WASHINGTON — Following an outcry from local residents, U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), a member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee, on Wednesday urged Metro North to adjust their new timetable for the Waterbury Branch Line. As the Waterbury Republican-American reported, Metro-North adjusted the time of the evening train from Grand Central to Bridgeport, making it impossible for commuters to catch the 5:54pm train from Bridgeport to Waterbury. It is unreasonable to expect commuters to take the next train, which leaves Bridgeport almost three hours later. In a letter to Metro-North President Catherine Rinaldi, Murphy urged Metro North to adjust the train times for commuters. 

“The concerns raised by riders need to be promptly addressed, and I encourage you to revise the timetables and ensure that they do not disrupt the ability of commuters to use the Waterbury line,” wrote Murphy. “There has been significant progress made in improving the Waterbury Branch line, which is already benefiting local commuters and the region as a whole. These positive steps will not allow the line to reach its ultimate potential if this unworkable timetable remains. Although there is more work to be done, it is critical that we keep momentum moving ahead for the Waterbury Branch line and not move backwards with a timetable making it impossible for many commuters to use the train service.” 

Murphy has been a vocal advocate for more investment in the Waterbury Branch Line to improve service and increase ridership. 

The full text of letter is available here and below: 

Dear President Rinaldi: 

As has been recently reported in the Waterbury Republican-American, the latest changes in Metro-North schedules have roiled the commutes of many constituents in my state, severely diminishing the viability of the Metro-North Waterbury branch line as a commuting option. Moreover, the Connecticut Commuter Rail Council has informed me that many Waterbury line users have serious concerns about the newly proposed timetables. I write to encourage you to consider the feedback of commuters and to adjust the timetables accordingly. 

The specific concern from my constituents is that the new timing of evening trains returning from Grand Central Station on the New Haven line and from Bridgeport on the Waterbury line would create an unworkable dilemma for many Waterbury line commuters. Under the proposed timetables, the 4:42 p.m. train from Grand Central arrives in Bridgeport at 5:58 p.m., making it impossible to catch the train from Bridgeport to Waterbury, which leaves at 5:54 p.m. It is not feasible for commuters, who are already constrained by the lack of an earlier departure time in the morning, to disrupt their workdays in order to catch the earlier train home from Grand Central, which departs at 4:11 p.m. It is also unreasonable to expect commuters to take the next train from Bridgeport to Waterbury, which leaves Bridgeport almost three hours after the 5:54 p.m. train. 

The concerns raised by riders need to be promptly addressed, and I encourage you to revise the timetables and ensure that they do not disrupt the ability of commuters to use the Waterbury line. One suggestion relayed to me by the Commuter Rail Council was to delay the departure of the train leaving Bridgeport by ten minutes—from 5:54 p.m. to 6:04 p.m.  However, regardless of the exact nature of the solution, I ask that the views of those who rely on this line to get to and from work every day be the main consideration. 

There has been significant progress made in improving the Waterbury Branch line, which is already benefiting local commuters and the region as a whole. These positive steps will not allow the line to reach its ultimate potential if this unworkable timetable remains. Although there is more work to be done, it is critical that we keep momentum moving ahead for the Waterbury Branch line and not move backwards with a timetable making it impossible for many commuters to use the train service. 

As a vocal proponent of continued investment in the three branch lines in Connecticut, I thank you very much for your attention to this matter. I look forward to your response. 

Sincerely, 

Christopher S. Murphy

United States Senator

 

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