Cuomo: Let LIRR make repairs, bill Amtrak
Gov. Andrew Cuomo. Credit: Charles Eckert
Failure by Amtrak to maintain its East River tunnels and other vital railroad facilities has led to "distressing and unacceptable" delays, according to Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, who suggested putting the LIRR in charge of tunnel repairs and then billing Amtrak.
Cuomo's idea to give more control to the Long Island Rail Road was part of a letter expected to be sent to Amtrak Monday after the latest in a series of problems so far this year: four days of service disruptions caused by an Amtrak train derailment last Sunday.
"The situation in which Amtrak fails to perform the maintenance required on tunnels, which primarily serve LIRR riders, cannot be allowed to continue," Cuomo wrote in the letter to Amtrak president Joe Boardman.
Cuomo is the latest New York elected official to publicly criticize Amtrak, which owns the tunnels.
"Allowing this course of events to continue, I am sure you will agree, is unacceptable," Cuomo wrote.
Last month, Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) criticized how Amtrak schedules repairs and inspections after an emergency repair led to big delays on the LIRR.
Last week, Sen. Charles Fuschillo Jr. (R-Merrick) said the MTA should explore taking over maintenance of the East River tunnels and rails to and from Penn Station.
Amtrak owns and repairs facilities such as the vital East River tunnels. The Long Island Rail Road pays the majority share to fund those repairs and maintenance.
In the letter, Cuomo wrote that putting the LIRR in control of tunnel repairs and billing Amtrak its prorated share is one option.
He asked the MTA "to explore all appropriate options in the event Amtrak chooses not to cooperate" with efforts to improve service.
Amtrak spokeswoman Vernae Graham would not comment because the railroad had not formally received the letter. Other recent disruptions to LIRR service have included a delay in April that crippled trains on the first night of Passover and a broken rail in March.
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Out East with Doug Geed: Wine harvests, a fish market, baked treats and poinsettias NewsdayTV's Doug Geed visits two wineries and a fish market, and then it's time for holiday cheer, with a visit to a bakery and poinsettia greenhouses.
