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Riders Disagree With Reports on Commuter Train Timeliness

By Della Hasselle

DNAinfo Reporter/Producer

MANHATTAN — Train officials reported that nearly 96 percent of commuter railroads that enter New York City were on time in 2009. Riders, however, beg to differ.

A recent investigation found that 1 in 10 trains entering Pennsylvania Station were late, and two-thirds of them were 10 minutes late or more, according to the New York Times.

The Times reviewed over 685,000 trips, interviewed the public commuters, and used records previously inaccessible to the public for the report.

The paper found that about 25 percent of the New Jersey Transit trains that came into Manhattan were late, almost half by 15 minutes or more, the Times reported.

Long Island Railroad commuters on the Huntington line also experienced significant delays and were late for 1 out of every 10 trips, the Times reported.

The 125th Street MetroNorth station. Commuters say that the trains aren't as on time as official reports say they are.
The 125th Street MetroNorth station. Commuters say that the trains aren't as on time as official reports say they are.
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DNAinfo/ Carla Zanoni

Train officials did not dispute the numbers cited by the Times report. The paper reported that the disparity in numbers can be chalked up to the way the railroad’s on-time performance is measured, with the off-peak period being given as much weight statistically as the rush hour, when more commuters are using the trains.

Despite the on-time claims made by the railroads, many commuters said they have to factor in extra time on a daily basis in case something goes wrong with the trains.

"Even a minor delay of one train can have a cascading effect on the other trains," Lynn Bowersox, assistant executive director at New Jersey Transit, told the Times.