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The Latest: Railroad to resume normal service after fire

Posted May 19, 2016 7:00 am

The Associated Press

Passengers board a Metro-North train at Grand Central Terminal, Wednesday, May 18, 2016, in New York. Commuters into and out of terminal faced delays, a day after a fire broke out beneath elevated train tracks in the city. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews) The Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) - The Latest on Metro-North Railroad service in New York following a fire (all times local):

6:25 p.m.

New York and Connecticut's Metro-North Railroad says it will be resuming normal service Friday after completing temporary repairs to a section of an elevated track damaged in a fire.

The railroad says passengers should expect some delays due to speed restrictions still in place.

The fire erupted at a garden center underneath the tracks in New York City on Tuesday evening. It damaged a center column beneath a viaduct holding the tracks.

The fire has been ruled an accident. It was caused by fuel spilled on a hot generator as it was being refilled.

___

7 a.m.

Metro-North Railroad says it is adding extra trains during peak travel periods, two days after a fire damaged elevated train tracks in New York City.

Trains on Thursday will operate on an enhanced Saturday schedule on all three lines. That means more trains will be running during rush hour.

The railroad hopes to resume normal service by Friday.

The fire Tuesday evening erupted at a garden center underneath the tracks in East Harlem. It damaged a center column beneath a viaduct holding the elevated tracks. Crews are installing six temporary steel columns.

Fire marshals on Wednesday ruled the blaze an accident. They say it was caused by fuel that was spilled on a hot generator as it was being refilled.

An estimated 150,000 passengers endured overcrowded, slow commutes on Wednesday.

A train information board displays a delay alert for Metro-North trains at Grand Central Terminal, Wednesday, May 18, 2016, in New York. Commuters into and out of terminal faced delays, a day after a fire broke out beneath elevated train tracks in the city. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews) The Associated Press

In this photo provided by Benjamin Parkin, firefighters battle a blaze at the Metro-North railroad tracks in New York, Tuesday, May 17, 2016. Train service into and out of Grand Central is being delayed due to the fire. (Benjamin Parkin via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT The Associated Press

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