Metro-North Logs Another Banner Year For Ridership, LIRR Loses Riders
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork / AP) - 82 million passengers rode Metro-North Railroad in 2011.
WCBS 880's Marla Diamond On The Story
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That's a 1.4 percent increase over 2010.
Ken Miller of Cortlandt Manor is one of them.
"The whole idea is to get people on the train. Then increase the number of seating. If that means adding an extra car, add it," he said.
1010 WINS' Terry Sheridan reports
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The MTA has made a pledge to get everyone on Metro-North and the Long Island Rail Road a seat.
Gary Balonia's morning train from Stamford is pretty crowded.
"But there are seats available. A lot of times, people say there are no seats, but they're reluctant to take the middle seat. So, all in all, not so bad," he told WCBS 880 reporter Marla Diamond.
Another pledge from the MTA is better communications with customers during delays or disruptions.
The ridership record was set in 2008, with 83.6 million riders.
Meanwhile, the LIRR has steadily been losing riders and is no longer the nation's largest commuter railway, which is now Metro-North.
LIRR ridership dropped from 81.4 million in 2010 to 81 million in 2011.
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