Senator Toni Boucher Responds To Metro-North Train Fiasco

When riders were stuck for more than an hour in triple digit heat with little water or fresh air in their rail cars it should set off alarms. I am very grateful no one was taken to the hospital with serious injuries.

Most disturbing to me however, were reports that trapped passengers called 911 for help and local first responders couldn't locate the trains.  The breakdown in communication from Metro North Train officials to first responders and local officials as well as the apparent lack of an emergency backup plan are not acceptable.

Recently, several of the key players from Metro North,Westport Emergency Services and the Connecticut Commuter Rail Council, Westport’s first selectman and I sat down to walk through the crisis.  We needed to learn from the incident and take corrective action for the future.  What we found out of the train fiasco;  

• Metro North needs to have a better communication system with local officials.
• Metro North did not have a clear understanding of where that train was so they could help first responders locate those in distress immediately. (Pregnant ladies were stuck on the train, people were panicking.)
• Once found - Metro North and local EMS didn’t have a clear picture of who to help first.

Last winter should have provided lessons in communication to Metro North.   With 80 inches of snow and more than half the fleet out of service commuters were frustrated that MTA officials didn’t make quicker decisions about suspending service to spare commuters headaches.  

This is no different.  To run trains through the oppressive heat knowing there could be downed wire or fatigue by the equipment and then not to have a clear communications plan in place is inexcusable.

There is a real problem with the infrastructure that is for sure it’s an aging fleet and the catenary wire system is a century old – those issues need to be addressed.  As ranking member of the transportation committee it’s my job to make sure commuters are being taken care of and are ensured a safe ride.   That Friday in July was anything but. I am assured that the DOT Commissioner is committed to having Metro North put a plan of action in place so that incidents like this can be avoided in the future. Together we will make sure these serious issues are fixed. 

Senator Toni Boucher