Metro-North Railroad overemphasized on-time performance at the expense of rider safety, according to a blistering report by a federal agency.
"This led to a deficient safety culture that has manifested itself in increased risk and reduced safety on Metro-North," the Federal Railroad Administration said in a
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority, one of the largest issuers in the municipal marketplace with $32 billion of debt, operates Metro-North.
The FRA late last year launched its investigation, called Operation Deep Dive, after the railroad sustained four high-profile accidents in 2013, including a Dec. 1 collision on the Hudson line near Spuyten Duyvil station in the Bronx that killed four people and injured more than 50 others.
Last May, a train derailed near Bridgeport, Conn., injuring more than 70 people.
In its report, the agency told MTA officials to submit a plan for safety policies, including employee training, within 60 days. It also urged improved track control systems and safety standards, operating rules, certification requirements, and fatigue management for maintenance-of-way employees. It also accused employees of excessive cellphone use.
"Metro-North is taking aggressive actions to affirm that safety is the most important factor in railroad operations," Metro-North President Joseph Giulietti said at a press conference at Grand Central Terminal.
"We are improving how we inspect our tracks and equipment, and how we perform maintenance on the right of way. We are buying new equipment. We are hiring more staff. We are changing our management structure and we're reaching out to our partners in labor - all to make this railroad as safe as possible," said Giulietti.
He is asking the MTA's board for permission to expedite installing cameras on all trains, as the National Transportation Safety Board recommended, and said Metro-North would install a mechanical protective system known as positive train control as quickly as possible.
