Metro-North Users Urged to Attend Meeting on Disabled Train Incident

The Connecticut Rail Commuter Council is urging the public to attend a special meeting from 6 to 8:30 p.m., Thursday, August 18, at Westport Town Hall to discuss the in which hundreds of commuters were stranded on a Metro-North train in 100-degree heat with no air conditioning for nearly an hour near the Greens Farms station in Westport — and the alleged communications problems that resulted in a delayed response from Westport’s emergency services when passengers started dialing 911.

“It was the hottest day of the year,” said Commuter Council Chairman Jim Cameron in a statement. “We need to know what happened on that train that made riders feel so desperate that they had to call 911 to be rescued. The real issue isn’t just our aging fleet, it’s the communications breakdown between Metro-North, first responders and commuters.”

“We are encouraging everyone on that trapped train, and the tens of thousands of passengers who were delayed that day, to attend this hearing and tell what happened,” Cameron said. “But we also want commuters to hear from the railroad its side of the story.”

In addition, the will discuss the incident in detail at its next meeting at 7 p.m., Wednesday August 24, in the offices of SWRPA at the Stamford Government Center.

In a statement released on July 22, following the incident, Westport Fire Department officials said miscommunication between 911 dispatchers and Metro-North officials delayed Westport EMS’ response to 911 calls from passengers on the train — which was a concern since the high heat in the train cars could have resulted in a life-threatening situation for some of the passengers — including three pregnant women who were aboard the eastbound train out of Grand Central Station.

Westport emergency responders to discuss the “communications problems” that occurred when the train, carrying about 200 passengers, became on an inaccessible stretch of track near the Green’s Farms train station, resulting in a delayed response.

Following the July 29 meeting, Andrew J. Kingsbury, Chief of the Westport Fire Department and the town’s Emergency Management Director, said “several areas were identified where we believe emergency operations can be improved upon, and all agencies are working cooperatively to reach this goal.”

“We appreciate Metro-North’s willingness to meet here in Westport and to learn from each other’s perspective about what happened last Friday,” Chief Kingsbury said. “The end result will be smoother operations in the future for both the emergency responders and the commuting public.”

Still, the Rail Commuter Council, elected officials, and the public at large are concerned that the scenario could play itself out again.

“When Metro North riders were stuck for more than an hour in triple digit heat with little water or fresh air in their rail cars it should set off alarms,” said State Rep. Toni Boucher, who represents Westport and several other Fairfield County towns, in a statement. “I am very grateful no one was taken to the hospital with serious injuries.”

“Most disturbing to me however, were reports that trapped passengers called 911 for help and local first responders couldn't locate the trains,” said Boucher, who attended the July 29 meeting between town, state and Metro-North officials. “The breakdown in communication from Metro North Train officials to first responders and local officials as well as the apparent lack of an emergency backup plan are not acceptable.”

Boucher said key takeaways from the July 29 meeting for her include: 1) “Metro North needs to have a better communication system with local officials;” 2) “Metro North did not have a clear understanding of where that train was so they could help first responders locate those in distress immediately. (Pregnant ladies were stuck on the train, people were panicking),” and 3) “Once found, Metro North and local EMS didn’t have a clear picture of who to help first.”

“Last winter should have provided lessons in communication to Metro North,” Boucher said. “With 80 inches of snow and more than half the fleet out of service commuters were frustrated that MTA officials didn’t make quicker decisions about suspending service to spare commuters headaches.”

“This is no different,” she continued. “To run trains through the oppressive heat knowing there could be downed wire or fatigue by the equipment, and then not to have a clear communications plan in place, is inexcusable.”

While Boucher agrees that the rail line’s aging infrastructure played a major role in causing the incident, and needs to be updated, “as ranking member of the transportation committee, it’s my job to make sure commuters are being taken care of and are ensured a safe ride. That Friday in July was anything but.”

“I am assured that the DOT Commissioner is committed to having Metro North put a plan of action in place so that incidents like this can be avoided in the future,” she said. “Together we will make sure these serious issues are fixed.”