State: New Canaan Rail Line To Resume Service Sept. 2

State officials said Wednesday that Metro-North Railroad’s New Canaan branch line will resume service Sept. 2.

The Connecticut Department of Transportation said in a press release that service, halted since Memorial Day for track work, will resume with the 6:20 a.m. train that Saturday.

“Over the last several months, a track improvement project was underway along the line,” the press release said. “Now that the project is completed, an existing speed restriction in the Stamford area has been eliminated, allowing trains to travel 20 miles per hour faster through this section. 

In advance of train service resuming, test trains will be operating along the New Canaan Branch Line between Stamford and New Canaan in both directions to test and inspect the railroad crossings and tracks.”

Town officials since the spring have closely monitored the status of the New Canaan line. Its closure forced scores of commuters, summoned back to working in-person following the COVID-19 pandemic, to find parking at nearby towns, and also forced the town to figure out what to do about permits. (Ultimately, the Board of Selectmen last week approved a three-month extension to active parking permits, through Nov. 30—more info here.) Earlier this month, town officials said the state is considering changes to the frequency of trains on the New Canaan line, so that rail service is aligned with demand throughout the week.

DOT Public Transportation Bureau Chief Ben Limmer said in the press release: “We appreciate the public remaining patient as this important work took place over the summer months. These infrastructure improvements allow for improved and more reliable service on the New Canaan Branch Line into the future. We remind the public to use caution around the tracks as trains will resume operation shortly. We look forward to welcoming customers back on September 2 as we head into a busy fall season.”