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Schumer and Blumenthal also expressed concerns about the latest in a long line of incidents regarding Metro-North.
“This morning’s horrific incident is the latest in a string of collisions, derailments, deaths, and service outages, that have raised serious questions – both in the long and short term – about the culture of safety at Metro-North," the senators said in a joint statement. "The federal transportation agencies, which are responsible for setting the gold standard in safety, need to be leading the charge to get these questions answered, because it is clear that the safety solutions Metro-North has voluntarily implemented are insufficient."
James Romansoff, 58, of Yonkers, was killed about 12:54 a.m. Monday, when a northbound Harlem Line train struck him on an elevated stretch of track at East 106th Street and Park Avenue in Manhattan, according to New York Daily News.
"We extend our deepest condolences to Mr. Romansoff’s family, friends, and coworkers today," the senators added in the statement.
The National Transportation Safety Board has opened an investigation into the accident, with a team of three investigators en route to New York City, it announced via Twitter.
The Hudson Line train had departed Grand Central Terminal at 12:47 a.m. en route to Poughkeepsie, the paper reported.
“I send my condolences to the friends, family, and colleagues of the Metro North worker killed early this morning as he repaired a track in East Harlem," said U.S. Rep. Jim Himes, D-Conn. "The safety problems at Metro North are a matter of life and death, for both passengers and employees, and the culture that allows these frequent mistakes cannot continue.
"I spent my morning meeting with commuters at the train station. They are frustrated and worried. I am eager to see Metro North’s new leadership bring the change necessary to make this essential transportation system safe and reliable.”
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