Commuter Council Holds Hearing Feb. 16 on Travel Woes

The CT Rail Commuter Council will hold a special meeting on Feb. 16 to discuss Metro-North's recent problems with its New Haven line. Commuters are invited to join Metro-North, the Connecticut Department of Transportation and elected officials to express their frustrations.

“We especially want commuters who have suffered through recent weeks of delays, cancellations and unheated cars to attend, share their experiences and get their questions answered,” Terri Cronin of Norwalk, the council's vice chair, said in a statement. “The folks from Metro-North need to hear from their customers. But commuters also need to hear Metro-North explain their challenges in running a first-class railroad with third-world equipment.”

Describing the New Haven line's recent service as "nearing a meltdown," the council is planning to discuss the continuous delays in testing new M8 railcars for the line.  According to the council, if these delays could be removed commuters would have a "real solution" to the numerous cancellations and delays that have plagued the line this past winter. The council is inviting Kawasaki, the manufacturer of the M8 railcars, as well as consulting firm LTK, to the meeting to offer an explanation.

The M8 railcars, which cost the state an investment of $866 million, were projected to be in service by late 2009, but production problems forced Metro-North to miss its targeted date. By December 2010, further testing on the railcars revealed even more problems.

“The Commuter Council has been following the M8 car program for six years,” Jim Cameron, the chairman of the legislature-appointed watchdog group, said. “We have asked for detailed information about the testing and the delays but have been given few answers. Commuters and taxpayers deserve a full explanation about these delays.”

Heavy snowfall this past winter has wreaked havoc on the New Haven line's dated equipment, thus causing major disruption for commuters. About half of the line's fleet is out of service and in need of repair, and as a result, Metro-North has announced a for Feb. 7- March 4.

The meeting will be held at the , 888 Washington Blvd. in Stamford. at 7 p.m.