Bolinsky: Metro-North Cross-Honoring Danbury Branch Tickets on the Harlem Line

Move Aims to Help Customers During Danbury Branch Signal Work

HARTFORD- State Rep. Mitch Bolinsky (R-106 Newtown) is alerting all constituents who commute on the Danbury Branch of Metro-North Railroad’s New Haven Line that, effective immediately, Danbury Branch tickets will be cross-honored for travel on MTA’s Metro-North Harlem Line trains while the railroad works to correct problems with the new signal system that are causing railroad crossing gates to operate incorrectly and delay trains.

Rep. Bolinsky said, “This is a the least Metro-North can do for New York-bound Danbury Branch commuters in our area, many of whom have been plagued by long delays, cancelled trains and the rigors of having to endure this awful winter weather standing on platforms wondering how late the railroad is going to make them for work in the morning or getting home at night. I only wish they had a solution that also addressed the needs of commuters traveling to Connecticut jobs in places like Stamford and Norwalk. The new signal system was supposed to increase reliability and allow additional capacity in our corridor but, instead, it’s done the opposite.”

“With all the problems Metro North is having system-wide, I wanted to be certain our branch line and commuters were not going to be left out in the cold so, working through contacts at Connecticut Department of Transportation, we were able to get commitments that Metro-North would give priority status to working with the newly-installed system’s makers, Alstom and Siemens, to resolve the underlying issues affecting operations,” added Bolinsky.

Initial installation of the new signal system for the Danbury Branch, which includes a computerized train detection system in the tracks leading to railroad/roadway crossings, along with related construction of several portions of parallel track, or sidings, was supposed to accommodate expanded service by allowing more than one train to operate along the corridor at a time. However, a problem with the newly installed computerized train detection system that controls the flashing lights and movable wooden arms that restrict motor vehicle traffic at railroad crossings has been activating with no trains approaching. According Metro-North, this is happening despite the fact that this system was comprehensively tested at each crossing prior to being activated along the right-of-way.

Until Metro-North, finds a solution, Metro-North trains are operating with a “Stop-and-Warn” requirement to ensure continued safe train movements. This procedure requires all trains to come to a complete stop before entering the affected crossing and to determine if the crossing protection is activated.

Bolinsky added: “One of the biggest frustrations I have heard from commuters is the railroad’s absence of communication about service changes and delays. They stand, freezing, on platforms with no acknowledgement of a problem by Metro-North. No P.A. announcements. No apologies. Imagine the frustration of learning the railroad has this problem but chooses not to tell the ultimate stakeholders, their customers! In my conversation with the DOT commissioner, he expressed the need to change the railroad’s culture to become better communicators and more focused on riders expectations.”

In a separate press release, Metro-North pledged to keep customers and the media updated about its progress in resolving this issue as quickly and effectively as possible. The railroad recognizes the inconvenience that customers are experiencing and apologized for the difficulties.