We're Watching: Cameras Coming to Metro-North Trains

Facing ongoing pressure from federal officials, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority is moving to implement measures to make the railroad safer and on Wednesday it announced one way it is doing that: installing cameras on trains.

MTA, which operates Metro-North and Long Island Railroad, made the announcement about a week after the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) released the findings of its Deep Dive investigation. That report, kicked off in part in response to a derailment in December that killed five people, shed light on what U.S. Sen. Chuch Schumer (D-NY) characterized as "a severely lacking culture of safety at the railroad." 

The installation of cameras — both inside and outside trains — is expected to be useful in post-accident investigations and also deter unsafe passenger behavior, according to a report on CBS New York's website.  

The MTA gave no timeline for when cameras could start showing up on trains. 

“I welcome this step – responding to my repeated calls for such cameras – even if long overdue and lacking in deadlines," said U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT). "I urge Metro-North to provide a date certain for installing the cameras – and continue to urge the FRA to order them.”