Waiting for a train

New Haven, Conn. (WTNH) - Service was restored on Metro-North's New Haven line Monday afternoon, after an interruption of more than 48 hours because of Irene.

But for most of the day there were empty platforms, empty tracks at New Haven's Union Station.

"We were told back in Old Saybrook that the trains from 2 o'clock were running to New York so that's why we came up here," said Qasim Hussain of London, England, who was trying to get to New York to catch a flight overseas.

He and friends took a taxi from Old Saybrook. It cost them $80, and when they finally made it to New Haven "we've pretty much been told that there's no trains running today."

During the morning the schedule board looked optimistic enough with trains running to Grand Central starting at 2:00. But shortly before that time that changed. No Metro North trains at all, and only a few Shore East Line runs to Old Saybrook.

Most got fed up and took the only other option, the bus. The line snaked away from the station with folks hoping the roads would at least be more reliable than the rails. Jessica Walker was trying to get home to Aberdeen, Maryland.

"I'm actually saving money," she said, "but at the same time it's gonna be longer, so it's gonna be about a five, six hour bus ride to Philly and then another hour to Aberdeen."

Metro-North is offering refunds for the cancelled trains while they work to clear the tracks and repair the damage to the infrastructure. But because they suspended service Saturday at Noon many have been trapped for several days. Now they're just trying to make the best of it.

"A long day but I got patience," Walker said. "I can do it (laughs)."