Originally appeared on: StationStops - Metro-North Train Schedules and NYC Commuting Blog See the original post here: Train Just Misses Pedestrians Crossing Tracks – Video

According to MTA, the money will reappear in your account if you were affected – riiggghhttt…..

I guess the MetroCard machines work similarly to the recent fare hikes – money in, nothing in return.

As usual, MTA doesn’t tell us about the problem until after they have fixed it.

In related incompetance, a broken-down New Haven Line car resulted in delays of a half hour or more during rush hour this morning.

Originally appeared on: StationStops - Metro-North Train Schedules and NYC Commuting Blog See the original post here: Metrocard Machines Took Money, Gave No Cards – Systemwide – For 2 Days

And as far as I can tell, not many other news organizations knew either.

I looked on Governor Rell’s site – no mention.

I looked on CT.gov site – not in latest news section.

I searched Google news and blogs – nope.

This is the day-of mind you!

How did I find out? By following through on this excellent Bloomberg article about the new M-8 cars, which was forwarded from a reader while he was on vacation in Florida (thanks T.O.!).

Still, I had no details about the unveiling – so I dug around on the MTA site, and sure enough, sitting there in a typically un-web-friendly PDF file, was a one-pager letting us know that the new prototype car would be on display today and tommorrow. Gee, thanks for the heads-up.

So if you want to take a peek into the future of your commute, you need to be at Union Station tommorrow:

From the PDF:

“A mock-up of one-third of the interior of a new M-8 train car has arrived and will be on display at
New Haven/Union Station at the following dates and times:

• Wednesday, May 21, 4 PM – 7 PM
• Thursday, May 22, 5 AM – 8 AM

The mock-up will also be made available to customers at Stamford Station and Grand CentralTerminal. As soon as plans for those two locations are finalized, we will let you know.
The mock-up is 27 feet long by 11-1/2 feet high by 9-1/2 feet deep, and weighs 16,825 pounds.

Inside this stainless steel box is a recreation of an M-8 interior, with its red, beige and yellow color
scheme. Highlights include high-back seating, a distinctive vestibule area, luggage racks, bathroom,
and other amenities.

The M-8 interior also features convenience outlets at every window seat, seat armrests in a loop
style, and enhanced flip-down seating that easily and quickly converts to a spacious wheelchair area.
Customers will note the open, airy and bright feeling, thanks to improved lighting and addition of
curves where possible, giving these cars a distinctive design identity.

After viewing the mock-up, customers will have the opportunity to fill out comment cards.
The M-8 prototypes are scheduled to arrive for testing the second half of 2009. The 300 cars in this
contract will continue to arrive through mid-2012.

We are excited about this new era of rail service on the New Haven Line. Thank you for your continued
patience.”

Originally appeared on: StationStops - Metro-North Train Schedules and NYC Commuting Blog See the original post here: New M-8 Metro-North Railcar Prototype on Display Tommorrow!

Originally appeared on: StationStops - Metro-North Train Schedules and NYC Commuting Blog See the original post here: The Video Where Jodi Rell Is In Earshot Of The New Haven Rail Yard Budget Increase

Today’s Matt Lauer examined the mystery of Track 61 for the Today Show:

Via Trainjotting

Originally appeared on: StationStops - Metro-North Train Schedules and NYC Commuting Blog See the original post here: Track 61 – FDR’s Secret Train Beneath Grand Central Terminal Explored By Today’s Matt Lauer

When it arrives, people will be able to sit in the cars, watch the doors open and close, and be told sternly that they may not bring their bicycle aboard.

Seeings as that the new New Haven Train Yard, which is required to maintain the new cars, is horrifically overbudget and hasnt even been bid on yet, this replica may be the closest thing to a new train car New Haven line passengers can experience for some time to come.

Originally appeared on: StationStops - Metro-North Train Schedules and NYC Commuting Blog See the original post here: New M-8 Metro-North Train Cars For New Haven Line En Route In Replica Form

The accident happened just south of the East Liberty Street crossing, near , as the train headed north to Danbury from Bethel.

Officials say approximately 6-12 people are killed by Metro-North Trains each year as a result of suicide or unsafe behavior.

Originally appeared on: StationStops - Metro-North Train Schedules and NYC Commuting Blog See the original post here: Woman Struck By Metro-North Train In Danbury, Survives