Metro North Commuter's Journal

On Time...You have to be joking

2005-12-16T20:47:00.000-05:00

Truth now...How often do you arrive at your final destination on time?

I am not talking about the magic time kept by MNRR to prepare the schedules and propaganda we regularly see, but the real time that you step off the train onto the platform. Rush hour trains regularly test the 5:59 that MNRR calls "on-time" but almost never arrive 5:59 early.

It used to be that a 95 minute trip to/from New Haven was that or even better on occasion. Today the shortest scheduled train is 98 minutes. I can remember a few 80-85 minute trips during the past ten years, so I know the railroad can do better, I guess those days are gone, Today, most trains are over 100-105 minutes, and they end up using every second of the magic 5:59 to ultimately get us where we are going.

The diesels are the worst, slow off the platform and the crew is often faced with door, engine, computer and other mechanical failures which complicate the matter further. Arriving at the appointed time on one of these contraptions is a pipedream.

Unfortunately, MNRR does not have a solution for the mess as they do not have the equipment that can actually meet the posted schedules. The worst trains have been placed on the longest runs to avoid the risk that they will not start up again if they stopped more often on the local run. That means that the worst equipment is assigned to us who pay the most to run MNRR.

MNRR does have one magic trick that seems to work...adding minutes to the schedule which they do regularly (tell me the last time they actually shaved a minute off a rush hour train on the New Haven Line).

Sadly, instead of raising the bar...pushing for better efficiency, they lower the bar just so that this rotting equipment can be called a railroad.

By the way, the train ran slow again today, no ventilation and the lights are only half on.

Yours,

Mark Wuest

6:55 AM Track 12 New Haven

2005-10-11T23:42:00.000-04:00

Metro North just wasted the last of the good will it had generated by doing a decent job moving us around during the summer. We commuters wait anxiously for the promised new trains while we remain stuck on equipment that has no place on a 21st century railroad.

Today I ended up on a dead train stuck on the express tracks somewhere around New Rochelle. The equipment involved...one of the Bombardiers, the slow, unreliable equipment I have often complained about.

I could hear the engineer's radio and was amused by the suggestions being offered to get this piece of junk moving....re-boot.

When there is no one else to blame...it must be the computer. I am actually surprised to learn that a computer actually controls anything on the train given that the extent of computing technology when this equipment was built was a sliderule.

The computer must have been a retrofit...product improvement...instead of a blown circuit, stuck door, or bad pump...lets leave the operation of the railroad to an extra comma buried in several million lines of computer code by a sleep deprived programmer overdosed on TAB.

Fall is upon us again, soon to be followed by winter. Let's see if MNRR can get it right this time.

We arrived 40 minutes late to GCT, and I thought I saw a sliderule in the engineer's hand as we finally exited the train.

The Polar Express

2005-07-27T20:51:00.000-04:00

No the Blog has not started the summer re-runs.

MNRR almost magically has hot cars in the Summer and cold cars in the summer, except the other day when it was possible to see the ice crystals forming in your breathe.

Today however, a sweatbox.

Then there is the regular power outage...6:55 two consecutive days, lights and AC die 10-15 minutes outside of GCT (yes Bombardier). Add to that the late arrival, broken seat (first triple behind engineer).

While you are at it, when was the last time a BOMB had a thorough cleaning. The windows are typically filthy and what used to be a gleaming stainless steel exterior has taken on a dusty patina more typically seen on a salt crusted truck in winter..

I know, I should be happy that there IS a train.

Yours,

Mark Wuest

5:38 PM Track 13 GCT

2005-07-19T22:28:00.000-04:00

I have held my tongue through much of this summer as the State slowly acquired more engines and more of the diesels (AKA BOMBardierS) made it onto the mainline. Funding for the new trains has been approved but it will take years of these conditions before any of us experience improvements in our commute.

At this point, these BOMBS have largely replaced the sleek M6's that once were used to run the express trains out of New Haven. Why have we who have the longest commutes and pay the most towards the operations of this railroad been cursed with what is arguably the worst equipment on the railroad?

Today, 5 cars, of which at least one would qualify as a torture chamber according to Geneva Convention (maybe that explains the Connecticut State Police on the train) were assigned to make this run. These 5 cars were the ones with only a single door at either end (no middle doors), they look and feel like the inside of a large can of SPAM which has been outfitted with seats and a couple long flickering fluorescent lights. The carriages on this equipment provide for considerable rocking, clanking and bouncing as we slowly make our way towards New Haven.

The diesel engine pulling this train is slow off the mark, so slow in fact that just to maintain system on time performance, MNRR has recently added a few minutes to the schedule for the 5:38. What is sad is that all too often, this equipment pulls into New Haven station 4-5 minutes late...maximizing the 5:59 that MNRR has defined as "on-time".

Today, as we left New York, heavily perspiring passengers were seen abandoning the hot cars, moving to the few remaining cars with adequate air-conditioning creating standing room only conditions.

I guess this is what they call public transportation.

OK things are getting a bit sloppy again.

2005-06-10T06:09:00.000-04:00

After a period of relatively decent performance, MNRR has run once again into a bad streak.

Monday morning's 6:55 out of New Haven just pulled a no show. When a train did pull up to the platform about 15 minutes later, we were told that it was going to be the 6:55. By the time we were half way to Milford we were told that actually the 6:55 had been annulled and this was going to be the local.

I don't know how may people in New Haven were left standing on the platform thinking that the local was going to pull to the platform momentarily, but the crowd of commuters were lining up on track 8 when the very late 6:55 pulled out of the station only to become the modestly late 7:14 a few miles down the track.

Due to the confusion, we had standing room only by Stratford.

Tuesday night I caught the 5:16, in hopes of catching a few minutes of my boys playing in a charity soccer "kick-off". Well my money will have to do because the train managed to pull into New Haven late that night...missed the kids.

Today an acquaintance mentioned that she was forced to change trains when the train out of New Haven she had chosen, died somewhere along the way.

You get used to the conditions on the trains...stand on hot days when all that is left are middle seats (I have to stand due to lack on knee room on a good day)...sweat because the other cars are standing room only an all that is left is the hot or dark car...but you never quite get used to arriving late or annulled trains.

One final comment. This time not directed to conditions on the trains but rather to a reader who suggested that I stop complaining about the trains and move closer to work.

I guess that is one solution to the problem on the trains, but when hundreds of thousands of other commuters take the same advice, traffic on our highways will become impossible.

You don't here me complaining about the length of my commute, that is a choice I have made and I live with it. For most of us here on the train, commuting is a necessity to get us from point A to B. All we ask for is better accommodations to do that task. Subway riders ask for new trains, bus riders better buses, drivers better highways and walkers, safer sidewalks.

I can not live under my desk at work...all of us commute in one way or another. As a Connecticut resident who needs to commute, it is the State who has the responsibility to provide the means for that to occur. Rail deserves the same attention that buses and roads have received and for too long, the State has neglected us here on the rails. Yours,

Mark Wuest

6:04 PMTrack 29 GCT

2005-05-17T20:51:00.000-04:00

MNRR has actually been doing a "good" job of late as witnessed by the monthly propaganda/seat drops. New Haven line had the best on-time performance of the entire system. (remember 3 types of liars...lairs...damned liars and statisticians)

Service has been more consistent, we seem to arrive in GCT in the mornings regularly a few minutes late but not so late to trigger the 5:59 rule, and we almost never arrive early.

BUT...today I walked by 3 dark cars and then reaching near the end of the platform, found a seat in a car without air conditioning...can not win them all.

So we are blessed with broken down equipment and standing room only. I don't know whether they got the lights working on the rest ofthe train.

MNRR usually does a decent job of keeping the trains cold in the winter and hot during the summer so I am glad in some regards that the status quo is being maintained...don't want to go messing with my expectations...

The News at 11:00 tells us that the State is close to passing the much delayed funding for the new equipment we so despirately need and MNRR is so convinced that it will happen that they have hired consultants to design the new equipment.

Progress? We will see. In the mean time, we must roll up our sleeves unbutton our shirts and put up with the trains that we have.

This does not mean that I am resolved to accept the conditions we are forced to endour here on Metro North, and it does not mean that I will stop trying to explain to all of you in the Statehouse what a Metro North commuter has to put up with on a regular basis.

5:16 Track 105 GCT

2005-04-28T20:56:00.000-04:00

Just a few observations.

I receive an occasional message from MNRR people defending what I had criticized here in the BLOG. Thank you. That understanding of the situation or procedures or whatever is helpful, but I still do not arrive any earlier or in any more comfort to my desired destination.

Now MNRR is not always awful and I have mentioned that here on occasion in the past. I have never not ended up where I was planning to go (but then taking a wrong turn is not a possibility on the train is it?), and I do occasionally have pleasant experiences here on the train; times when we arrive on time or early with the lights and ventilation working.

One of those times was on the 8:04 last night. We actually pulled into New Haven after a (may I dare to say?) "civilized" 96 minutes...Early. More often than not, my experience has been that we pull in 5 minutes late, just shy of the official late, and it takes me another 5 minutes to get out of the train because there is only one functioning door...that was the 6:55 this morning; a train with a 100 minute schedule that rarely ever pulls up to the platform in that time frame (especially now that the Bombadiers have been assigned to the long express runs).

I realize that these are lowly commuter trains and I realize that MNRR is handicapped with 30 year old equipment that should have been shipped off to the shredder years ago. But I do not expect carpet or a beverage service, just an ability to get between points A and B safely, timely and reasonably comfortably. And 2 out of 3 is in this case not good enough, especially since I have to do this every day as most of us do.

Back in school, 2 out of 3 barely permitted a student to graduate. Solid D student is something nobody bragged about.

MNRR customer surveys are always amusing to read. Somehow "somewhat satisfied" is OK.

Well I am "somewhat satisfied" with MNRR, but that is not nearly enough. MNRR needs to establish consistent quality service. That means that from one day to another, I know what equipment to expect, I know that I have an equal probability of arriving early or late a few minutes, that the ride will be comfortable and unremarkable.

Being stuck in a confined space with 1,000 other commuters is "exciting" enough thank you. Things happen without equipment malfunctions to spice things up; and unfortunately the equipment malfunctions all too often.

MNRR's problems are not BIG problems in general, but rather are the annoying, nagging, water-torture type that keeps people like me writing blogs like this.

6:55 AM Track 12 New Haven

2005-04-22T21:53:00.000-04:00

Spring Break this week for the kids, so I like many commuters have been saved from the daily grind to spend some quality time at home at least for a couple of days.

But my new routine does not mean that anything has changed on Metro North.

For the last several weeks MNRR has assigned the Bombs to the 6:55 (maybe it is time to start waking 20 minutes earlier on a more regular basis just to avoid the pain and catch an earlier train). Despite the efforts that MNRR has made of late to defend the "quality" of the Bombs, I understand from fellow commuters that the 6:55 did not make it all the way to GCT on Monday this week...then on Wednesday it ran express from Bridgeport leaving hundreds of Fairfield commuters waiting for a later train...gee...that sounds familiar.

Then there is the rough ride...the shaking is particularly bad today for some reason, especially here in the first car. (Has anyone checked the brakes lately?) I also need to complain once again about the aggressive use of duct tape on the window at the front of the train.

Did I mention that I am reading the 9/11 Report? Reading this is a bit like trip to the dentist...you don't want to go but you know that you really should. I bring this up here because of how MNRR allows this equipment to be run.

After collecting tickets, the two Conductors join the Engineer at the front of the train and spend the rest of the trip on the other side of the duct taped window. Now we have all seen those aerial photos of train wrecks...the front of the train usually always ends up looking like an accordion, with the cars to the back often remaining on the tracks.

With the entire crew up front, what will happen in the event of an emergency? And by the way crew...remember those photos...

Now we do not need a full blown disaster to illustrate why permitting the crew to ride together is bad...a medical emergency would be enough and it happens...regularly...would leave us commuters without any way of notifying authorities of a problem.

And then there is this 9/11 thing...remember the Madrid bombings? MTA has even experienced shootings on the trains in the past and we were all reminded when police rode the trains during the Republican Convention that federal, state and local government officials think there are a lot of fanatics out here in the suburbs.

