rural Metro North

Why are some parts of Metro North's network so rural and far from NYC?

Because those communities commute to NYC; Commuter railroad is in the name.

New York is an expensive place to live. Generally, the closer to the City, the more expensive. Plus, some folks who work in New York City want to escape the city confines and have room to breathe. There are people who drive to Wassaic from Massachusetts to commute.

Metro North took over commuter railroads , transportation within New york city limits was never its intend .
Metro North is a railroad, not a subway system.
The MTA service area is any county within a 75 mile radius .

Their network extends further from NYC than most other US commuter railroads.

did you read what I posted?

The New Haven mainline certainly isn't rural! In fact, it goes through multiple major residental/job centers. (NYc, New Rochelle, Stamford, Norwalk, Bridgeport, and New Haven)

railgeekteen wrote:Their network extends further from NYC than most other US commuter railroads.

Because NYC has a bigger metropolitan area than most other cities,

Are there areas beyond 75Miles that MN operates? Or that would make sense for them? Shoreline East operates beyond 75 miles and is contracted from CT to Amtrak, right?

Traingeek3629 wrote:The New Haven mainline certainly isn't rural! In fact, it goes through multiple major residental/job centers. (NYc, New Rochelle, Stamford, Norwalk, Bridgeport, and New Haven)

Basically you were asking why they bother running north of Southeast and to Danbury and Waterbury...Jeff and Jaap answered you - and to add to that...IT'S WAY CHEAPER than living in Stamford, etc.

NEXT!