Despite Woes, Metro-North Ridership Hit Record Levels In Fairfield County

FAIRFIELD COUNTY, Conn. -- Metro-North's ridership, including in Fairfield County, was the highest in its history in 2013, despite growing safety and infrastructure concerns and rising fares, according to a release.

Ridership on Metro-North trains is up despite a rocky year for the transit system.
Photo Credit: *File*

by Eric Gendron

02/03/2014 4:30 a.m.

Metro-North served 81.8 million total rides last year on the three lines east of the Hudson River. That was a 0.7 percent increase, topping the previous record year of 2008.

The New Haven Line was up 0.5 percent and recorded its highest ridership ever in 2013, carrying 38,975,052 customers. That was an increase of more than 1 million annual rides since 2008, and 175,000 more than in 2012, the previous record year when the line carried approximately 38.8 million customers.

During the past year, commutation ridership grew 1.8-percent, while non-commutation ridership decreased 1 percent from the previous year.

Metro-North President Howard Permut retired amid the growing controversies at the end of January.

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