By Rich Bockmann
The trains are running back on schedule, but the ride for Amtrak and the Long Island Rail Road is still a bit bumpy.
On May 8, an Amtrak train traveling in one of the four East River tunnels derailed, closing the tunnel and forcing the LIRR to cancel about 25 percent of its trains during morning and evening rush hours from Sunday through last Thursday.
Amtrak owns the tunnels, and its union employees have the exclusive right through their collective bargaining agreement to perform service and maintenance work in the tunnels. Through the terms of its contract with Amtrak, the LIRR is then billed for this work.
In a letter Friday to Amtrak CEO Joseph Boardman, Metropolitan Transportation Authority CEO Jay Walder cited four other incidents reaching back to March and his concerns over safety issues.
He expressed a need to immediately address the accumulation of pooling water and clogged drains in the tunnel and went further to state the necessity to revise protocol between the two entities.
“While the recent incidents in the East River tunnels have caused some to raise questions about the institutional arrangements between our organizations, my focus is solely on working constructively to expeditiously identify solutions for the many customers and employees of Amtrak, New Jersey Transit and LIRR who depend on the East River tunnels every day,” he wrote.
“However, if it would facilitate a solution, or if Amtrak is unable to commit to an action plan to address these issues, we are prepared to negotiate the necessary amendments to our agreements on an expedited basis that will allow the LIRR to assume maintenance responsibilities for all four East River tunnels,” Walder wrote.
The day before, state Sen. Charles Fuschillo (R-Merrick) wrote to Walder: “While the LIRR cooperates with Amtrak on some maintenance and repair projects, it ultimately has no authority over maintenance operations that directly affect LIRR service. The time has come for the MTA/LIRR to maintain the rails in and out of Penn Station.”
On Tuesday, Amtrak spokesman Cliff Cole said there were still internal discussions being held at Amtrak to determine which company would be responsible for the maintenance work.
He said a broken rail was the cause for the latest derailment, which sent five cars off the tracks. Difficulties working in the tight quarters of the tunnel while replacing damaged ties, repairing the tracks and rerailing the cars kept delaying normal service to the tunnel.
Regular service eventually returned to the LIRR early Friday morning and trains ran on schedule during the morning commute. A signal problem Friday afternoon caused delays for the evening commute, but trains have been running on time since.
Reach reporter Rich Bockmann by e-mail at rbockmann@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-260-4574.
