Commuting has been an experience from the get-go. I very much love my train rides overall; they’re generally quiet, uneventful, relaxing (who wants to drive in that traffic?) and I use the time for myself: To read, solve a few logic puzzles, or, best of all, nap. Of course, when things go wrong, it’s usually pretty bad, and last night was a doozy. Continue reading
Passengers await an “extra” Metro-North train as it pulls up to a crowded platform in Stamford this morning.
Wednesday morning, Metro-North had its latest problem strike when a feeder line powering a portion of the lower New Haven Line fail, eliminating all electric service into Grand Central Terminal. The resulting changes that have followed have been limited, challenging and at times frustrating. Yet it also shows an agency that manages to work through yet another emergency with some pretty skillful and creative strategies. Continue reading
A picture I took of an M8 at Stamford station at a time when I saw them much more often.
Metro-North Railroad is in the middle of replacing its older train cars with a model called the M8, manufactured by Kawasaki. They include such features as pre-recorded audio with station stop announcements (and matching signage), higher headrests one every seat (and easier grips for people to be able to safely move about), and other technology advancements that come with redesigning a train car 40 years after the last major redesign.
The only problem is, I’m having trouble finding them. Continue reading