Congresswoman Esty Urges House Hearing On Rail Safety, Reliability

DANBURY, Conn.-- With Metro-North service cut back on the New Haven Line due to a power outage, U.S. Rep. Elizabeth Esty (D- 5th District) is calling for a Congressional hearing to improve railroad safety and reliability.

U.S. Rep. Elizabeth Esty, who represents Danbury in Congress, is calling for a hearing to find ways to improve the reliability of rail travel.
Photo Credit: *File*

Joe Jenkins

09/27/2013 11:00 a.m.

Esty wrote a letter to the chairman and ranking member of the House Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials in the wake of the Con Edison power outage in Mount Vernon, N.Y., that has crippled Metro-North's service along the New Haven Line.

“As the increased ridership along the Northeast Corridor indicates, more and more Americans now look to rail to meet their transit needs,” Esty said in the letter. “It is an engine for economic growth in Connecticut, bearing a terrific return on investment.

"As a member of the Rail Subcommittee, I therefore stand ready and willing to assist in finding expert witnesses capable of identifying the steps we can take to protect against future breakdowns and delays like the one now hampering businesses and workers across the entire region.”

Click here to read Esty's entire letter.

Esty serves on the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure as well as the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials.

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