Connecticut Senator Richard Blumenthal has stepped into the controversy over inadequate train service on the Hartford line. He’s demanding answers from Amtrak over capacity issues on the new commuter line.
Passengers on the Hartford line who hold CTrail or UPass tickets have been asked on at least two occasions this fall to exit trains operated by Amtrak because of overcrowding -- a situation highlighted in recent reporting by Connecticut Public Radio.
Citing the radio station’s work, Senator Blumenthal has now written to Amtrak’s president and CEO, Richard Anderson, to express his concern over the situation.
In his letter, the senator urges Amtrak to work with the Connecticut Department of Transportation to find immediate and long term solutions to the overcrowding.
He also raises concern about recent track work on Shoreline East, which has led to delays and cancelations that he says have left passengers stranded, sometimes for hours.
Immediate solutions are needed after troubling reports indicate Amtrak isn’t holding up their deal to cross-honor CTrail & U-Pass tickets. Track work & locomotive maintenance backlog is also causing unacceptable delays & cancelations. Amtrak step up! CT commuters rely on you. pic.twitter.com/cavHUTzDIG
— Richard Blumenthal (@SenBlumenthal) November 9, 2018
He says in the letter that building commuter participation will be impossible if people cannot rely on timely access to trains.
Blumenthal asks Amtrak to provide to his office by December 7, documentation on how it intends to resolve the issues.
