Amtrak service from NYC to CT suspended after transformer explosion and track fires

Amtrak service between New York Penn Station and New Haven is expected to be suspended until Wednesday afternoon after a fire on the tracks in the Bronx shut down trains on Tuesday.

“Amtrak personnel are currently assessing and repairing damage to the tracks,” the company wrote in an update on its website, adding that normal service was not expected to resume until Wednesday at 2 p.m. Agency officials were not available to answer questions Wednesday morning.

Commuters with tickets for the affected trains are encouraged to use Metro-North to travel between New York City and New Haven. The MTA train operator will honor Amtrak tickets while the disruption continues. Amtrak said it will also waive additional fees for customers who want to change their reservations.

Customers will still need to get from Penn Station – where Amtrak trains stop – to Grand Central Station, which is the hub for Metro-North service.

The cause of the disturbance was an explosion and fire that broke out in an Amtrak transformer near Bronxdale Avenue around 2:15 p.m. Tuesday, fire officials said.

FDNY Chief of Operations Kevin Woods said the fire spread to three cars nearby and firefighters had to use foam to extinguish the fire and suppress burning fumes.

“It took us quite a while to put out the fire,” he said at a press conference on Tuesday evening. “We had to stop all train traffic, we had to [power removed from] The overhead wires, we also had to remove power from the transformer.”

About a half-mile away, firefighters also battled a three-alarm fire at a 60,000-square-foot warehouse that stored auto parts, hydraulic equipment, pallets and vehicles, according to FDNY officials. Some bushes outside the building were also on fire.

Woods said the causes of the transformer explosion and camp fire were still under investigation. He said they were “separate and different” and it was still unclear whether they could even be related. No injuries were reported.

Amtrak service alerts can be found on X at @AmtrakNECAlerts. Customers can also call Amtrak’s reservation center at 1-800-USA-RAIL.

The track fires come as the region faces dangerously dry weather conditions and officials continue to battle wildfires across New Jersey and New York.

FDNY Commissioner Robert Tucker warned Wednesday morning of the “unprecedented” number of wildfires breaking out around the city this year, saying there were 229 fires citywide between Oct. 29 and Nov. 12, compared to a total of only 200 in the entire month of October in the last three years.

“Remarkably dry conditions in October and so far in November have resulted in a historic number of bushfires in the last two weeks and we need the public to remain vigilant,” Tucker said. “Due to the significant lack of rainfall, the threat of fast-spreading bushfires fueled by dry vegetation and windy conditions poses a real threat to our members and our city.”

The department shared a video it produced of some of the fires it fought. FDNY also reminded New Yorkers of the following safety tips.

• Avoid campfires, campfires or other open flames.
• As long as there is drought, grilling is prohibited in city parks.
• Smokers should dispose of cigarette butts and matches properly.
• Take special precautions when welding or doing other hot construction work, especially near dry grass or leaves.
• Stay on designated trails in parks to protect vegetation and reduce the risk of accidental fires.
• Do not set off fireworks; they are illegal.
• Remove trash and excess brush or leaves from sidewalks near homes and businesses.

This story has been updated with additional information from the fire department.