Connecticut Transportation Commissioner James Redeker said Wednesday it would be difficult to replace Metro-North as the state’s railroad operator.
During a state Transportation Committee hearing, legislators questions Redeker on whether the state’s contract with the operator should be re-evaluated after its recent series of incidents. Five people have died and more than 100 passengers have been injured on and along the tracks in the past year.
Redeker said the state’s rails are closely interwoven into Metro-North’s system and that the tracks leading into Grand Central Station are owned by the operator. It’s a complicated system, he said. Plus, it’s likely a new operator would hire many of the same personnel.
Metro-North, under fire for its safety protocols, has revised many of its practices and standards to improve its quality of service. Earlier this week, it also released a report detailing the improvements it made following the May derailment in Bridgeport, the death of a foreman in West Haven, the September power outage and Bronx derailment earlier this month.
“I”™m more confident than ever in the railroad,” Redeker reportedly said. “They”™re in investing in people. They”™re investing in technology. And they”™re investing in track and infrastructure.”
