Metro-North to inspect all M4 railroad cars
Metro-North officials say they'll soon start inspections of the M4 railroad cars, which are the second-oldest cars in the 342-car fleet. Metro-North has about 100 of the M4 cars, which have logged an estimated 2 million miles in their 20 years of use.
The inspections will be of the rail car trucks, which is the structure under the car that holds the wheels. Metro-North officials say they'll be looking for any developing weaknesses or metal fatigue in the cars.
The railroad has not had specific problems with the M4 trucks, but given their age and heavy use, Metro-North officials want to determine their life expectancy, spokesman Dan Brucker said.
"We want to see if they're developing any weaknesses, metal fatigue, stresses or anything that could result in a failure," Brucker said.
The oldest Metro-North cars are the M2s, which are more than 30 years old. Many of the M2 cars have been refurbished, but most are marked for removal once the M8 cars are built and put in service by the end of next year, state Department of Transportation officials have said.
The state purchased 54 M4 cars in 1987 to add to the M2 fleet. The state bought 48 M6 cars a few years later.
It's too early to say whether the M4 cars may be considered unfit once the next generation of rail cars come into service, Brucker said.
The railroad has inspected older cars on the Hudson Line and Harlem Line fleets in New York, but it is the first time it will be done on the New Haven Line, Brucker said.
"I'm pleased the railroad is being so proactive given the age of the fleet, one of the oldest in the nation," said Jim Cameron, chairman of the Connecticut Rail Commuter Council.
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