MTA to Immediately Install New Safety Improvements on Metro-North Tracks

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By Published: December 09 2013

LongIsland.com

Improvements will begin to go into effect Monday morning to prevent Metro-North trains from speeding around critical curves and near movable bridges.

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The Metropolitan Transportation Authority announced Sunday that it will be making immediate improvements to its Metro-North Railroad lines, especially around dangerous curves and movable bridges.

In an agreement reached between the MTA and the Connecticut Department of Transportation (ConnDOT), enhanced communication procedures will be put into effect so that train engineers and conductors can better communicate and ensure that the trains are operated at safe speeds when approaching the five critical curves and five movable bridges on the railway.  As part of the new procedures, conductors will stand with engineers at each train's control cab when the train goes through the curve to verbally confirm that the speed limits are adhered to.  If the conductor cannot stand with the engineer when approaching a critical curve or movable bridge, they are to communicate by radio.
 
One of those critical curves occurs before the Spuyten-Duyvil station, and was the site of last week's fatal Metro-North derailment, which killed four passengers and injured over 60 others.

“Metro-North is taking important steps to improve safety for its customers and employees, and I expect the railroad will continue searching for ways to improve its operations and fully restore its commuters' confidence,” said MTA Chairman and CEO Thomas F. Prendergast in a press release.

Safety protections were made to the Spuyten-Duyvil curve while the trains and tracks were restored after the derailment, including improvements that will automatically apply the train's emergency brakes if the speed is not lowered to the 30 mph maximum allowed on the curve.

The four other critical curves that will be affected are at Yonkers on the Hudson Line, White Plains on the Harlem Line, and Port Chester and Bridgeport on the New Haven Line.  All five of the movable bridges affected are also on the New Haven Line.

Speed limits have also been lowered at 26 locations so that there are no longer any points where the speed limit drops by more than 20 mph.

The MTA will additionally institute a confidential close call reporting system that will allow train employees to anonymously report safety concerns without fear of reprisal.

[Source: Metropolitan Transportation Authority] 

Photo via the MTA Flickr page.