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Metro-North commuters can breathe a sigh of relief, at least until December. State Transportation Commissioner Jeffrey A. Parker assured the Connecticut Rail Commuter Council that fares on the New Haven line would not increase "until the M-8 cars go into service," according to published reports. He said the first of the new cars could begin running by the end of December.
In 2009, the General Assembly approved a 1.25 percent fare increase, slated to start Jan. 1, 2010. But the DOT has yet to put the hike into effect. It first must hold public hearings, which it has not scheduled.
Starting in 2005, the state struck a deal with the Japanese company Kawasaki for 300 M-8 cars costing $760 million. The state has the option to buy 80 more cars for about $200 million. The new cars will have similar exteriors and seat plans as the current version, but will feature more space, brighter lights and larger windows.
The Rail Commuter Council also asked about the fate of a classic feature -- the bar car. Kawasaki did not originally design a version for the M-8 models, but a Commuter Council survey found that 90 percent of commuters wanted the service to continue. Rail Administrator Eugene J. Colonese told the council he planned to modify seven of Kawasaki's cars. He said this was the cheaper alternative to having the company design and build new versions.
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