I’m usually a huge Amtrak fan. But not today.
Sure, I love to zip along to Boston at 145 mph on Acela, enjoy a land cruise through the western scenery on “The Southwest Chief” or even poke along for 27 hours from Chicago to New York on “The Cardinal.” If you’re a rail fan, what choice do you have but to take Amtrak?
But Amtrak is also responsible for running commuter trains, including two lines in Connecticut. And here they have been failing spectacularly.
On Shore Line East, the state Department of Transportation’s rail line between New Haven and New London, Amtrak owns the tracks and is contracted to operate CDOT-owned trains.
Due to track work, service in recent months has been abysmal: trains canceled, bus substitutions and a 59 percent on-time record. All of this with inadequate communication with passengers.
But on Amtrak’s other commuter operation in Connecticut, The Hartford Line, the service’s initial success has been seriously blemished.
Amtrak also owns these tracks, in this case from New Haven to Springfield. What was once a one-track line where Amtrak carried 750 passengers a day is now a high-speed, two track operation carrying 2,000 passengers — half on Connecticut Rail trains and half on Amtrak equipment.
When The Hartford Line debuted in June, the line opened new stations with cheap parking and slashed ticket prices. New Haven to Hartford is just $8 for a 45-minute run. No wonder it’s so popular. And every passenger on that train is potentially one less car on Interstate 91.
But Amtrak’s not keeping its end of the bargain. Its trains operate with just two coaches while the Connecticut Rail trains have four. And there are sometimes more passengers than seats, a phenomenon well known to Metro-North riders at rush hour.
Case in point, the popular 4:32 p.m. train from Hartford to New Haven. On two occasions in recent weeks, the train was so crowded that conductors kicked passengers off the train. As WNPR reported, the Amtrak conductor singled out Connecticut rail ticketed passengers and students using U-Pass, a statewide transit pass for college students.
“That’s not supposed to happen,” DOT Commissioner Jim Redeker said. Connecticut Rail and Amtrak tickets, both issued for the same price, are supposed to be cross-honored on all trains.
Adding insult to delayed-arrival-injury, WNPR asked Amtrak to comment on what happened and the railroad said it knew nothing. Clearly, a rogue conductor who didn’t get proper training has embarrassed the railroad and the DOT. Amtrak says it’s not its policy to kick passengers off trains, but WNPR has audio recordings proving it happened. Oops.
Clearly, the long-term solution is adding more cars to handle the crowds. But in the meantime, Amtrak and the conductor owe passengers a public apology. For the next week, the conductor on the 4:32 p.m. train from Hartford should get on the PA system and say, “Sorry folks, I made a mistake.”
____________________
Cameron on Trains
- In Connecticut: Lower Rail Subsidy, Higher Fares Than Elsewhere (Nov. 11)
- One Country Has Almost 2/3 of High Speed Rail Lines, Has 4X the U.S. Transport Budget: Cameron on Transportation (Oct. 1)
- On Metro-North (and Other Commuter Lines) ‘On Time’ can mean Six Minutes Late (Sept. 24, 2016)
- These Are a Few of My Favorite Hacks for Grand Central: Cameron on Transportation (Sept. 10)
- Train Ticket Scofflaws Avoid Eye Contact With Conductors and Are Seldom Challenged: Cameron on Transportation (June 4)
- How to Save What You Can as the Flood of Train Prices Rises Around You: Cameron on Transportation (April 5)
- Big Brother Looking Over Your Shoulder as You Travel — Cameron on Transportation (March 19)
- Where an American Railroad Is Making a Profit: Cameron on Transportation (March 15)
- Metro-North Commuting ‘Like Getting Hit With a 2-by-4’ — Cameron on Transportation (Feb. 18)
- Hudson River Rail Tunnels Shoulda, Coulda Been Done By Now: Cameron on Transportation (Feb. 11)
- Don’t Blame Gov for Transport Project Delays, Blame the Legislature: Cameron on Transportation (Feb. 7)
- State Transportation Chief Describes Service Cuts, Rail Fare Hikes Coming Soon Unless Alternate Funding Found (Jan. 26)
- AAA Poll: Plurality of CT Drivers, But Not a Majority, Say Tolls Are Best Way to Finance Transportation (Jan. 23)
____________________
Jim Cameron has been a Darien resident for more than 25 years. He is the founder of the Commuter Action Group and also serves on the Darien RTM and as program director for Darien TV79. The opinions expressed in this column, republished with permission of Hearst CT Media, are only his own. You can reach him at CommuterActionGroup@gmail.com.