Eric Amaker

Metro-North Railroad

Founded in 1983 when the MTA assumed control of Conrail commuter operations in the states of New York and Connecticut, Metro-North Railroad's roots can be traced back to the New York & Harlem Railroad, which began in 1832 as a horse-car line in lower Manhattan. Today, with 384 route miles and 775 miles of track, Metro-North's territory covers seven counties in New York State--Dutchess, Putnam, Westchester, Bronx, New York (Manhattan), Rockland, and Orange-and two counties in the state of Connecticut--New Haven and Fairfield. Three main lines east of the Hudson River--the Hudson, the Harlem, and the New Haven -- operate out of Grand Central Terminal in New York City. Two lines west of the Hudson River--the Port Jervis and the Pascack Valley--operate out of New Jersey Transit's terminal in Hoboken, N.J., and connect with service out of Penn Station, NY via the Secaucus Transfer. The Hudson Line extends 74 miles from Grand Central Terminal to Poughkeepsie; the Harlem, 82 miles to Wassaic; and the New Haven, which also has three branch lines--the New Canaan, Danbury, and Waterbury--72 miles to New Haven. The Port Jervis Line runs 95 miles from Hoboken to Port Jervis, with 30 of those miles in New Jersey; the Pascack Valley Line extends 31 miles from Hoboken to Spring Valley, 25 of those miles being in New Jersey. Total square mileage of the service territory is approximately 2,701 miles. The railroad also manages the Hudson Rail Link feeder bus service in the Bronx, and The Haverstraw-Ossining and Newburgh-Beacon ferries, all of which connect with the Hudson Line.