The Connecticut delegation sent a letter to MTA-Metro-North Railroad President Joseph Giulietti Friday after a series of delays and interruptions on the Waterbury branch train line.
The letter demands the railroad operators provide commuters with a “specific set of steps” it will follow to improve “on-time performance and communication with riders.”
The letter was signed by U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D‑Conn.), U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D‑Conn.), U.S. Representative Jim Himes (CT‑4) and U.S. Representative Elizabeth Esty (CT‑5). It is embedded below.
The Waterbury branch has local stops in Seymour, Ansonia and Derby.
“We write today to express concern regarding the recent increase in service lapses on the Waterbury Branch Line. While riders will be the first to note that service on the line has improved, their experience with the line this August has been lacking,” the politicians said in a prepared statement.
The letter comes on the heels of a story in The Republican-American story detailing problems the line had in August.
Commuters were stranded in Bridgeport due to a wiring problem.
The paper reported between Aug. 2 and Aug. 16, there were 19 incidents that caused delays.
In April, May and June, ridership dropped after eight consecutive months of gains.
Infrastructure improvements to the branch are proceeding.
The letter penned by the politicians is embedded below:
