Metro-North: Looming regional rail champ?

With a focus on ridership beyond traditional “commuter” flows, MTA Metro-North Railroad has slowly built its clientele up in its 28-year history. And while it has already notched the “most riders” title for one or two months recently, it now stands poised to become the largest U.S. regional passenger railroad in 2012, surpassing its sister Long Island Rail Road, the perennial champion.

Ridership growth of 2.1% on the Metro-North’s New Haven Line from January through May helped push Metro-North past the LIRR’s ridership totals for the period, according to figures prepared for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s Board of Directors. LIRR ridership declined 1.5% during the period compared with 2010.

“Metro-North’s consistent growth goes hand in hand with steady improvements in service, both in frequency, efficiency, and reliability,” Metro-North spokeswoman Marjorie Anders said. “With an on-time performance of 98%, our customers know they can rely on Metro-North.”

LIRR spokesman Salvatore Arena, by contrast, said the LIRR’s decline is due to lingering recessionary forces that have affected Long Island more severely, as well as winter weather impacts.

For 2012, Metro-North predicts its three East-of Hudson River lines, the New Haven, Harlem, and Hudson, will provide 81.9 million rides, beating out Long Island Rail Road’s projected 81.5 million rides. Metro-North also provides service west of the Hudson River to New York points on the Port Jervis and Pascack Valley lines, which originate at Hoboken Terminal in New Jersey.