So what happens...we get stuck on these Bombardier diesel trains where even the crew prefers to lock themselves in the front engineers booth. A typical train has 1,000 people in a confined space and due to the poor design of this equipment, almost no supervision once the requisite ticket collection is completed.

At my office above GCT, we have regular evacuation drills. We learn where the stairs are, what to do and not do in the event of an emergency. We have security personnel who walk around constantly, bags get checked, IDs too. On the train, our security personnel, the conductors, unfortunately take a recess once the tickets are collected.

Well that quaint bell that clanks on this equipment when the train approaches a platform signals that we are just passing 125th Street, about 5 minutes later than scheduled...gee...that sounds familiar too.

5:38PM Track 17 GCT

2005-04-12T23:22:00.000-04:00

Where exactly are all of the electric trains?

For the last couple of weeks it does seem like I have been stuck on the second team Bombardier trains more times than would be warranted by their numbers. Nearly 1/2 of my trips to and fro have been on the electric Metro North trains and 1/2 the time we are stuck on these diesels.

Last I heard, ConnDOT/MNRR had moved a handful of trains around in order to increase capacity on the mainline, but they have definitely not doubled the service as implied by the high percentage of BOMBs used on the New Haven runs during rush hour.

Dear Metro North, Please spread the BOMBs around a bit. Cramming all of the uncomfortable trains on the New Haven rush hour schedule is unfair to those of us who pay the most for service. If I must be inconvenienced then so can others. How about running them in lieu of the equipment that usually makes all of the local stops?

No matter what the salesperson told you when you were snookered into buying the BOMBs they are not long distance commuter trains. They are noisy, dirty and uncomfortable; they shake, rattle and rumble down the tracks. You can only put up with this for a short while before you get sick and tired of it.

So what happened to all of the equipment that used to run on this railroad anyway?

6:40 AM Track 8 New Haven

2005-03-31T21:10:00.000-05:00

BOMBed out. We left the platform in New Haven more or less on time, pulled down the tracks a couple of hundred yards and the train stopped...and sat. After a few minutes, the engineer backed the train to the platform and stopped again. After an announcement that crews were trying to fix a couple of "circuits", we took off again...and the train stopped again a couple of hundred yard down the tracks...and sat. The crew finally got us going again, we were running about 15 minutes late. I settled into my broken seat for the rest of our trip. Then, just as we thought that the worst was behind us, Something hit or fell off the bottom of the train, no joking (just east of Stamford). We stopped at Stamford Station without any check of the equipment that we commuters could tell. We then left Stamford a couple of minutes later, still 15 minutes behind schedule. Not a half mile west of the station, something did fall off the bottom of the train and this time seriously shook things up. The train stopped quickly and eventually we were told that they were going to back us up to Stamford to see what was wrong with the train. In Stamford Station we sat with the doors closed for a while before the crew finally opened the train up...no announcement mind you....we were on our own. After a thousand commuters were left to mill around on the platform for 5 minutes or so (again no announcements except that the "express" was running 5 minutes late, duh...what's new) we discovered that the train next to us was the next "express" to NYC. Everybody piled in...standing room only...the doors close...and we sat (many stood), sat some more...and then sat some more. No announcements, none. Even the engineer was fed up at this point. Finally the doors were popped at about the same time the engineer told us that he would indeed be taking this train to GCT...this morning, GCT is west, after backing up to the east. A few minutes later, as promised, we headed east. Ultimately, the train had to go through a number of switches in order to get around what ever damage that that the BOMB had made to the tracks. We pulled into GCT at 9:10 or so, two hours and thirty minutes after our train left New Haven the first time and 2:15 after it left the second time. I have no idea whether other trains were delayed behind us or whether we will show up in the Metro North on-time calculations as on time or not. After all the 6:40 never made it to GCT therefore it can't be late...right? To those of you working for Metro North or at the State of Connecticut who think that you are well on the way to resolving the problems with the railroad...think again. There is a disaster just waiting to occur. This equipment should never have been placed in service this morning. I argue that the Bombardier equipment in general has no business on the Mainline and this is exactly the equipment that the State expects to fill in with as the MU's continue to deteriorate and until the State can figure out how to buy the equipment that should have been purchased 10 years ago. After the train broke down the first time, it should have been taken out of service. But no, someone made the "executive" decision to send the piece of junk down the line. Do we have to wait to see a major train incident on the news before any serious action is taken to fix what is so obviously, seriously broken? This is Connecticut after all, home of Mianus River Bridge. So Governor, will we have to wait until the film at 11?

No, I haven't stopped commuting on Metro North...

2005-03-26T11:40:00.000-05:00

...and no the ongoing problems with the railroad are not resolved.

You can catch up on what has been happening by going to http://metronorthcommutes.blogspot.com/.

6:40 (make that the 6:55 AM) Track 8 New Haven

2005-03-25T08:40:00.000-05:00

Good Friday and MNRR is up to its bad tricks. Without warning train 1527 was cancelled today. Beautiful sun filled morning so you really can not blame the weather. Today is a light traffic day admittedly but it is every year on Good Friday.

MNRR, if you are going to cancel a train, you need to tell us commuters. Being too disinterested to do your job of running a scheduled train is not an option.

Several of us were stuck staring futily at the train board in the station looking for the train that is not there. No announcements, no special comments on the printed schedule (good until April 2nd).

Admittedly, I am a bit of a grump first thing in the morning, especially this time of the morning, but to drag me out of bed EARLY so that I can get the office EARLY only to find that MNRR is running a random schedule today is just not acceptable.

Sitting here on the train, the conductor tells me that the 6:40 was not scheduled to run today and sure enough his "official" schedule was indeed different than my "official" schedule. Apparently, MNRR made changes and never told anyone.

On top of the rudeness of a random cancellation, they stuck us on the BOMB forcing us to walk by a M series train located on track 6.

No wonder there are so many disgruntled commuters on the trains. Yours,

Mark Wuest

6:40 AM Track 8 New Haven

2005-03-24T10:34:00.000-05:00

I have been "off line" of late basically because MNRR has been doing a better job of late getting me from point A to point B. Specifically, on-time. So kudos to those who make it all happen.

Now there have been a few "adventures"....lets see...remember the morning train that lost all of its connections to the third rail on one side of the train? Despite the mechanical difficulties, MNRR controllers gave our train the green light all the way into Grand Central. We actually arrived a couple of minutes early coasting and putting up with flickering power supplies.

Then today, one of the train's crewmembers was left standing on the platform. We proceeded without event short one conductor...

MNRR has been mixing up equipment selections (I guess spreading the pain around) Today we have a Bombardier diesel, but the odds of getting stuck with the BOMBS and the much more comfortable M series equipment has been more favorable to the latter of late.

One of the many problems with the BOMBs is that very few MNRR personnel know how to operate them. For example, I know that the diesel has to be shut down in the Park Avenue Tunnel leaving us to run on the third rail (I guess that smell in the station is burning kerosene in all the smudge pots for the people living in the tunnels under GCT, not the engines) For some reason only a couple of the engineers know how to keep the lights on after they shut down the diesel. More times than not we have to exit in the dark.

The other annoyance is the reluctance of engineers to put their seat up when we get to GCT to allow commuters to exit out of the front of the car. Personally, I think it is a safety issue to not permit exit but for reasons that usually rely upon ignorance of equipment malfunctions all 120 of us in the first car must exit out the single door in the back (lights just went out, we are in the tunnel)

5:16 PM Track 26 GCT

2005-03-12T04:05:00.000-05:00

Although we started off with hope, several cars lost lights as soon as we made the changeover to the catenary. The crew carries flashlights for just such emergencies...so that they can see to collect tickets...less MNRR foregoes revenue for providing services of this quality.

The rest of us survive off the blue glow of laptops and cellphone screens.

MNRR scheduled the train with the MU equipment...heat was on, lights bright, just the usual funny smells emanating from the toilet. We departed on time, leaving us thinking that we might even have a "nice" ride home.

This mornings commute on the 6:42 out of New Haven actually got us into the city early...not a typo.

Despite the abysmal 83% on-time percentage printed in the monthly propaganda we receive from MNRR (remember...your commuting time may vary significantly from the posted results), a morning train arrived early.

Alas, our good fortune this AM was not to be repeated. It just goes to show that as it relates to MNRR...

If you first succeed...you are sure to screw something up the second time you try.

Yours,

Mark Wuest

6:04PM Track 23 GCT

2005-03-09T04:35:00.000-05:00

'tis March and just like a sleazy landlord who does not want to pay for utilities any more than absolutely necessary...it must be time to shut down the furnace.

Winter is back with a flurry and a fury and in typical form, Metro North is faced with frozen doors, equipment that refuses to cooperate with the appointed schedules and tonight...brrrrrrr...no heat. According to the conductor there are several cars in tonight's train with the same predicament.

Now we all have had about enough of this winter. The calendar suggests that spring is but a few days away, but the weather of the last couple days suggests that the Bush administration may be correct in its criticism of the theory of global warming.

As any Metro North commuter knows, commuting is much more than sitting on a train for an unpredictable amount of time. The typical commute involves taxis, cars, buses, other trains, bikes, and/or subways. All which must work flawlessly or else you have a story to tell around the water cooler.

Although I tend to focus on Metro North's problems, yesterday "my commute" was further compounded by a dead car...on the roof of the Union Station Parking Garage...in the snow....ice...below freezing temperatures....gusting wind. (In all fairness, I hold neither Metro North or ConnDOT responsible for my automotive misfortune.)

I was quickly assisted by Good Samaritans...those who stopped thier cars and asked if they could help. My car was soon running and I was on my way to Many, Mo and Jack's place for a late night chat with a mechanic who's pierced ear you could see through.

That is what we need for the broken down trains...a Good Samaritan (and possibly a railroad super-store where you can buy just about everything you need at any time of the day).

And as I type this, somewhere between Stamford and Fairfield...our prayers may have been answered as we smell that familiar, dusty burnt fragrance that usually accompanies the start up of a furnace...or the burning brake pads under the train.

The Landlord may have turned out to be a nicer person than I expected.

5:38PM Track 17 GCT

2005-03-08T18:28:00.000-05:00

Snowy Tuesday, only "problem" so far is the smell and broken seat.

MNRR has actually done a decent job of late getting us from point A to point B, but that should be a "core competency" correct? We really should not be complementing MNRR for doing what they said they were going to do unless what they said was exceptional, and I don't think we can go there yet.

Now there have been some flashes of brilliance as on more than one occassion recently, MNRR treated us to a less than 90 minute rush houor commute from GCT to New Haven...now that is mass transit. If you can do it once...why not all of the time? (I know...demanding)

Then there have been reminders of the difficulties we continue to face. The BOMBs still are used all too frequently, although MNRR has been mixing up the scheduling a bit...having all of the scheduled trains feel the pain occassionally.

Then the age old problem of filth continues to raise its ugly head. Backed up or poorly ventilated toilets...and then this AM, I sat next to an old peach pit...no not a fellow commuter...a real half eaten peach, and this on equipment coming straight out of the yard where it was theoretically cleaned last night.

Broken seats are increasingly common. Sometimes I do not even realize how bad the seats are until I try to stand and find out that my legs have fallen asleep do to a pinched nerve.

The Governor and Legislature are debating how to fix the commuting mess that has developed as a result of years of neglect...there is even a proposal on how to fund despirately need new equipment and facilities. But it is all talk at this time. We still need action.

Enough...I repeat myself.

5:38 pm Track 17 GCT

2005-02-25T21:42:00.000-05:00

Over-crowded, over-heated, under-whelming.

BOMB equipment...I did not even have a decent place to stand. The vestibules between cars are clearly marked that passengers are not permitted while we are underway, but despite the warnings, standing room only as was just about every other place on the train.

Fridays are usually a crowded day on the trains, but Metro North does not seem able to prepare for the crowds. Hint...run fewer cars out of GCT later and put more cars on during heavy travel times.

I guess that this all gets better in 2008 once all those new trains show up...right Governor? I hope that I can keep standing for a few more years, because it does not look like Metro North or ConnDOT are doing much to help out.

6:55 am Track 12 New Haven

2005-02-25T11:08:00.000-05:00

The train was 5 minutes late to the platform, remember, New Haven is the first stop. Train talk was that the crew had a tough time getting the brakes to cooperate...how reassuring.

