Central Terminal because of a fire under a bridge mid Monday, but about three hours later officials said that service was getting back to normal.
The railroad said Monday that the fire was located at a transformer under the 138th Street lift bridge, which carries all Metro-North trains in and out of Manhattan.
The service was suspended at 11:45 a.m. At the time, trains approaching Manhattan and the south Bronx were being held the nearest station while the fire was being put out and outbound trains were held at Grand Central Station, transit officials said.
The fire department said marine units were "hitting the fire" with water.
The railroad carries about 135,000 people into Manhattan each morning.
As of 12:30 p.m., the fire was not yet extinguished and there is no estimate on when train service will resume, Marjorie Anders, of the MTA press office said.
The bridge carries all four tracks and affects the Hudson, Harlem and New Haven lines.
But regular off-peak service resumed into and out of Grand Central as of 2:25 p.m. -- with scattered delays of up to 15 minutes, officials said. Two of four tracks affected at the 138th Street bridge were restored at the time and investigators were still assessing the damage on the remaining two tracks.
Local
By 4:20 p.m., officials said normal evening rush service was expected on all three lines, Hudson, Harlem and New Haven. Regular Train to the Game Yankees service also is operating, they said.
But Anders said it could take hours to inspect the bridge once the fire is out.
Several subway alternatives were also available for commuters.
Southbound:
New Haven Line customers can 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-line subway or to 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/ East 153rd Street Station.
Northbound:
All Metro-North customers should take the #4 or D to get a Metro-North 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, officials said.
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