A feud between Amtrak and Metro-North is impacting train service in Connecticut. The dispute began over high-speed tests of Amtrak’s new Acela NextGen train, which Metro-North says has lost its pantographs on their overhead power lines five times.
Construction Delays and Fare Hikes
Construction to bring some Metro-North trains into New York’s Penn Station has been delayed due to the feud. Amtrak is slowing down the construction, pushing back the opening of new Bronx stations from 2027 to 2030. This means lost employment and taxes in Connecticut. Additionally, the Connecticut Department of Transportation has decided to replace electric M8 cars with diesel trains due to high costs, resulting in slower service.
The fare hike of 5% kicks in on July 1 for all Connecticut commuter lines. The increase is due to rising costs, but lawmakers could have prevented it by adequately funding the Department of Transportation. Commuters on the Waterbury branch will face not only the fare hike but also bus substitutes for ten months due to construction.
Original reporting: The Connecticut Mirror — read the source article.