By the time we arrived in Fairfield, we were 10 minutes late and despite words of hope from the crew, we never made it up.

The 6 or 7 inches of snow overnight probably had something to do with it, this train used the BOMB equipment...this stuff is supposed to work in the snow; isn't it?

6:55 am Track 12 New Haven

2005-02-16T21:33:00.000-05:00

"Terminated" in Milford - or maybe the expression should be "BOMBardierED OUT".

There, we were asked to leave the train, walk through the mud in order to cross to the opposite tracks and catch the next train. This was after the 6:55 stopped, backed up, moved forward, stopped again and finally crawled into Milford...mechanical difficulties...duh...the only explanation.

As for why we had to walk through the mud...we were directed to go there by a Metro North employee, as ConnDOT can not seem to finish the reconstruction of the Milford Station. All of the ramps and stairs are blocked off like they have been for months/years now.

As the train we transferred to was a local, scheduled to arrive in GCT at 9:16, we decided that it would be best to transfer in Stamford to the express with a planned arrival at 9:08. That was smooth, except that it was standing room only.

When fellow passengers complained about having to show our tickets for the third time and that Metro North should pay us for these conditions, the conductor made some quip suggesting that we don't pay enough for the service as is. Mutiny was averted when after hearing the facts that New Haven line commuters pay the highest share of costs as compared to other commuters in country, the conductor agreed that maybe we do pay too much for lousy service. She still collected tickets.

Although, every one of the hundreds of New Haven commuters arrived in NYC 30-40 minutes late, and the hundreds of others who planned to board the train in Milford, Stratford, Bridgeport and Fairfield arrived at work one train later...according to Metro North clocks, we were all on time.

Which reminds me of a warning given to me by a wise statistics professor in grad school...there are three types of liars...liars...damned liars...and statisticians.

Don't believe the propaganda in the Metro North seat drops...if you are a regular commuter, your on time arrival percentage is significantly lower than the published results.

What happened to the 6:55? Who knows, although I did overhear the engineer say the same thing happened the last time he took this equipment.

If these things keep happening, why does Metro North even allow the equipment to take on passengers in the first place?

Do they really have so little knowledge of the equipment that they can neither determine what caused a failure nor have a good sense as to how to prevent the same thing from happening in the future.

EXTRA! EXTRA! Read all about it...

2005-02-10T18:14:00.000-05:00

Governor Rell proposes fixing the railroad. Spending $667 million for new cars to be delivered within 4 years. Wow! Now, this does not come cheaply. We commuters will be stuck with a $1 surcharge on every trip. On first blush, the surcharge does not sound bad but you had better sit down for this one...the surcharge amounts to $500 per year for the average commuter..on top of the already high cost of commutation. Assuming that the average commuter already spends $2,500 a year, the proposed surcharge is a whopping 20% increase. Wow! Now we are also being told that in addition to the surcharge, the Governor proposes a 6 cent per gallon gas tax. 6 cents on a typical tank of gas is a buck, yep $1, or in percentage terms a 3% increase in the cost of filling a tank. Fuel is but a portion of the cost of running a car so on an all-in basis, the cost of commuting by car is increasing maybe 1-2% due to the increased Gas Tax...commuting by train...20%...neat trick if you can get away with it. I am all in favor of new trains, and will gladly pay a fair share of the cost. What has been proposed though is everything but fair. Mass transit is intended to be an attractive, cost effective alternative to driving. With these proposed tax/fare increases though, the commuting cost equation is being shifted to discourage the use of the railroad. Governor Rell's stated intention in proposing these changes was to address the daily traffic congestion in southwestern Connecticut. Conceptually, the new trains are successful in meeting that objective. The proposed fare hike however, reverses all the good the new trains could ever hope to accomplish. This is a great start...for the first time in years, Hartford is discussing the effect that deteriorating trains and crowded highways are having on the State. They have also addressed the infrastructure requirements needed to fix this situation. Sadly, the economics of mass transit they do not fully grasp. In order for the railroad to help alleviate the horrendous traffic on I-95, the trains have to be perceived as an attractive, cost effective means of transportation. As proposed, this is not the case. p.s. We also have to be careful as to what the State calls new trains. At present, the newest trains running on the New Haven line are some of the Bombardiers. If these are a peek at our commuting future, we are in big trouble.

6:40AM Track 8, New Haven

2005-02-08T22:24:00.000-05:00

Red skies at night sailors delight. Red skies in the morning, sailors take warning.

Here in New England, this simple poem is a reliable predictor of coming weather patterns, and today out the windows of the train a crimson sunrise warned us of the future.

Thanks to years of inadequate funding for the railroad by the State of Connecticut, I sit watching this ominous sunrise in the "duct tape express".

I have complained previously about indiscriminant use of tape to help keep the railroad running...it is time to revisit the ingenuity of Metro North maintenance and repair crews again.

Bombardier equipment has historically been used on branch lines to shuttle passengers to the mainline where MNRR ran the "good" trains. As the "good" trains fell apart due to poor design, maintenance, old age, whatever...MNRR has been forced to move more of the Bombardier equipment to main line duty.

Well, maybe we have been "spoiled" here on the mainline. The M series trains are known for poor heating, temperamental lighting, backed up toilets. With the Bombardier equipment we taxpayers receive the added pleasure of rotting wall panels, garbled public address system, loud ventilation systems and for no extra expense...duct tape windows.

For some reason, today's equipment is adorned with carefully placed duct tape on the front window of the first car.

A couple of days ago, an engineer on the same equipment had installed a portable electric heater so he would not freeze to death ...this is the person responsible for delivering the thousand or so commuters safely to their destination, correct? The heaters wires were duct taped to the wall so nobody would trip on it I guess.

What does all of this have to do with the weather? Well, just like the weather, we finally have the Governor and some members of the State Legislature complaining about the trains, but nobody is doing anything about it.

With all due respect to those in office who are charged with running the State safely and efficiently, buying 30 or so Virginia Surplus railcars, leasing several locomotives from Amtrak and promising to build maintenance facilities which can hold a fraction of the cars that break down on a regular basis only gets the politicians in the news...it does little to fix the railroad.

Governor Rell, the skies warned us this morning that the railroad is not getting better. Why not join us some day...take the train into New York, experience this mess first hand and meet with the MTA, and then figure out how to fix this failing part of the States infrastructure before safety and our economy are severely impacted.

5:38 PM Track 16 GCT

2005-01-26T20:49:00.000-05:00

Quite simply job well done to the crew of train 1650... 7:11 arrival in New Haven, just like the good old days...yes guys, I did notice! We were a bit crowded out of GCT but ...what the hell...BRAVO!

Unfortunately for New Haven commuters, sources tell me that the 5:16 out of GCT (train 1556) was 10 minutes late into New Haven, after sitting dead in Bridgeport for a while; arriving just 10 minutes before we did.

1650 was running the M6 equipment, 1556 the Bombardier...you be the judge...

How do we get more trains to run like the 1650?

6:55 AM Track 12 New Haven

2005-01-26T20:47:00.000-05:00

The seven car train pulled up to the platform late (remember it is arriving straight out of the yard) with 2 dark cars and a bar car where half the seats were broken. I can almost forgive the bar car problem and blame that on all of you in Hartford who have managed to neglect funding the trains for all of these years...but blame for the dark cars I lay flatly on Metro North. Those cars should have never made it to the platform to start with.

As it turned out, MNRR decided to stop the train for 10-15 minutes in the Bridgeport yard and see if a well placed kick to the side of the those cars could fix the problem.

Well they had some luck and we were eventually on our way again, only to be further delayed by a downed overhead wire on an "out of service" track (is not the reason that a track is taken out of service so that rails and power can be worked on with minimal impact on system wide service?) and a medical emergency in the station at New Rochelle (this train runs express from Fairfield - 30 miles from New Rochelle. There is no reason for a local train emergency to have such an impact on the express train service, is there?).

I had given MNRR the benefit of the doubt this week as bitter cold and Blizzard Charlie were an easy source of blame. But then I thought more about it, talked to friends from Europe, and came to the conclusion that Charlie was innocent; it was MNRR and the State of Connecticut that were to blame for the equipment problems and delays.

An occasional snow storm is "normal" around here during the winter, as are protracted days of sub-freezing temperatures. Our transportation systems should be able to handle it.

The State highways were ready for Monday morning rush hour, why not were the trains ready?

Instead, rail commuters have had to suffer through numerous delays, inoperable doors, inadequate heating, frequent speed restrictions, in short - poor planning.

The blizzard was bad; but in that colorful New Englander vernacular, "I've seen worse".

It is too easy to blame Mother Nature when the real problems are the people responsible for making decisions regarding the railroad.

The morning "express" arrived in GCT 20-25 minutes late...I stopped counting.

6:04 PM Track 27 GCT - AKA The Polar Express

2005-01-18T21:58:00.000-05:00

Most Honorable Governor Rell, Tonight, the first car of the Metro North train that I stepped into was without heat which explains why it was basically empty just a couple of minutes before departure from Track 27 in Grand Central Station in Manhattan. The next car was warm, but that permitted the smell of the bathroom to "percolate"; not much seating left anyway. I ended up in another car without heat although it was a bit warmer than the first I stepped into. 10 cars on the train tonight, 3 of which were unfit for human habitation. The cold in my car increased as the train sped into Connecticut. The conductor jokingly announced that we were welcome to move to other cars but that this was the warm car. I finally gave up in Fairfield, moving to the next car that was marginally warmer. People there were huddled in their overcoats.The conductor was basically correct. Governor Rell, Connecticut can no longer afford to ignore the trains. Poor maintenance combined with the aging condition of the fleet has left the trains increasing unsafe and fraught with breakdowns. I know that the State has many other pressing needs that deserve attention but considering all that the trains do for the State as it relates to economic development and attracting taxpayer dollars; I would think that it would be imperative that the railroad be the focus of near term funding efforts, in order to assure future economic development for the State. The following link is to a weblog where I share experiences of riding Connecticut's Metro North Railroad. Please take a few minutes and read through some of it. I think that you might gain a better understanding of what tens of thousands of Connecticut taxpayers are faced with on a daily basis, and the urgency of funding new equipment and improved maintenance facilities. Sincerely, Mark Wuest http://metronorthcommutes.blogspot.com/

Dear Anonymous,

2005-01-16T05:55:00.000-05:00

Despite the number of problems that I have noted with Metro North, the train is a necessity and not an option, and it generally gets me to my job on time. Driving is not an option for me or most of the others who use the railroad.

Anonymous, in a reply to one of my entries, notes the billion dollars that are needed to replace the aged cars and suggests scrapping the entire system; the alternative Mr. Anonymous is traffic jams like never seen before. Just imagine 100,000 additional cars on I-95 and the Merit Parkway. The State is spending billions on replacing a bridge here in New Haven that will do little in the long run to relieve traffic congestion, and they can not find a fraction of that to replace rail equipment that is 10+ years past its useful life.

The trains are the best and probably the most economical means that the State has to solve traffic congestion into the future, and to provide for the economic health for the region. The alternative, building more highways, would cost tens of times as much as the cost of new trains and result in the destruction of many homes and communities throughout southern Connecticut. How is that for progress!

What the State needs is better trains, better trained personnel, more stations and parking and better schedules. Unfortunately, the only way to get those is to convince the State to make the necessary and long overdue investments.

It is sad that Metro North has fallen into such a state of disrepair, but the solution is to fix the railroad not to abandon it. Swiss Trains run like clock because the Swiss and their government consider it a priority. Here in ConnecticutâŚwell you see what our government thinks of our trains.

Go directly to jail...do not pass go...do not collect $200

2005-01-06T23:33:00.000-05:00

Yesterday, I was applauding a fellow commuter for his efforts organizing support for a rally to help convince Connecticut Legislators that Metro North is in dire need of funding for new cars. Today he needs bail money.

Now, exactly how was our safety compromised by this commuter's actions that required a squad of uniformed officers to threaten him and other commuters this morning with arrest?

