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'Overcrowding' to no longer be used as excuse for late NYC trains

As part of an overhaul of how information and train delays are collected and reported, officials will use the data to speed up slow trains.

June 19, 2018
'Overcrowding' to no longer be used as excuse for late NYC trains

Byford told the Daily News that the term “overcrowding” is a misrepresentation and misnomer, that the MTA is in the midst of a repair blitz to fix aging equipment that causes major commuting headaches, and that the agency plans to take on the small hiccups that and slowdowns that impact service.

Elliot Scott

1 min to read


Byford told the Daily News that the term “overcrowding” is a misrepresentation and misnomer, that the MTA is in the midst of a repair blitz to fix aging equipment that causes major commuting headaches, and that the agency plans to take on the small hiccups that and slowdowns that impact service. Elliot Scott

NEW YORK — In an interview with the Daily News, NYC Transit President Andy Byford said he and his team are ditching the “overcrowding” category in an overhaul of how information on train delays is collected and reported. Byford said officials will use the data to speed up slow trains and fix spotty service, cutting down on the number of late trains.

Byford told the Daily News that the term “overcrowding” is a misrepresentation and misnomer, that the MTA is in the midst of a repair blitz to fix aging equipment that causes major commuting headaches, and that the agency plans to take on the small hiccups that and slowdowns that impact service. For the full story, click here.


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