Metro-North Railroad train hit tree on tracks in Norwalk, causing Danbury Branch delay

NORWALK — A Metro-North Railroad train on the Danbury branch was delayed Saturday afternoon after it struck a tree “in the vicinity of the track area,” the Metropolitan Transportation Authority said.

Official response and confirmed impact

The incident occurred during the powerful nor’easter Saturday that brought with it rain and strong wind to much of Connecticut.

According to the MTA's website, the 1:33 p.m. train from Danbury to South Norwalk delayed at the Merritt 7 station in Norwalk.

An MTA official later said a portion of a tree fell onto the railroad tracks around 2:30 p.m., and that personnel were sent to remove it.

As of 2:47 p.m., the tree had been cleared from the tracks.

The train was on move again, about 25 to 30 minutes behind schedule, a member of the MTA press office confirmed Saturday afternoon.

The size and type of tree was not known at the latest report.

Incident background

The Danbury branch provides train service between Danbury and Norwalk, where trains connect to the main New Haven line that operates in and out of New York City.