5:38 pm Track 17 GCT

2005-01-05T23:01:00.000-05:00

Train ride home was on-time (it does happen) and more or less without mechanical problems (except the burnt out light bulb over my seat). Highlight of the journey tonight was the appearance of a person who was drumming up support on the train for "A Statewide Transportation Rally" in Hartford next week. He was also collecting signatures supporting a call for the State Legislature to address the funding needs for new railcars. Of course finding support on a Metro North train for improvements to the railroad is a bit like shooting fish in a barrel; but our friendly solicitor nonetheless got the passengers to sign a petition which will be presented to Legislators next week, and managed to do it without upsetting a single person (most of whom usually react poorly to being interrupted by strangers during their commute). The time is now long overdue for the State to address the commuting nightmares we face every day; the transportation infrastructure in Connecticut is long overdue for a make-over.

5:18 pm Track 25 GCT

2005-01-03T21:17:00.000-05:00

No particular problem...yet...just a few observations.

Traveling by auto last Thursday, we experienced yet another Connecticut commuter nightmare...I-95.

Driving back from a holiday visit with family in Virginia, the first traffic problem we encountered was that the northbound New Jersey Turnpike was closed forcing a 40 mile detour and an hour and a half delay to our trip. That delay proved disastrous as we were forced to face I-95 in Fairfield County at the evening rush. From exit 3 through 15, we averaged less than 10 mph. We actually made better time around the closed New Jersey Turnpike than we experienced on the "open" Connecticut Turnpike.

And to prove that I can say positive things about the railroad, we counted many MNRR trains passing us as we sat stopped in traffic.

So with the new year upon us, a new Governor and Legislature, maybe we can begin to dream that our elected officials will acknowledge the gravity of the current state of disrepair of our transportation system.

While traveling last week, we ran across billions of dollars of road construction in the Washington, DC suburbs. The largest project was a reconstruction costing billions of tax dollars. The work reportedly will shave a few seconds off the average daily commute in the area.

Here in Connecticut we can not find money to even do the basics, let alone dream of making the average commute a few seconds shorter. We instead get longer, more expensive commutes and the transportation hand-me-downs from our rich cousins in Virginia, where they have the luxury of buying a few seconds of commuting time.

And Connecticut is supposed to be one of the richest states in the country...

6:55 am Track 12 New Haven

2004-12-22T13:05:00.000-05:00

...late...again...arrival at 8:41 (at least that was the time when I reached the first clock in the basement of GCT). Metro North schedules an arrival at 8:35 for this train, even after they added 3 minutes to the schedule recently.

6:55 track 12 New Haven

2004-12-21T22:20:00.000-05:00

Frozen doors on various trains caused backups between New Haven and Stamford today. At least that was the excuse de jour.

There was also a nasty draft in the cars which kept us all shivering, making the delays that much more difficult to endure.

We arrived in GCT at 8:41 according to the digital clocks on the platform.

Late again.

6:40am track 8 New Haven

2004-12-20T07:02:00.000-05:00

First bad winter weather of the year and Metro North fails miserably.

Braving icy streets, blowing snow, high winds and a temperature of about 7, I make it to the platform with 30 seconds to spare only to find that Metro North could not do the same. There standing on the platform were hundreds of customers waiting on the arrival of the trainâŚin the wind and snow. No train. (remember, New Haven is the end of the line, trains come straight out of the yard a couple of hundred yards away)

The train finally arrived and we left about 5 minutes after the scheduled departure.

Things only got worse. Today traffic on I 95 was moving more smoothly than Metro North. After numerous delays, we finally arrive in Grand Central at 8:45. Scheduled arrival time is 8:18 as if that really means anything to Metro North.

For the last 5 days commuting, we have arrived significantly late (that is more than Metro North's 5:59, that they call "on-time") 4 times. 5 days times 2 trips equals 10 total trips divided by 6 on-time trips equals 60% on-time (no statistician needed for this one). A far cry from the published 90-95% on-time rates that Metro North prides itself with.

But as with investing in Mutual FundsâŚyour individual performance may vary significantly from those published above.

4:41 PM Track 109 GCT

2004-12-17T01:14:00.000-05:00

We are not exactly sure what happened tonight, but the train stopped dead...somewhere. We were told that another train would be on the way to rescue us but not when. A few minutes before we stopped, there was considerable sparking from under the train... the buildings along tracks at the time were illuminated like it was mid-day. And then the train lurched to a stop.

I am beginning to think that Metro North's problem is me and not the trains; something always goes wrong with a train that I am on...

I left the office early today to make it to my kids' school play... can Metro North get me there on time? I gave them two hours and twenty minutes for a trip that is supposed to take an hour and forty minutes...

We ultimately pulled into New Haven thirty minutes late and my wife and I made it to the performance just as the proverbial curtain rose, no thanks to Metro North.

It used to be that you would take the train to avoid delays on the Turnpike or the Merritt. Now nothing works. The only way to avoid delays in Connecticut is to avoid Connecticut.

6:55AM Track 12 New Haven

2004-12-16T00:44:00.000-05:00

Actually this "express" did not leave New Haven until after 7 as the planned equipment could not get from the New Haven yard to the platform.

This was due to a 6:49 local train that experienced mechanical difficulties (doors would not open) which was ultimately annulled. Metro North's delay in the decision to annul the 6:49 kept the switches aligned to get that train from track 14 to the mainline, preventing the equipment for the 6:55 from crossing over from the yard to track 12; providing yet another example of the "domino effect" caused by aging and poorly maintained equipment being brought to the platform without adequate inspection and preparation.

It would have been "OK" if that was the end of the story.

Passengers on the 6:49 were told to board the express and then as we pulled into Fairfield were told to get off the train and wait in the sub-freezing weather for the next train to come along.

I stayed on the express and suffered from chilled toes (heating problems I guess), I am not sure how long those who were planning to take the 6:49 ended up out on the platform in Fairfield, but I am pretty confident they were cold and at least 20 minutes late to where ever they were trying to commute to.

The "express" ultimately arrived in GCT 10-15 minutes after its scheduled arrival time.

6:40 am Track 10 New Haven

2004-12-14T12:42:00.000-05:00

This morning I overheard the engineer on this train state..."this equipment is just not that good for starting and stopping...starting and stopping...starting and stopping." I guess that explains why the engineer had to rock the train backwards in order to get it moving forwards at every stop. Actually, the train is struggling with just "going" as a shake and shimmy occurs on the straights when the train accelerates to about 60 MPH or so.

Now if this was my personal car... shimmies and shakes, poor starting and stopping, uncomfortable seating, sporadic heat and air-conditioning, leaking windows and doors, unreliable engine, flickering lights, static filled sound system, high operating costs, odd smells and doors that do not always operate correctly would convince me that I had bought a lemon, and I would be calling the State's Attorney General's office.

Metro North and the State of Connecticut call this "public transportation".

5:38 PM Track 17 GCT

2004-12-07T06:13:00.000-05:00

A taste of winter today; freezing rain, and 35% of this seven car train is running dark tonight.

The conductor is collecting tickets using a flashlight (why would I joke about something like this)... yes full fare is still required, despite the equipment. Since the ventilation is not working, there is a lingering smell of burning brakes mixed with the the persistent smell of the toilet.

I am not sure whether this is the visit of the Ghost of Christmas Past, Present or Future...I just hope that we can wake up from this nightmare to a beautiful winter day when the trains run and the sun shines.

Just news

2004-12-03T21:20:00.000-05:00

Greenwich Time - Panel: Put I-95 on top of 'to do' list Just in case you missed this...4,000 jobs on hold until the State of Connecticut figures out how to fund transportation. And if you did not see who would like to do the hiring, it is UBS. So those are 4,000 high salary jobs. High salaries equal high income taxes, all heading somewhere else unless the State gets off their duff and starts addressing the chronic transportation problems here in Southern Connecticut.

6:40 am Track 8 New Haven

2004-12-01T04:18:00.000-05:00

I have mentioned the shortfalls of the Bombardier equipment in the past. Usually my comments are about the high incidence of breakdowns on the equipment and poor seating layouts, but there is another problem...no place for train crews. So what happens regularly on this equipment is that the crew will congregate in the engineer's booth at the front of the train...today the engineer and 2 conductors together for nearly 40 minutes.

Admittedly, after collecting tickets, there is usually not much to do once a train begins the express part of its trip, especially in the morning, but the end result of the crew herding at the front of the train is that there are no Metro North personnel near any of the thousand our so passengers on this train.

Recently we have been told that Metro North personnel are responsible for safety on the trains...we have also heard about planned staffing cuts to further reduce the number of conductors...does anybody remember this summer's bombings of commuter trains in Madrid?

Or on a less alarmist note, what happens if a passenger falls ill as happens occasionally; how long will it take to find a crew member so that arrangements to get medical attention to the passenger can be made?

If the State of Connecticut is going to force commuters to put up with this substandard equipment then it also needs to assure that Metro North crews are trained properly in its use. That might mean that train crews have to sit with passengers throughout the train, or stand in vestibules like those of us who can not find a seat.

Having three Metro North employees who congregate for the majority of the trip in the front of the train is unacceptable and worse yet, unsafe.

6:40 AM Track 12 New Haven

2004-11-23T22:26:00.000-05:00

The next time someone at Metro North tells you that the New Haven Line trains run 95% on time...ask them what the on time record for the peak hour trains is.

Today instead of pulling into GCT at 8:18, we arrived at 8:25 (again GCT time). Based upon personal experience, this train more often than not arrives a few minutes after its scheduled arrival time and they just added a couple of minute to the scheduled travel time. This is a late train by just about any measure but only Metro North statisticians consider this on time...

I know picky picky.

5:38 PM Track 26 GCT

2004-11-20T00:02:00.000-05:00

We are faced with wall-to-wall standing room only tonight as the early Thanksgiving travelers hit the rails heading home. I am "lucky" enough to be sitting facing the vestibule of the train, looking at the backside of a passenger standing in front of me. This person needs to bend over on a regular basis to adjust misbehaving luggage that was sitting on the floor just in front of my feet.

I know...too much information...more later.

Last night at the New Haven ConnDOT hearing...informational session...or whatever the ConnDOT lawyers decided was appropriate to call the "gathering"...we were informed by ConnDOT that the proposed 5.5% fare increase was no longer a proposal but a certainty, some discussion! Additionally, all ConnDOT was soliciting public comment on were the various newly proposed surcharges for buying tickets on the train, various combination fares for MTA and Shoreline commuters and reverse morning commutes out of GCT.

Given Thanksgiving is fast approaching, I am reminded of a phrase in Arlo Guthrie's song Alice's Restaurant, "...it was a typical case of American blind justice, as the judge...with his seeing eye dog... wasn't going to look at the 27 - 8 by 10 color glossy photographs with the circles and arrows and a paragraph on the back of each one ..." The ConnDOT officials, who held the hearing... informational session...or whatever, really did not want to hear what we had to say, their minds were already made up. They actually admitted that any decision on fares was going to be made by more senior people in the department...who did not attended tonight's session and remained anonymous, even after a specific request to revel their identity by a fellow commuter. Why so secret?

The hearing...informational session...or whatever was proceeded by a press conference called by New Haven's Mayor DeStefano calling for the State to formally address the long needed funding for the railroad. The Mayor spoke eloquently about how the State has for years neglected necessary railroad improvements, spending billions on highways that will never be adequate for the traffic that has developed in the region. He compared southern Connecticut to northern New Jersey, pointing to the recent growth in jobs in NJ, where they have invested in the railroad, to the loss of jobs here where the rails have been neglected and permitted to deteriorate leaving highway traffic and Connecticut's economy to grind to a crawl.

We also heard of enraged fellow commuters, up and down the New Haven Line, who while testifying at earlier hearing...informational session...or whatevers this week, threatened to not show their tickets...civil disobedience...should the proposed fares be implemented. Another thought... a drive in day (just think of the traffic jam). Wow, that is the spirit.

A friendly "warning" to my fellow passengers who decide to take this approach. Remember, thanks to the Department of Homeland Security's ORANGE alerts this summer, Connecticut State Police are trained and fully prepared to storm the trains to enforce ticket collections!

And I complain about conditions on the trains now...

This is rushing through my mind as I was struck by the similarities between the way that ConnDOT and our state government has responded to Connecticut commuters' needs and the annoying movements of the person now standing in front of me.

Sorry, I could not resist.

