By Ben Fractenberg
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
MANHATTAN—Metro North commuters heading back to Connecticut may soon have no after-work drink to look forward to.
Citing economic concerns, officials said a new set of trains scheduled to replace the aging fleet on the Connecticut line may not include a bar car.
Connecticut department of transportation spokesman Judd Everhart cautioned there has been no official decision yet.
“Right now we are focusing on completing the testing on the pilot cars that have come in,” said Everhart in an email. “…our top priority is adding seats to the New Haven Line, which, as I'm sure you know, is among the busiest commuter lines in the country.”
Supporters of the cars say the bar car and platform vendors made 1.5 million in 2009.
Bar cars have already been taken out of the Long Island Railroad and Metro North lines running north through Westchester.
Connecticut’s commissioner of transportation Joseph F. Marie told The Times the bar cars are still being considered and they have made no final decisions as of yet.
“We know that people love the bar cars and not having them could possibly lessen the appeal of the New Haven Line, but most commuters have to take the line anyway,” said Everhart in the email. “There aren't a lot of alternatives, other than driving your own car into NYC -- and you can't drink when you're driving!”
