Tuesday Headlines: Train War Edition

A federal judge ruled Friday that the MTA didn’t need to allow Amtrak access to commuter railways in upstate New York and Connecticut for non-commercial train movement.

U.S. District Judge Jed Rakoff dismissed Amtrak’s request for an injunction that would allow it to use the Metro-North’s Hudson and New Haven lines to transport test and supply trains along its routes.

The case stems from Metro-North’s refusal to allow non-revenue Amtrak trains, such as the new Acela cars, to travel on its rails; this is despite the 1991 “Hudson Agreement” and “New Haven Agreement” between Amtrak and Metro-North, which the federal rail service argued 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.

The decision is the latest development in a drawn-out battle between the two rail services, state and federal, that have been at odds over multiple infrastructure projects and basic procedures in recent months.

The MTA argued that the Acela trains destroyed New Haven line overhead wires in January and caused fires in Penn Station in May. Spokespeople for the transit authority said that both incidents caused service disruptions.

“We are pleased that the Court denied Amtrak’s petition for an injunction,” said MTA spokesperson Aaron Donovan. “Metro-North is committed to keeping customers safe and protecting our vital infrastructure, and it is entirely appropriate for Metro-North to require Amtrak to agree to accept responsibility for any damage their trains may cause to the Metro-North network.”

The MTA believes that Amtrak preempted a possible operating agreement that would have allowed Amtrak Acela trains over its tracks, and Amtrak cut that process short when it filed suit on April 23.

Amtrak’s lawsuit claims that, as a result of the reneged upon agreemnet, 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, like the now-delayed Penn Access Project.

More news:

• Many Long Islanders will be pondering their preferred congressional candidate this month. (Newsday)
• Yes, we checked. An erratic, alleged drunk driver was pulled over in the Hamptons, but it wasn’t Justin Timberlake. (News 12 Long Island)
• Buses from Coach USA will operate the Hudson Link service in Westchester and Rockland counties after state DOT picked it to connect riders to Metro-North stations. (Mid Hudson News)
• Only in New York will you find a campaign like Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado’s bid for governor. (The Hudson Line)
• State lawmakers won’t be touching e-bike regulations this year, citing time constraints. (Gothamist)
• State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli is throwing jabs at highly paid public utility CEOs. (The Journal News)
• State DOT surpassed hole-filling expectations based on its latest pothole blitz reporting. (Spectrum News)
• Users of Tompkins County Area Transit will see service reductions this summer. (The Ithaca Times)
• Congress’s latest transportation bill could mean good things for New York municipalities looking to update their streetscape. (Rochester Democrat & Chronicle)
• Keene leaders are trying to figure out the best way to accommodate the influx of hikers. (The Times Union)
• State troopers say that drunk driving incidents spiked over the holiday weekend. (Mid Hudson News)