Senator Charles Schumer is calling for federal transportation officials to conduct an investigation into how extreme heat has increasingly been causing delays in the region's subway and commuter rail systems.
“It is clear that high temperatures have a devastating effect on our transit system, and we need to look at ways to mitigate that, just as we are doing with storms and floods,” Schumer said in a statement released Sunday. “This month alone, New York and New Jersey have experienced at least three heat-related train issues and with commuters paying so much in transit costs, these delays and derailments need to be avoided as much as possible."
On July 18 a portion of Metro-North's Hudson line was suspended when a freight train hauling garbage derailed, causing delays Friday and through the weekend.
For two days last week Metro North also announced unrelated delays between New Haven and Grand Central because of restrictions required for its electric-powered trains when temperatures rise above 90 degrees.
On July 17 malfunctioning power lines caused delays on New Jersey Transit and Amtrak, holding up thousands of commuters heading home from Penn Station.
Schumer is urging the Federal Department of Transportation, in cooperation with the Transportation Research Board and the National Transportation Safety Board, to analyze how climate change is affecting railroad infrastructure.