5:38 pm Track 21 GCT

2004-11-15T23:08:00.000-05:00

This morning, while waiting for the 6:55 AM (which incidentally did not arrive on the platform until 7:00...mechanical difficulties we were told that force the crew to change equipment)...we had a chance to view the Virginia Railroad cars sitting on the next track.

By looking at the equipment as compared to the equipment Shoreline and Metro North have been running, it is obvious that they are watching reruns of "The Miracle on 34th Street" in Richmond...because "yes Virginia, there is a Santa Clause". And Santa even lives up north...at the ConnDOT to be specific.

We here in CT must feel great joy in sending tens of millions of our tax dollars to the 'poor' state of Virginia in exchange for this used equipment. Don't get me wrong, we need the seats...it is just a pity that this is the best that the State of Connecticut can do to fund disparately need commuter resources.

Despite today's appearance of the Virginia equipment, we learned that the Shoreline East to Stamford had been cancelled once again... someone is out looking for a ride.

Ourselves, we arrived in GCT at 8:41, late as usual. What used to be an hour and 35 minutes, has become a fairly consistent, hour and 45... so much for the concept of an express train.

5:38 PM Track 20 GCT

2004-11-12T23:49:00.000-05:00

Seven car train, standing room only, luggage filling the overhead racks and vestibules of the train...but that is not what I want to talk about today.

Check out Peggy Schenk's article in the New Haven Register on Friday titled "Wild autumn weather blamed for commuter rail snafus".

According to the title and first sentence of the article, 2004 is proving to be one of the worst fall seasons since railroads started running in Southern New England. This year... "falling leaves, windswept debris and frosty temperatures" are the blame for Shoreline East service problems. OK, who forget to tell ConnDOT that the trees shed their leaves in Southern Connecticut this time every year?

Don't be fooled, the problem with Shoreline East has little to do with the weather and everything to do with years of inept maintenance of the railroads.

Now let's think ahead and put a couple of other recent news stories together.

In an effort to relieve years of neglect in providing adequate funding on Metro North, ConnDOT has gone out and acquired a number of used railcars from Virginia. Governor Rell even called up the press a couple of weeks ago to "christen" the new equipment and pronounce to all listening what the State is doing to help fix the railroad.

The truth of the matter is that these Virginia cars will be assigned to Shoreline East and the New Haven Line branch lines as they will not run on the mainline. As it turns out, the State does not have an adequate number of locomotives to pull these new trains, but that is a separate matter.

Next, these Virginia cars will allow ConnDOT to move the Bombardier equipment that is currently "running" (see the Register article) on the branch lines and Shoreline East to the mainline, were they have an inadequate number of locomotives (different locomotives) there to pull the trains into NYC anyway.

This is all compounded by a lack of facilities needed to maintain the equipment. This at least partially explains why ConnDOT is having difficulties keeping the Shoreline running in the first place.

Throw into this mix that the State is proposing increases to Metro North fares of over 5% for next year. Lets see...poor service...poorer maintenance...overcrowding...cancelled trains...regular delays... longer commutes...and commuters are being asked to bear an even greater share of the cost of this ineptness.

Another news story reminds us that a Connecticut Metro North commuter already pays more than any other commuter in America to ride these trains, the State has for years neglected to fund the railroads adequately and here we are.

As mayors from New Haven to Hartford and Springfield, MA are clamoring for new commuter rail service through the center of the State in hopes of seeing future economic development; residents of areas serviced by Shoreline East and Metro North are also looking for desperately needed new State investments in infrastructure, just to protect the existing economies of Southern Connecticut where a significant percentage of the State's GDP is already created. To those of you in the State who actually care about our future, fix the existing railroad first, and we will be happy to pay our fare share to run it.

Charging commuters more without at least maintaining current services is a cynical political quagmire that leads the State into a sorry abyss. Like the new Virginia railcars, short term "relief" for long term problem.

6:04 pm Track 25 GCT

2004-11-06T00:00:00.000-05:00

Rain...inside, that's right inside car 8736...and I understand from other passengers, there are other cars on the train leaking... which might explain the musty smell in the next car back. It is dripping consistently near the vestibule, and the guy sitting opposite me got dumped on as we pulled into Stamford. The gentleman across the aisle was surprised when he and his laptop became the target, and there is a couple behind me complaining about leaks back there.

I am probably sounding petty but, the 6:55 this morning was late again today, arriving a good 8 minutes after the scheduled arrival. Try to remember, they just added 3 minutes to the schedule to help on-time performance. Trouble closing the doors helped cause the delays but traffic in the Park Avenue tunnel was bumper to bumper.

Let's see... equipment falling apart... trains running habitually late... overcrowding... is this any way to run a railroad?

5:38 PM Track 111 GCT

2004-11-03T16:30:00.000-05:00

For those of us of the Democratic Party persuasion it has been a long day.

Starting at 5:45 this AM when that little map with red and blue states was glowing a little too red, then again at 6:55 when the Metro North train did not pull up to the platform in New Haven until the last minute...seems that someone forgot to tell the yard crews that the schedule had changed... followed by an arrival in GCT at 8:42, seven minutes late on the new 3 minute longer schedule.

Obviously the outcome of the election did nothing to improve service on Metro North this morning...it was not expected to...but maybe with the election, at least locally, there is hope.

Soon to join the State Senate is a Metro North New Haven - New York commuter, Ed Meyer (D-12th). He upset the incumbent who has always replied quickly to my e-mails on the condition of MNRR with a generic auto reply e-mail...

Thank you for writing to me at my legislative e-mail address. Due to the volume of messages I receive, it takes some time for me to reply to each message personally. Thank you for your patience and understanding. If your message is of an urgent nature, please feel free to call my office directly at 860-240-0596. Thanks.
Bill
Please click on the link below for a personal message.
Thanks
http://www.senatereps.state.ct.us/video/ba/flash_test.htm

I actually never received that personal reply his e-mail referred to despite months of waiting. Hopefully some new blood in the State Capital will help bring some life to the long neglected funding needs of the railroad.

I was a bit dismayed that more area politicians did not spend at least a couple of hours pressing flesh in New Haven's Union Station during peak commuting hours...maybe they were there, but had to leave just prior to the late arrival of the trains.

Now that the fun and games of the election are behind us, it is time to...paraphrasing Saturday Night Live's W..."work hard, real hard" ...possibly "work Saturdays" and "order in dinner" and fix the railroad. The disgraceful condition of the railroad needs to be addressed before additional neglect leads to a disaster. Ironically, some officials like to blame a past transportation disaster for the State's inability to fund new trains today; this due to the ongoing costs associated with repairing the years of neglect culminated by the Mianus Bridge disaster .

It is time to start thinking out of the box...actually that has already been done... and at least move the railroad's needs onto the forefront of the current agenda in Hartford.

Despite my previous threats to move out of State to improve my commute, I am committed to Connecticut and New Haven...that should be obvious in the amount of time I devote to writing to you about conditions on Connecticut's Metro North. I look forward to a day... when Connecticut can once again be proud of its railroad.

5:38 pm, Track 17 GCT

2004-11-02T13:43:00.000-05:00

Political note...Fairfield County congressional races blocked the way to the trains. Not even fliers being passed out to us lost souls who live in New Haven County. If we can not get local politicians interested in helping solve the problems on these trains, how are we ever going to get the rest of the State interested?

Time Management Problems II

2004-10-28T05:30:00.000-04:00

Today train 1529, the 6:58 out of New Haven, sat idle for more than five minutes in Woodlawn while at least 2 inbound trains from Westchester rushed by (I guess that New York state trains have priority on the tracks over Connecticut trains). We usually sit in Woodlawn for a couple of minutes. Surprise...we arrived in GCT on time. Now why does Metro North have to add 3 minutes to this train's schedule starting next week? They obviously can make the trip into GCT within the currently scheduled time frame.

Time Management Problems?

2004-10-26T21:02:00.000-04:00

Are you having a problem making it to important meetings on time? Just reschedule it...and do not tell the other person.

This is the approach that Metro North has taken to the rescheduling of a number of its habitually late trains.

For example: Train 1527 regularly uses up all of the 5 minutes and 59 seconds grace minutes in arriving at GCT. Today, the doors opened at 8:28 (per those fancy digital clocks in GCT), officially 10 minutes late for its 8:18 scheduled arrival. Next week, the same train leaves New Haven 2 minutes earlier at 6:40 giving it a fighting chance to arrive by 8:18, provided the doors close and the train spirits are with us.
Another example: The next express leaving New Haven, Train 1529..."Lovingly" referred to in many of these blogs as the 6:58. Next week it is the 6:55, arriving at GCT at 8:35, the same time as the current 1529 is scheduled to arrive.

Trains during the evening rush suffer the same fate.

Train 1556 leaves 2 minutes earlier and arrives 1 minute later.
Train 1560 arrives 2 minutes later in New Haven...it was not that long ago that this train arrived a full 10 minutes earlier in New Haven, at a civilized 7:11pm.

And these are just the trains I take. Of the 6 or 7 trains which I regularly use, 2/3's have had 2-3 minutes added to the schedule. For me, that is 20 minutes a week more commuting on the train, or hold onto your hats, 16 hours a year. Just in case you are wondering, there are a lot of things I would rather do for 16 hours rather than sit on a train. No wonder MNRR and the State want to raise fares, they think that they are collecting rent!

What other minor changes are built into the new time schedules? By the way, no mention of these changes in the seat-drop today, just the new service out of Greenwich. My cynical curiosity asks, "How much do these schedule changes improve 'on time' performance of the New Haven Line?" (There has to be a staff statistician involved)

And how many Metro North customers will be left standing on the platform waiting for a train that left 3 minutes ago?

5:38PM Track 13, GCT, Friday

2004-10-22T18:01:00.000-04:00

Overcrowded...againâŚ10-15 standing per car, poor bathroom ventilation as usual...and if you know GCT, this is the garbage platform; Boxes and bags piled deep on the platform. By the end of the week, the smells that you find on Platform 13 make the backed up toilets on the train almost pleasant.

This morning's commute on the 6:58AM out of New Haven ultimately ended at about 9:00 after our train was trapped behind a medical emergency in Westport. Our train was already standing room only as the 6:58 was running 2 cars short when they decided to stop at Westport and pick up stranded passengers. If MNRR was running a typical 7 car train, it would not have been a problem, but given the unavailability of the proper equipment, commuter comfort was once again sacrificed.

Earlier this week, I attended the Metro North Connecticut Commuter Council meeting at GCT, and heard Metro North officials assure us that they have done everything possible to prepare the trains for this coming winter. They admitted that they had learned a lot from the experiences of the past two winters and had incorporated those experiences into this winter's preparations.

Father Time and Mother Nature will be the judge of MNRR's success or failure.

I was disappointed when Mr. Harris of CDOT decided (or was told, by senior government officials) not to attend as a CDOT representative has done for over 20 years. I had taken time away from my family to attend the meeting Wednesday night, in hopes of hearing about CDOT plans for new equipment, improved facilities and the many other needs of the railroad...to no avail unfortunately.

There were a few others of us civilians who ventured out to the meeting, but in general, MNCC and MNRR reps addressed the many thankless issues that when combined with the tireless energy of the group helps make all off us commuters' daily adventures just a bit more fathomable.

Things I learned Wednesday Night:

Did you know that CDOT does not have the locomotives necessary to pull existing equipment let alone those used rail cars from Virginia?
Why did CDOT officials decide to put the cars through an inspection program prior to placing the equipment in service, a decision which was later overruled by Governor Rell?
Why is the State exploring starting a Springfield-Hartford-New Haven Commuter Railroad, when they can not properly fund the current commuter lines?

Is politics getting in the way of running the railroad? No, that would never happen in ConnecticutâŚWould it?

To see my most recent Blog entries CLICK HERE!

5:18 Track 27 GCT, Friday

2004-10-15T19:57:00.000-04:00

Just a quickie... Bombardier equipment...malfunctioning doors...15 minutes late into New Haven. The head four cars on the 7 car train had to exit from one door that the conductor opened from the outside because neither of the conductors could get the doors to open otherwise. Now, tonight's weather was bad with heavy rain, but is not this the equipment that the State expects to solve the reliability problems on the New Haven line once Winter strikes with her fury (flurries)?

