Metro

Metro-North boss on train mess: We screwed up

Metro North’s chief engineer admitted today that the railroad fell behind on track inspection and maintenance before a train derailment in Connecticut injured dozens of people.

Robert Puciloski, who testified in the Washington, D.C. hearing on two Metro North accidents in the spring, testified that they had fallen behind on their schedule to replace ties and resurface tracks.

“We were behind in several areas of our programs, and tie cycles and surfacing are two of these areas, as well as other programs,” he said. “I can’t give you an answer as to why we got so far behind.”

He said that Metro North has since overhauled its track operations, as well as how they conduct maintenance.

A passenger train derailed on May 17, and was hit by another train in Bridgeport, causing $18.5 million in damage and injuring 51 people.

Eleven days later, a track foreman was killed on the New Haven line in West Haven, Connecticut.

“Our goal is that through our investigations, our findings and recommendations, we can prevent similar tragedies in the future,” said Deborah A.P. Hersman, chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board, which is investigating the accidents.