By Philip Newman
“We believe it is imperative that Amtrak do what is necessary now, not later, to make these tunnels safe,” said Von Essen following a meeting with rail transportation officials Monday.
“It's now time to stop making safety an afterthought and consider passenger safety their No. 1 priority,” Von Essen said.
He was referring to the antiquated two-foot wide, 10-story spiral staircases built 90 years ago for emergency evacuation from the tunnels to Penn Station in the event of a fire or another disaster.
The tunnels, both those under the East River from Queens, Brooklyn and Long Island and Hudson River tubes from New Jersey en route to Penn Station, are used by 750 trains carrying nearly 300,000 commuters each day.
Von Essen said Amtrak officials who attended Monday's meeting agreed that much needs upgrading in the tunnels, including ventilation, communication systems, stand pipes (water supply) and better access in and out of the tunnels.
“We have learned over the years that agreement with Amtrak on priorities does not translate into action in addressing these critical safety issues,” Von Essen said in a statement released following the meeting. Amtrak, the federal passenger railroad corporation, owns Penn Station.
Amtrak spokesman Rick Remington told Newsday, however, that Von Essen's words were a “surprise.”
“They are very out of tune with the conversations we have been having for several years,” the newspaper quoted Remington as saying.
A Fire Department spokesman said there had been no contact with Amtrak since the meeting.
U.S. Department of Transportation officials estimate it might cost more than $600 million to make such safety improvements in the 16 miles of railway tunnels leading into Penn Station.
The DOT was scheduled to release next week a report saying that the 10-story emergency stairways in the tunnels would not only hinder the rescue of passengers in an emergency but prevent firefighters and medical personnel from entering the tunnels at the same time as the evacuations. The report also says the tunnels lack ventilation systems capable of pumping out smoke and sending in fresh air.
Besides the Amtrak representatives, the meeting was attended by officials of the Long Island Rail Road, New Jersey Transit and the DOT.