2004-10-08T22:16:00.000-04:00

6:58 Track 12 New Haven, Friday Pepe Le Pew...somehow a black and white four legged critter managed to get into the train. Although we never saw it during our trip into the city, the odor-de-jour was definitely gamier than the many varieties of perfume often confronted on the train. We half expected to see it waddle down the aisle sometime during our commute. Footnote on yesterday's commute...the 6:42 yesterday was "annulled" for at least the third time in as many weeks. Equipment difficulties we were told. The result...standing room only...conductors did not try to collect our tickets...hundreds of commuters were forced to reorganized plans for the day. The equipment that was responsible for the annulment...Bombardier...the same equipment that the State is relying on to prevent a repeat of the problems of last winter.

2004-09-28T22:16:00.000-04:00

6:04 Track 26, GCT, Tuesday Today's maintenance 'issue'...no lights...but the air-conditioning is working and the toilet is not backed up...the train crew was great about our situation...free travel...no ticket check today...I guess that MTA and the State no longer needs my money...I will remember that the next time we are threatened with a fare increase. Third head car in case anyone cares to try and fix it before the equipment is placed back in service tomorrow morning.

2004-09-27T22:15:00.000-04:00

6:04 track 26 GCT, Monday As if New Haven commuters did not have their share of problems this AM, tonight's train was running without air conditioning in a number of cars, one of which could barely keep power at all while on the third rail. A third car was at least cool, but passengers had to put up with a sharp chemical smell (not a car with a toilet). As usual, at Stamford the train becomes standing room only, making a bad situation worse. Throw in a handful of slobs masquerading as fellow passengers and MNRR has a situation that makes boxcars look like luxury travel as compared to the equipment on the New Haven Line. I did receive an e-mail apology from MTA for the problems with this morning's commute (they should be apologizing to all of us for the mess). No explanation as to why they took empty equipment all the way into GCT during the morning rush while we were packed on the remaining equipment. They did offer that MTA actually tries to keep this equipment in good shape...and that they were taking offers on a particular bridge between Manhattan and one of the Boroughs.

2004-09-27T22:14:00.000-04:00

6:58 Track 12, New Haven, Monday It has happened twice now in less than 7 days. 6:42 I think was cancelled, putting all those commuters on the 6:58. Result - standing room only on this train. It is so bad today the conductors have not even tried collecting fares. Insult to injury... The disabled earlier train pulled up to the platform in New Haven prior to this trains departure, left moments after us and we played cat and mouse all the way into New York. We finally passed the train in Woodlawn and with all of us crammed into this train, we could see that the Bombardier equipment that should have been the 6:42 was empty. Who is running this railroad? And do they actually care about their customers? They can not get the trains to run on beautiful fall days...bring on the snow...this promises to be a disastrous winter for Connecticut commuters.

2004-09-21T22:12:00.000-04:00

6:42 Track 8, New Haven, Tuesday...sorry CANCELLED. Lets try the 6:58 Track 12 With hundreds of us standing on the platform at about 6:40, a crackling, cryptic announcement came over the PA, barely audible over the roar of the Shoreline East diesel engine on track 10, that train 1527 had been "annulled". Now the last time I heard the word "annulled" used, it applied to unwinding Brittneyâs early morning nuptials in Las Vegas. What the announcement meant to those of us standing on track 8 was uncertain. We then heard that the next train would be the 6:49 local, which was not going to stop in Milford or Stratford followed by the 6:58 express which was going to make an extra stop in Stamford. Seeing no train on track 8 and being presented with later trains to ride, we determined that this "annulment" had nothing to do with ill-conceived marriage vows. Quickly consulting our dog-eared schedules, we decided that being 20 minutes late to the city versus 30 minutes late was preferable; we all walked to track 12 to await the arrival of the later express train. Admittedly an "annulment" does not happen every day on the train, but when one does occur, the "annulled" train is removed entirely from MNR's on-time calculations (or so the rumor goes). The effect...100% on-time on those quarterly on-time reports, yet we customers arrive at our destinations 20-30 minutes after our planned arrival time. The train was standing room only by the time we reached Stratford...and despite the overcrowding, the extra station stop, a stop at the Stratford yard and a medical emergency; the 6:58 express arrived in GCT at its scheduled time. Metro North once again gets credit for a job well done!

2004-09-20T22:12:00.000-04:00

5:38 Track 109 GCT, Monday. Today a 6 car train when 8 is normal (actually it has been this way off and on for the past week or so). I ended up standing in the third car and had to endure one of the bumpiest rides I have experienced since I started riding Metro North in 1990. As soon as we reached Fairfield, I walked back to the 4th car and there customers were putting up with a poorly ventilated (probably not working) toilet. And we hear this weekend that the partial relief from these conditions...the acquisition of used rail cars from Virginia...which were planned to free up cars from Shoreline East and the Danbury line...so those cars could run on the mainline...because the cars on the mainline are becoming so unreliable...may not be ready until next spring. I guess I had better start shopping for a parka; it looks like it is going to be a long cold winter.

2004-09-14T22:11:00.000-04:00

6:42 Track 8 New Haven, Tuesday Summer is nearly over, the political conventions are behind us, the Police and National Guard no longer ride the trains or sit around talking in the station...I guess you could say that things are back to normal (although I do suggest avoiding the evening news where scenes of terrorism are run daily from around the world). Nine months have passed since Metro North lost 30% of its fleet to fluffy white snow last winter and the State is no closer to addressing the poor mechanical condition of the trains. Admittedly, most of the equipment are running right now and except for the usual hot car or two, poorly ventilated toilets, and temperamental doors and flickering lights...I guess you could say that things are back to normal. Last night, I was on the 6:04 out of GCT, stood by the door and noticed that a 1/2 inch gap existed between the two doors as the train rolled down the tracks at top speed. Now, no one will fall out through a 1/2 inch wide opening, but I can not wait to see what that car looks like during the first snowstorm this winter. Yesterday, a business acquaintance mentioned the poor condition of the Metro North equipment he rode out of New Canaan instead of the usual pleasantries of talking about the weather. I guess things are back to normal.

2004-08-31T22:10:00.000-04:00

6:42am Track 8 Tuesday New Haven Security snapshot...at Union Station this morning I noted a small platoon of heavily armed National Guard troops all sitting together on the benches in the main waiting room, no one walking around...the two State Police on the train managed to stay out of the engineer's booth...same can not be said of conductors who rode most of the way from Stamford to GCT up front. I guess that with the police on the train, there is no need for the trainâs crew to walk the train huh? Believe me when I say that I am the first person to hope that these âaddedâ security measures actually work; I ride the train for over three hours every day and work right above GCT for another eight or nine hours. My odds of surviving a mistake/blunder by security forces on the trains are pretty low. Now back to the poor condition of our trains...Bombardier equipment this morning, which means one way in and out of the front car of the train (engineer sits in front of the other door), a bathroom that does not work, rotting wall panels around the engineer's control booth and the flooring is held in place with a ton of roofing nails. What floor is not being tacked down is littered with cigarette butts (yes, smoking is prohibited on the trains), enough "chads" to influence the outcome of the next election, and a black gooey substance that defies scientific classification...this right out of the yard. Then there is the return air grill for the air conditioning that looks like it has not been cleaned since the equipment was placed in service during the Kennedy administration. The State's solution to these miserable conditions is to buy surplus equipment from Virginia (clean I hope) which will not operate on the mainline, put it on the branch lines so more of the Bombardier equipment just like this can run into New York every day. And now the State is debating starting a new commuter service between New Haven and Springfield MA and they can not even get this one right. Idea of the day (and I do not charge fat consulting fees), take the $250,000,000 earmarked for the 2,000 riders on the proposed New Haven/Springfield line and start buying much needed replacement equipment for the 40,000 Metro North customers who desperately need it.

2004-08-24T22:10:00.000-04:00

6:42am Track 8 Tuesday New Haven Last week, I shared a troubling experience regarding the presence of Connecticut State Police on the trains. I was hoping that my experience was isolated, unfortunately it was not. Today, on a different train, two State Policemen walked to the front of the train, entered the engineer's control booth and closed the door. That is where they stayed for the entire trip. Just in case you are wondering how two State Policemen and a Metro North engineer can fit into one of those tiny control booths and close the door, we were riding on old Bombardier equipment, where the engineer's control booth is also the front vestibule of the head car. (I will save complaints about the peeling flooring and rotting wall panels for another time.) Now maybe the engineer had received a death threat and needed two fully armed escorts to assure a safe trip into the City. The loud laughing emanating from inside the closed booth belied this possibility. Truth is, neither the Metro North personnel, nor the Connecticut State Police appreciate the potential gravity of the situation that calls for the need to have State Police on the trains in the first place. If they did, this would have never occurred. 9/11 was real for me and many other Metro North customers. I saw, heard and felt the sound of the airliner crashing into the South Tower; I witnessed people jumping out of the burning towers first hand. I was one of those running down the street in front of the rushing cloud of debris caused by the collapse of the buildings. To those of you who have the power to do something about this, please do the right thing and stop this fiasco. Inattentive security is no security at all, in fact it lulls us into thinking we are safe...when we are not...or worse yet, leaves us believing that the best that the State can provide for our hard earned tax dollars is just this side of the Keystone Cops. With terrorism, we do not get a second chance. If public safety authorities have decided to place State Police on the trains based upon a credible threat, then damn it; make sure that they do their jobs. If there is no real threat and the appearance of security is there for other reasons, then stop joking around. It is not funny.

2004-06-22T22:09:00.000-04:00

6:42 Track 10 New Haven-Tuesday Our attempts to avoid riding the Bombardier equipment have been foiled by schedule changes at Metro North. I guess in an effort to have every commuter suffer equally, MNR has started running the Bombardier on the 6:42 rather than the 6:58. Bad Luck again I guess. I know I have mentioned this before, but who is responsible for the design and purchase of this equipment? At either end of the car there are facing seats where the last row of seats has a straight back mounted on the car wall. These seats also are windowless, reminding me of a bout of sea sickness in a sleeping berth below deck on a Greek ferry many years ago. Commuters regularly avoid these seats even when the rest of the train is standing room only. Today the duct tape over the front window was back. When we asked the conductor if it could be removed so that we could get a bit more light into the front of the car (trying to control that sea sickness thing), we were told that covering the window was the engineer's prerogative. Is that in the operating manual somewhere? And if it is, why was not a better solution to provide for the engineer's privacy designed? Recently, the now former Governor announced that by year-end, the State will have some "new" equipment available for Shoreline East that will free up Bombardiers for use on the mainline (new cars are actually surplus equipment from Virginia, where they just bought newer trains. Letâs see...Connecticut's replacement cycle 30-40 years...Virginia's 10 years...interesting)...I do not know whether to be thankful or enraged. The $1 billion for the equipment that the State's commuters desperately need but a pipedream, seemingly forever trapped in the political morass we call government. Connecticut commuters got a used Band-Aid, when major surgery is needed. ...and then as if bad was not bad enough... 5:38 or was it the 5:44 Track 17 or was it Track 19 maybe 9 Âž - GCTâŚIt takes a bit of magic to keep the trains running. The train was loaded, full of passengers sitting and waiting for departure on Track 17. At the last minute, the âpowers that beâ decided that the equipment was not ready for tonightâs commute. The air conditioning was out in a few of the cars and for the first time that I can remember, Metro North decided that it might be against the Geneva Convention or something to drag all of these commuters out to the suburbs in tightly sealed sweatboxes. We all got up... An amazing sight actually as a thousand people bolt out of one train down the platform/back straight...heading around the clubhouse corner...finally into the homestretch...the exhausted commuterâs streak to the finish, cramming themselves into any available seats on the replacement trainâŚSorry, I am a bit slap happy... We actually arrived on time in New Haven, proving once again that the trains can run much faster than the schedules that have been created.

2004-06-15T22:08:00.000-04:00

4:05 Track 108 GCT - Tuesday 2 hours 25 minutes, 2 trains, one scheduled departureâŚand I was leaving early todayâŚso much for well made plans. Once again, another case of poorly prepared equipment that should have never left the station. Someplace along the way, this train to New Haven we stopped, then eventually made our way to GreenwichâŚthen Stamford. As we approached Stamford, the Conductor announced that we would all have to leave this train and transfer to replacement equipment. Then my phone rang, it was the New York Times calling to interview me for an article they are writing regarding conditions on the Metro North Railroad. I donât make this stuff up. Maybe I am just having a streak of bad luckâŚI live in Connecticut and am a Metro North Commuter.

