Signal issues with grade crossings on the Danbury branch of Metro North will not be solved any time soon. Police in Bethel and Danbury are being advised by Metro North that train employees will continue to get out of the trains, verify its safe and then have the train move.
The so-called stop-and-warn procedure has been in place at various crossings along the branch line since control system upgrades done in November have caused gates to not work properly. Metro North officials say there are problems with the switches that were installed.
Officials say the problem is with the newly installed computerized train detection system that controls the grade crossings and the mechanism that controls the opening and closing of a gate crossing. It sometimes activates with no trains approaching.
When the crossing is activated, the train can only proceed at a restricted speed not exceeding 15 MPH.
MTA officials say the manufacturer has been on the scene and is working in its laboratory to resolve the issue. Metro-North has also dispatched its own team to coordinate the effort with the designer of the signal system, Alstom, and the manufacturer of the timing device, Siemens.
The railroad apologized for inconveniences experienced.
