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Fewer Trains to Travel
March 25, 2010

There will be three fewer trains traveling the tracks on Metro-North's New Haven line. The Metropolitan Transit Authority is battling a $400 million budget shortfall, so it's making cuts to save money. "The first thing you think of is you worry if it's going to be one of your trains that you need, that you use everyday," said Bruce Levene of Hamden.

Starting in June, there will no longer be a Monday through Friday 1:34 p.m. express to New Haven or a 2:33 p.m. express from New Haven. The daily 1:15 a.m. to Stamford is also being discontinued. The MTA says the cuts will impact almost 800 customers. "You're depending on leaving at a certain time, so you make your plans, and if the train gets canceled, you have to change your plans," said Greg Berg of New Haven.

Other train schedules will slide to accommodate passengers, but some travelers worry that could mean extra crowding on those trains. "It obviously makes the commute a lot more difficult, especially if you're traveling over an hour. I know I usually comes from Greenwich to New Haven, so that's kind of a long ride to be jammed-packed," said Rachel Losito.

The MTA is also cutting service for some New York City buses and subways. That means when commuters go into New York, they may have limited options to get them where they need to go.

"If they eliminate the connections, that's very tough on people. I know it, because there are people who rush to and from the train every morning to get whatever they need to get, a van, or a bus, or another train," said Levene.

The MTA is hoping the service cuts will save $93 million a year.

Source :- http://www.nbcconnecticut.com