Is there is any question about the passion over the Red Sox v. Yankees rivalry? Metro North sure doesn't think so.
The commuter rail line is adding more direct trains from Connecticut to Yankee Stadium for this weekend's series between the two teams.
The trains will take fans from certain Connecticut stops straight to the East 153rd Street station in the Bronx, which opened this spring in time for the teams' sluggers to test their skill at the new Yankee Stadium.
Metro North's expecting a huge increase in riders heading to the games beginning Thursday, but Metro North says it's not easy to just add extra trains.
"During the week, we really don't have a lot of extra equipment. We don't have extra slots (on the schedule)", Marjorie Anders, press secretary for Metro-North told the New Haven Register. "Because of this particular match-up between the Red Sox and New York, we did decide to try a direct train."
The "Yankee Clipper" will set off from Union Station in New Haven at 4:18 p.m. Thursday and Friday for the 7:05 p.m. games. It will only stop in Milford, Stratford and Bridgeport and then run express to the stadium.
For all four games, trains will leave for New Haven starting at 20 minutes and 45 minutes after the games end. Other trains will run from Yankee Stadium to 125th Street and Grand Central Terminal, where riders can transfer to New Haven-bound trains.
Local
On Saturday, the game will begin at 4:10 p.m., and the normal Yankee Clipper trains will leave New Haven at 12:46 p.m .and 1:16 p.m., arriving in the Bronx at 2:24 p.m. and 2:54 p.m. Two direct trains also will leave Stamford.
Sunday's game begins at 8:05 p.m. and Metro-North will add an additional train leaving New Haven at 4:16 p.m., arriving at 5:41. Other Yankee Clippers leave at 3:46 and 4:46.
