By Liz Schevtchuk Armstrong

Metro-North Railroad Sunday afternoon (Dec. 1) urged Hudson Line riders to seek alternative transportation to and from New York City after a train derailment that morning left four passengers dead, including a Philipstown resident, and dozens more injured.

To help commuters, Putnam County announced creation of a shuttle service, effective Monday morning, Dec. 2, from Cold Spring and Garrison train stations to the Southeast train station, on the Metro-North Harlem line.

The accident, at approximately 7:20 a.m., occurred near the Spuyten Duyvil train station in the Bronx borough of New York City, along the Hudson River and minutes from the terminal in Grand Central Station. It left the train’s seven cars jackknifed, fallen on their sides, or, in one case, in the brush just above the water.

“Hudson Line service between Tarrytown and Grand Central remains suspended,” Metro-North stated on an announcement available on its website late Sunday afternoon. “Bus service is being provided between White Plains and Tarrytown Station for customers wishing to travel in and out of Grand Central. Customers are strongly recommended to make alternative travel plans.”

The railroad also said that “JFK High School, at 99 Terrace View Ave., in the Bronx, has been established as a family center and 718-817-7444 is the contact number for those seeking the status of family members who may have been aboard the train. Or call 311 in NYC, or 212-New-York (212-639-9675).”

Putnam County Executive MaryEllen Odell said Sunday afternoon that “in order to respond to Putnam County commuters and ease the inconvenience,” the shuttle service, organized by Vincent Tamagna, a Philipstown resident who is county transportation manager, would operate mornings and evenings, continuing indefinitely, based on use.

The schedule calls for shuttles from Cold Spring six times a morning, beginning at 5, until 7:15, and from Garrison, at 5, 6:30, and 8 a.m., with returns to Cold Spring and Garrison from Southeast at 6, 6:30 and 7:15 p.m.

Click to enlarge
Click to enlarge

On Cold Spring’s Main Street, another alternative surfaced: Local commuters could drive, perhaps in car pools, to Brewster, with its large parking lot, and take the train from there.

[Philipstown.info will update this story as developments warrant.]

Behind The Story

Type: News

News: Based on facts, either observed and verified directly by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.

Armstrong was the founding news editor of The Current (then known as Philipstown.info) in 2010 and later a senior correspondent and contributing editor for the paper. She worked earlier in Washington as a White House correspondent and national affairs reporter and assistant news editor for daily international news services. Location: Cold Spring. Languages: English. Areas of expertise: Politics and government