2004-06-07T22:07:00.000-04:00

6:58 Track 10 New Haven- Monday The rotting hulk of the Bombardier train left the platform on time, but we did not make it to the I-95 overpass before it lurched to a stop. A few minutes later, we were informed that this train had to return to the New Haven station. After about 5 minutes, the train reversed directions. We arrived back on the platform minutes after the 7:13 left (why can they not hold a train at the station for a minute or two) and we were told that the next train, the 7:27 was on track 10. For any of you familiar with the New Haven schedule, the 7:27 is the train to avoid if you are going to New York. Unlike just about every train that runs from Connecticut to New York, this train makes both local stops in Connecticut and New York. So all of us, who had planned to be on the express, are now crammed on the local. A planned 8:35 arrival in New York will be 9:16 with any luck, which we have had none of today. The train is standing room only by the time we reach Stratford. The train crew on the 7:27 is less than helpful; they were not even told that an earlier train was cancelled. A call to Metro North was useless. They had no information and the phone numbers they provided for the dispatcher did not work. Metro North Customer service is not even open to take complaints until 9:00. Before we had a chance to get comfortable on the new train, we were told that the original equipment we were on was repaired and would be making its run...what did someone forget to kick it hard enough on the side? But all of us, probably nearly a thousand customers, were now stuck on the local. The express took off while we were left sitting. The scheduled departure for the 7:27 was not without drama as the engineer could not get the necessary "door light" to proceed. The engineer eventually said that he was going to leave, insinuating to those who could overhear him that he was ignoring the light. Somewhere between Fairfield and Stamford, the last two cars of the train lost air conditioning and those of us in the first car were shaken by the rattling of the train more severely than is usual. Now if the railroad expects to keep any level of customer satisfaction, it needs to provide information. It also needs to be flexible enough to hold trains to make up for equipment failures. And someone needs to get it through their thick bureaucratic skulls, that there is not much in the way of service that can be provided by obsolete, poorly maintained equipment. Once again the State and Metro North has put its citizen's in the precarious position of being crammed into equipment that if we had the luxury to step back and look at objectively, would be condemned for being unsafe and unreliable.

2004-05-24T22:06:00.000-04:00

5:18 Track 16 GCT-Monday The wind and snow of winter are but a memory, but plenty of ugly reminders of the decrepit trains remain. Tonight only 1/3 of the cars on this train are functioning. 2 cars have no lights and no air conditioning, another car no air conditioning. What was left of this ghost train was standing room only. Were we not told that it might be summer before Metro North was operating anywhere near "normal" again. Well the pool is openâŚwhere are our trains? I have to admit that it is easier to lose a couple of pounds of excess weight when you are stuck in an 80+ degree train for 95 minutes...downside is the higher dry-cleaning bills.

2004-05-13T22:06:00.000-04:00

7:14 Track 4 New Haven-Thursday Caught a later train this morningâŚdon't ask...snooze buttons ought to be outlawed... I am green with envy...there greeting us on our seats this morning, "MILEPOSTS" Metro North's periodic propaganda piece. It must be ânewâ math that permits MNRR to publish a high 90âs% on-time performance when all of us commuters always remember the numerous delaysâŚand who picked the 6 minutes of grace periodâŚstatistical genius. The Page 1 article, apparently placed there to annoy us Connecticut detainees-sorry-customers, "M(agnificant)7s"...the new rail equipment which the State of New York has purchased for its citizens to enjoy. Obviously, the article was not intended for its New York readers as they are enjoying the new seats, air conditioning, reliability, non-smelly toilets...it merely highlights the failings of Connecticut government leaders to provide adequate funding for our trains. Where is that realtor's number...

2004-05-12T22:05:00.000-04:00

6:58 Track 10 New Haven-Tuesday Different set of replacement equipment today. Bombardier yes, but not rotting away in the same picturesque way as yesterday's equipment. Connecticut's US Senators, Legislators and other politicos all appeared on the news last night announcing the rail security must improve. WTNH opened a hornetâs nest of criticism directed towards Metro North and the State after walking around the New Haven train yard with a camera for a couple hours on night recently and then accosting train administrators with the film. Our elected officials now tell us that Billions of new funding is planned to build fences, hire guards, etc. The problem is that no amount of fencing or attack dogs is going to stop, an incident on a train. Just like urban crime, the best deterrent is having police on the street, walking the proverbial beat. Today (actually nearly every day on this type of equipment), after our train crew has checked tickets, why do the two conductors join the engineer in the control booth? Because they can and likely have no other place to go. On the M series equipment the control booth is designed for one person, the engineer...and rightly so. This allows him/her to focus on operating the train. The rest of the crew is free to man one of the other booths along the train or walk the aisles. With the entire crew congregating in the control booth at the front of this Bombardier equipment, train personnel will not be quickly able to assist in an emergency anywhere other than the front of a train. Passenger security and safety is more than razor wire and drooling dogs around the train yard. It requires properly designed equipment and well trained and positioned staff. ConnDOT's continued reliance on this functionally obsolete equipment, places all of us at risk.

2004-05-12T22:04:00.000-04:00

6:58 track 10 New Haven-Monday Another week begins, and this train is still stuck with equipment that is better suited for the car crusher up at the junkyard. The icy cold snow that has been blamed for the demise of so much of the Connecticut Metro North fleet is but a Currier and Ives type memory, except that us customers are still living with the consequences. When this fiasco began 5 months ago we were told that the problems were so severe that it would take months to repair the damage...well months have now passed and the railroad is still running the replacement Bombardier equipment, with its cramped seating, rotting wall panels, and limited exitsâŚand all this on the longest run in the system. Soon we will get the formal news that our fares to ride this piece of railroad history will increase 6.5%.

2004-05-03T22:03:00.000-04:00

6:58 Track 10 - New Haven-Monday New month but same old problems...after a week during which I had to endure broken down trains, testified in a public hearing to try to keep the State from raising our fares again, and finally meet our State Representative who bluntly informed us that the fare hikes are in the budget and the budget has been passed. I guess one more day of crappy train service can be endured. We are on the Bombardier equipment again. Remember...no legroom, uncomfortable seating, poor exits, depressing decor. For the first three stops, I sit here with my knees crammed into the back of the seat in front of me. For the last stop in Fairfield all the way to GCT, I am forced to sit sideways as the train is overloaded and the legroom that I need is now taken by the person who sat down between my wife and me. Maybe the State plans to pay for the marriage counseling, a chiropractor and orthopedic surgery that will be necessary at some point due to the poor posture I am forced to use just to sit here. Maybe I can get over the frustrations of taking time out of my day last week to do the right thing, attend a public hearing and speak my mind regarding the proposed fare hikes...only to be told by Harry Harris of ConnDOT that he agreed with everything I had said but that I was addressing the wrong audience. Reading between the lines, he was telling me that there was nothing I or he could do about fare hikes and that this process of having a public hearing was a sham designed to give the taxpayer a false sense of participation in the process of government. The final insult came when on Sunday, I hear from our State Representative that the fare hike was in the current state budget...that he felt that it was wrong...but the budget was going to pass as is. Is not that like saying, "I know illegal drug use is bad, but it makes me feel good!". Also, to hear this just days after the hearing, points out the futility of this entire process. There was nothing, no matter how insightful, brilliant or groundbreaking that could have been said in the hearing that would either effect the outcome or even be heard by "decision-makers" in the State. And the Legislature has the nerve to claim that they have passed a "no-tax-hike budget package". I do not know about you but increasing the money I send to the State every month to pay for services that the State has committed to provide sure sounds like a tax increase to me. Bad budgets will only result in further fiscal difficulties, which in turn will be even more difficult to fix. Taking more money from a small constituency as Metro North commuters, that is widely seen as unfair, proves that the current leadership in the State does not have the creativity to resolve issues such as this, let alone the more difficult issues like schools, healthcare, public assistance. Maybe the problem is that the State Government is so fixated on hot tubs, cigars and Champaign at the Governor's mansion that it has forgotten who pays the bills. Memo to self...call realtors in New York...at least they know the importance of mass transit--------------------------

2004-04-22T22:03:00.000-04:00

6:04 Track 26 GCT-Wednesday Standing room only-two cars are running tonight without lights. I paid my $360 this month as did my fellow travelers standing here in the vestibule. Just a couple of the interesting comments which were raised during our commute...over 120 people are in this car today and there are nine or ten cars on the train, for a one hour and forty minute trip...with about 20 of us standing in this car alone...no trash receptacles...no place to put cups or cans...I think that passengers would leave the cars cleaner if they had a place to put the garbage. A fellow New Haven commuter mentioned that the trains used to make the trip between New Haven and New York more quickly (50+ years ago)...very interesting...worth further study. He also suggested that if the state would calculate the costs of running the trains the same way they look at the costs of running the highways or airports, the calculation would show that the fares raised on Connecticut Metro North would more than pay operating costs...also worth study. If true that would mean that Metro North Commuter fares are indeed a form of taxation that benefits the Stateâs general fund and not necessarily is reinvested back into the trains. Taking this one step further would suggest that Governor Rowland has indeed been âraisingâ taxes despite his anti-tax increase rhetoric. I have noted in the past (if I can get my friends at MNCC to post it in the "blog") that the State derives more commuter net revenue/profits from rail passengers than it does from the taxes on cars and gas for all those people driving next to the train on I-95 during rush hour. (Put these two thoughts together and we have a bit of a scandal on our hands.) Also, Connecticut Metro North customers pay more for less comfort...less service...more aggravation. A co-worker mentioned to me today that he takes a ferry from his home on the Jersey Shore to Manhattan everyday. He actually pays more than I do, has a similar length of commute, but travels with reclining seats (never has to stand), fold down table trays, cup holders...and enjoys his commute. I wish I could say the same. I would pay more if Metro North could provide comfortable service. But let's not get ahead of ourselves...any improvement in service at this time is just to make up for the poor state of affairs on the trains today. And I do think that $360 a month is more than adequate to provide the type of basic service that I am talking about.

2004-04-13T22:02:00.000-04:00

5:18 Track 16 GCT - Monday - diesel Can someone explain to us why technological advances have led to safer and more comfortable cars and trucks...advanced materials and design are resulting in safer, quieter and more, comfortable airplanes...why you can find reclining seats on commuter buses...bright cheerful design strategies help make even NYC subway travel pleasant...but the Metro North New Haven Line trains are loud, seating is uncomfortably cramped, bathrooms poorly ventilated and the overall design just plain ugly? I do hope that "the State" (who or whatever that is) asks commuters how to spend the meager funding that has been authorized for a handful of new cars. Leaving this decision to nameless bureaucrats who will likely never ride the trains, will surely result in a further waste of taxpayer dollars...

