Westport Stop Missed; Passengers Dumped in Fairfield

[Jeff Smith]

http://www.westportnow.com/index.php?/v ... nts/39648/

Without mentioning who the crew was, how could something like this happen? There's been no statement yet from MNRR, at least not that I've found on web-site.

UPDATE A Westport-bound rider aboard the 8:04 p.m. out of Grand Central Terminal tonight said passengers are demanding answers from Metro-North Railroad after the train skipped the scheduled Westport stop.

“The train operator stopped at South Norwalk and then proceeded to blow past Westport and did not stop until Fairfield,” said the Westport rider, who requested anonymity, in an email to WestportNow.

“Quite a few passengers -–30 to 40 people—were displaced, and some of them even confronted the train operator who did not apologize or acknowledge his mistake.”

There was no immediate confirmation of the report or comment from Metro-North.

[SecaucusJunction]

You know, if I was an engineer, I think this sort of thing would happen to me too. It's got to be confusing out there remembering which stops you are supposed to make when you are on different trains all the time. Maybe a simple brain fart by the engineer.. I'm not sure what confronting the engineer would have accomplished after it was over. I'd suspect MNRR would allow customers to grab a train back free of charge if this happened.

[Terminal Proceed]

when passengers are carried past their station stop - regardless of the reason, they are always carried back free of charge - provided of course that there is still a train headed in the opposite direction.

[Jeff Smith]

I've been thinking about this, and I hope no one on here was involved. How many of us have missed our exit on the interstate? I'm sure Jimbo will go bat-sh!t crazy about this.

[truck6018]

How many of us have missed our exit on the interstate?

More times than I'd like to admit.

Back to the OP, I wouldn't jump the gun and blame the engineer. Maybe he was instructed to bypass Westport. If that was the case there should have been announcements made. If it was the engineer in error I would think the conductor would have picked up on it. Too many variables than to just outright blame the engineer.

[RearOfSignal]

How many of us have missed our exit on the interstate?

More times than I'd like to admit.

Back to the OP, I wouldn't jump the gun and blame the engineer. Maybe he was instructed to bypass Westport. If that was the case there should have been announcements made. If it was the engineer in error I would think the conductor would have picked up on it. Too many variables than to just outright blame the engineer.

MNR spokesman already stated that the crew was in error for missing the stop.

[TCurtin]

This is almost unbelievable. It harkens back to the New Yorker cartoons you'd see in the 50's and 60's making fun of the deteriorating New Haven Railroad.

[Clean Cab]

It's pretty hard to miss Westport. The track speed in the station is only 40 MPH. Both the engineer and conductor are responsible for ensuring that trains stop where they're supposed to. But, do we know if the train was on a platform track? Or, could it have been misrouted? I'm sure MN will investigate this incident, especially since it has hit the newspapers.

[MP 0.1]

I was on that train. Leaving So. Norwalk, conductor announced "Westport next." We blew through Westport without the slightest speed reduction. No announcements, no attempt to stop in Greens Farm or Southport. At Fairfield the was almost a riot when we finally stopped. We were told that the next train back to Westport would be in 45 minutes. Nothing further, no apology, no real acknowledgment of a serious screw-up.
I am waiting to hear an official explanation from MNRR but I do not expect one. This event exposed an unpleasant side of public transportation agencies and its employees.
This was completely inexcusable. The fact that the train crew kinda sorta pretended it didn't happen makes it worse.

Yeah, yeah, I know, I don't work in the field so I don't know what it's like. Whatever. MNRR has a problem.

[DutchRailnut]

one of bad things about working the extra list, all trains are different. Has it happended to me ?? betya, 3 times in my career.
checking the schedule in its size 9 font is not easy on moving train, even with conductors announcement the engineer may have missed it, that Radio is constantly Squalking.

[MP 0.1]

No issue whatsoever with a guy making a mistake. God knows I do it at work. It's the followup to this incident that concerns me.

[DutchRailnut]

there is no follow up untill they have a hearing or employee statement, no use for MNCR to try to make up a story right ??
so far I can't even find a 804 pm train to New Haven, there is a 8:12 buit what the heck no use for details when it comes to reporting...

[MP 0.1]

MNRR train # 1580 lvs GCT 8:04 PM Arr Westport 9:01. Does not operate 7/3/12, 8/31/12.

Come on, Dutch.

[DutchRailnut]

your right, what the hell I just mis read my timetabe, sh*t happens.

[RearOfSignal]

your right, what the hell I just mis read my timetabe, sh*t happens.

I see what you did there!!!

I've had conductors forget to open doors on arrival at GCT and just walked away. It happens.