Friday Headlines: Amtrak Strikes Again Edition
Amtrak sued Metro-North on Wednesday night, alleging the commuter service had ignored longstanding agreements and denied non-revenue Amtrak trains access to its rails.
In Manhattan federal court, the federal railway system claimed that the 1991 “Hudson Agreement” and “New Haven Agreement” between Amtrak and Metro-North guaranteed it access to lines between New York City and Poughkeepsie and New Rochelle and New Haven for non-revenue-generating purposes, like testing the new Acela trains.
But Amtrak’s lawyers argue in court filings that Metro-North stopped honoring that agreement in mid-March. Their lawsuit claims that, as a result, Amtrak has experienced delays in passenger service in New York because it hasn’t been able to reposition train cars.
There is a little irony here.
Amtrak didn’t offer Metro-North access to its lines earlier this year when the governor had planned to expand service between Poughkeepsie and Albany. Union workers claimed the expansion would cost jobs and bombarded legislators with messages arguing against the increase in transit options in upstate New York.
And the two transit authorities have been at odds over a variety of projects in New York City — something the MTA was all too happy to point out.
“The people of the Bronx have been waiting generations, watching trains blow by without stopping,” said John McCarthy, MTA chief of policy and external relations. “We have a project that will change that and improve lives for people in the Bronx, cutting their commute times by 40 minutes. It’s not clear who in the federal government is directing Amtrak’s lawyers to create distractions from the real issue — getting Bronxites the service they deserve.”
More news:
- Get this: One cop in New York City is a prolific traffic scofflaw, and his bosses aren’t doing a thing about it.
- Crash victims aren’t pleased that Gov. Hochul is trying to minimize their pain and suffering.
- Suffolk County is cracking down on what they believe are dangerous electric bike and scooter riders. (Newsday)
- Rep. Laura Gillen (D-Nassau) escaped a primary challenge through poor paperwork from her presumptive opponents. (Newsday)
- The MTA and LIRR unions could reach a deal, but how are they going to pay for it? (News 12 Long Island)
- Asshole Long Island mortorists are dive-bombing geese now, apparently. (The New York Times)
- The MTA is holding workshops on its plan for the Interborough Express, which would create light rail transit between Brooklyn and Queens. (NY1)
- New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is decrying the $150 New Jersey Transit fare that World Cup fans are expected to pay. (amNY)
- Outgoing Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-North Country) is lambasting Ivy League education in her new book, even though she holds a Harvard degree. (Gothamist)
- Senate Transportation Chair Jeremy Cooney explained his outlook for New York. (WXXI)
Read More:
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