2004-04-09T21:13:00.000-04:00

No Train or Track today, Just....âI Love Lucyâ Unfortunately, Southern Connecticut is no longer the bucolic landscape in "I Love Lucy" when Ricky and Lucy decided to move out of a New York apartment to a farm in Westport to raise chickens. Today, Southern Connecticut is a thriving urban area desperately needing a modern, progressive, transportation system. We have heard from the Governor and others that the State can not afford to spend the funds necessary to replace or even adequately maintain the aged Metro North fleet. In financial terms, the State can not afford to further risk alienating Metro North customers, because without them, an already difficult State budget process will become as impossible as I-95 traffic during rush hour. Letâs start by comparing the average Metro North commuter to an equivalent I-95 commuter. Metro North commuters pay about $250 (some pay well more than that, some less) per month, not including parking at the stations to ride the trains. That buys two 25-75 mile commutes, 5 days a week, 50 weeks a year. Annualized, the State receives $3,000 from each train commuter. Alternatively, we could commute in a car. The State no longer collects $3,000 in fares, but does receive sales, gas taxes and local communities collect property taxes on the cars. Assuming an average car, State and Local governments can expect to receive no more than $1,800 annually. Metro North fare receipts cover over 75% of the trainsâ operating costs, the highest percentage in the country. A comparable number as it relates to the use of a car to commute is difficult to come by. Car related âoperatingâ expenses for the government includes police and safety, DMV, traffic control, road crews for snow removal, mowing, street cleaning, repairs, etcâŚ, which contributes an uncalculated amount that further offsets any tax revenue collected by the state. The bottom line, the State receives in excess of $1,000 more in revenue for every commuter who uses the train rather than drive a car. Even on a net basis after removing the State "subsidy" for the railroad relative to the costs of running the highways systems, the State is better off financially with you on a train. Now I am pretty sure that the State can afford to lose a couple of train riders as the result of providing lousy service, but if even a fraction of the 100,000 rail commuters decide to ditch the system, the State will have a financial mess on their hands, not to mention a wicked traffic jam on the turnpike. I have yet to mention that Metro North provides a means for the State to attract highly skilled/paid workers in New York City to live, raise families, shop, pay taxes, start new businesses and create new jobs here. I would love to try to put a dollar figure on that. Letâs just assume that it is considerable. Admittedly, the State has a budget crisis on its hands caused by shifting demographics, archaic tax policy and poor fiscal planning in the past. In assessing the possible revenue sources to fund the many transportation needs of the State, a working group in the government recently proposed several approaches to raising new revenue. These proposals include re-instituting tolls on highways and bridges, increasing taxes on fuel, increasing sales taxes and increasing mass transit fares. To date, only the last measure has been put into effect. As a result, Metro North commuters are bearing ALL the burden of the stateâs increased expenses. Metro North fares recently increased over 15% and now commuters are once again faced with yet another 5.5% increase. Let me put it another way: $40-50 MILLION have been taken out of the pockets of Metro North commuters and not one red cent has been taken out of the pockets of the commuter on I-95 or any of the other possible sources of revenue. In fact, over the past several years, gas taxes have been cut significantly, whereas Metro North fares have only increased. In the good old New England tradition, it is time to throw some tea overboard. The current tax structure (and train fares are just another form of a tax) is grossly out of alignment, with a spiraling burden being placed on users of the State's rail system. This occurs when customer service on Metro North has diminished to an all time low. Reversing this misaligned tax policy will result in more commuters giving up their cars and moving over to mass transit. As I have demonstrated, the State would actually end up with more revenue AND commuters would actually see lower commuting costs and less traffic congestion on the States' overburdened highways. That is called "win/win" in some circles. I think that the State desperately needs to reassess its priorities. Without a fully functioning, modern mass transit system, Southern Connecticut will increasingly be choked with traffic and pollution, ultimately pushing jobs, residents and their taxes out of state. The Ricardoâs were attracted to Connecticut in part because the state was bucolic and the trains clean, comfortable and reliable. Like me, Ricky commuted into New York every day, though admittedly he had a more glamorous job than I do. However, this is where the parallel endsâthe state is still lovely, though increasingly more urban. And train service, while still running the same equipment, is becoming more and more a part of the fictional past.

2004-04-08T21:12:00.000-04:00

6:58 Track 10 - New Haven Wednesday "They're baaack!" The Return of Diesel. (Apologies to Thomas the Tank and his friends) Today we were told that this will be our permanent equipment. Can this be right or just a rumor being propagated by Metro North employees? Who is responsible for making such ill conceived, cynical decisions? Whoever made such a decision must have never actually ridden on this equipment. Is this a decision of some nameless bureaucrat, or a politician who refuses to authorize adequate funding?

2004-04-06T21:11:00.000-04:00

6:42 Track 12 New Haven-Tuesday We have been blessed with a couple of normal commuting days. All of a sudden, diesels have been replaced by the electric M series equipment, trains are running on schedule. Cleanliness is still, an issue. Today train crews left cigarette ash on the seat next to mine. And yes I know that it must be crewâs as the equipment arrives from the yard where it is supposed to be cleaned and inspected prior to being placed in service. By the way there is no smoking on Metro North trains even when they are out of service. And a bit of heat would be nice, but given what we put up with for the past winter, not bad. It is obvious from the variety of trains sitting at the platforms in New Haven that the diesels are not gone. I guess Metro North has decided to share the pain of that archaic equipment with the rest of the schedule. Question remains, how does Metro North and the State plan to prevent what has happened during the past 3 months from reoccurring in the future? Connecticut customers pay more for Metro North and receive lesser service. This has to change.

2004-03-31T21:11:00.000-05:00

6:58 Track 10 New Haven-Wednesday We are still stuck with the Bombardier equipment; broken seats, tight quarters, cleanliness issues...I fear that no one cares about the commuting experience as the situation has not improved. A couple of months have now passed since the "killer" snow storms that allegedly decimated the Metro North fleet. Where are the trains? I would think that at least some of the repaired equipment would be returning to service, but instead it appears that we are faced with more Bombardier nightmares. It is so bad that they have started posting pictures of Metro North trains on milk cartons recently. Today's added inconvenience was that we were faced with a nearly full garage...one of the two much needed entrances already closed at 6:50AM forcing a phalanx of u-turns on Union Avenue. But we are saved...I read this morning that Gov. Rowland and Mayor DeStefano have put their differences aside to announce a long needed expanded parking garage in New Haven. So after a couple years of construction during which the parking situation will go from bad to worse, there will hopefully be adequate parking in New Haven. Per today's New Haven Register "Gov. John G. Rowland said in a press release Tuesday that the new facility is expected to increase use of the Metro-North and Shore Line East commuter rail lines, as well as Amtrak. "The lack of additional parking in our rail corridors is the chief impediment to increased rail travel," Rowland said. "The parking lots at Union Station are usually at full capacity by 7:30 a.m., which hinders our ability to encourage more New Haven-area commuters to use the trains."" The other thing that "hinders" additional ridership growth on the trains is the lack of necessary funding for new cars. I do not know where all these new passengers will sit as the trains are...well you know...a mess. And don't tell us that the State has already solved the overcrowding problems...the current funding efforts are but a Band-Aid where major surgery is needed. I personally would love to see how fast conditions would improve if politicians had to use these cattle cars everyday like the rest of us. Does anybody know if any elected members of the State government actually use the trains on a weekly or daily basis? I suspect not...maybe it is time for some redistricting...with Metro North commuters as an independent election district...better yet let's secede...probably unworkable, but it is nice to dream.

2004-03-25T21:09:00.000-05:00

6:58 Track 10 New Haven A hearty "well done" is deserved at least as it relates to arriving in GCT on time. I t is sad that I get so excited when things go as planned. 5:38 Track 13 GCT It is a shame that the morning's accomplishment could not be repeated. The train ran per schedule but due to overcrowding combined with the uncomfortable and often broken seating, left a number of us with a choice. Sit awkwardly for 70 minutes until the first stop or stand. Well I tried to sit but only lasted about 15 minutes until a cramp developed in my side and my right leg began to fall asleep. I caved and stood in front of the door between the cars. Blood flow returned to my leg and at least I was no longer in pain. I just had a physical and except for a couple of extra pounds and far sightedness, the good doctor pronounced me fit as a horse. So the problem is not me...it is the train. About 15 minutes later I was joined at the door by another passenger who apparently suffered from the same Bombardier Syndrome. We stood for the next 30 minutes elbowing each other for the opportunity to lean comfortably against the door...a door that was never intended to be comfortable in the first place. After Fairfield, several seats opened up. Desperate to sit, I tried 3 before I found one which was not broken. This is sad and the Stateâs insistence that we have to pay 5.5% more for this level of service is pitiful. Metro North has been neglected for years; it is time that the State start to make some drastically needed improvements.

2004-03-25T21:06:00.000-05:00

6:58 Track 10 New Haven-Wednesday Today's I question whether the train crew should go out of their way to convenience one passenger who boarded the wrong train while inconveniencing the other 800-1,000 passengers who will now arrive that much later in New York? I guess that this is a bit of an issue of civility, but given the poor track record of Metro North on-time arrivals of late, I thought that it would be worth discussion. Shortly after leaving Fairfield, a passenger who had just boarded, announced to the conductor that he was on the wrong train and that he meant to board the local to Stamford. Mind you this is supposed to be the non-stop express to GCT...everybody tries to take this train in order to minimize a lengthy commute...and the train is crowded. Also remember that the dispatchers have chosen to use old Bombardier equipment for this train...equipment which has the acceleration of a 1965 Volkswagen Beetle driving up a hill with 6 undergrads in the back. Once this hunk of steel lumbers up to speed you do not want to slow it down. As it turns out the crew and dispatcher decided to stop the train in Greenwich and allow the lost soul a chance of arriving at his office on time. However, not only was this train affected but also a local train which was stopped so this train could leave the express tracks and cross in front of the local prior to the Greenwich Station. To save one passenger the inconvenience of arriving late to work in Stamford because he boarded the wrong train, a thousand people on the express and possibly another thousand on the local that was cut off, will now arrive at work several minutes later than we would have without the delay. Let's do the math. 1 person saves 100 minutes of his work day whereas 2,000 passengers lose say 3-5 minutes each for a total of 100-150 man hours! I seriously doubt that the US economy was better served by the train crewsâ good hearted attempt to help a single passenger. Now, I am of a mind that we should help our fellow man in need when health and welfare is at risk. That was not the case today. I do think that Metro North publishes schedules with the intent of meeting that schedule most of the time, and they should attempt to meet those schedules on a more regular basis A sorry to anybody who has hopped on the wrong train, but Metro North should give up the unplanned stops at least until they have the system back up to normal performance standards. p.s. the train is still filthy.

2004-03-23T20:54:00.000-05:00

6:58 Track 10 New Haven Tuesday Me again...Same old equipment... Same old problems with filth, stench, discomfort, lateness, poor egress, today add an intercom system that only squeals when the conductor attempts to announce the station. Although I did not mention it yesterday, it appeared that a customer who had one to many for the road, left it at the doorway to the train, proving all too apparently that the trains are inadequately cleaned. On top of that, it was at the only door the crew had opened to the car. A quick thank you to the duct tapers... I have noticed that it is much more neatly placed over the windows leading to the engineer's control room. The same control room that leaves only one way out of this rolling box of bolts. Livestock transportation cars have better egress, and given the deposit found yesterday are probably cleaner. I have been making note of these same problems for a couple of months now and except for one e-mail in response to safety issues I had raised about this same equipment, I have received no response from anyone at Metro North. More disappointingly, is that with the exception of the duct tape noted previously, conditions have not materially changed. This despite a rather mild February and March. If we are to believe the excuses we have received from the State DOT and Metro North then one would think that the weather of late would have given the railroad a chance to catch up a bit on repairs and get this replacement equipment back to where it belongs...in the scrap yard. I guess my frustration stems in part from the fact that Metro North has decided to use this substandard equipment on their longest run in the system-GCT to New Haven-the 6:58 in the morning and the 5:38 in the evening. New Haven station customers pay more for the privilege of riding Metro North than any other commuter in the system and we continue to receive this substandard service. I am sure there is justice in this arrangement somewhere. I just fail to see it. I think that it is about time for other Metro North commuters to "share the pain" that we at the outer stations have had to endure all winter, or maybe they do? Well we should be passing 125th Street Station any minute now but from what little I can see out of the dirty windows, we are still in the Bronx. Finally, adding insult to injury, we are reversed in the Park Avenue tunnel heading back to Connecticut, because we were placed on the wrong platform...this has nothing to do with the weather, just poor planning.

2004-03-20T21:10:00.000-05:00

6:30 Track 105 GCT Monday You can board the train but you can not get off! At least that is what happened to those passengers seated in the first two cars of tonight's train. This equipment is either terribly complicated to operate or terribly unreliable. Not sure which. This morning's 6:58 out of New Haven was crowded on the cramped diesel equipment, but at least the interstate express trains have been less impacted by the I95 closure. Despite the warnings from Metro North, we did not make any additional stops, probably thanks to an out of place Shoreline East train that we passed somewhere in Fairfield County. It looked rather full. My complements go to Metro North and ConnDOT for managing through this latest crisis. The I95 bridge collapse reinforces the importance of a modern, well-run railroad as a key component of the transportation infrastructure of the State. Continuing to ignore the trains will ultimately result in traffic conditions throughout the region that Bridgeport residents have been faced with for the last few days.