Thursday midday rail news:
Five MTA employees charged in overtime fraud scheme
Five current and former employees of New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority have been charged for participation in an overtime fraud scheme that made them some of the agency’s highest-paid workers. The New York Times reports acting U.S. attorney Audrey Strauss said the scheme involved claims for “extraordinary, almost physically impossible, amounts of overtime,” and that the Long Island Rail Road and New York City Transit frequently volunteered for overtime and claimed they had worked when they were at home or otherwise away from work — even when on vacation. The five defendants each earned more than $348,000 in 2018, more than the salary of MTA chairman Patrick J. Foye or New York Gov. Andrew M.Cuomo. Thomas Caputo, who retired in 2019, earned more than $461,000 that year, including about $344,000 in overtime. He claimed 3,864 hours of overtime in 2018, or more than 10½ for each day of the year
RATP/Wabtec
Wabtec, Paris transit operator to test braking system that aims to improve air quality
Wabtec and Paris region transit operator RAPT will test Wabtec’s “Green Friction” braking system, which seeks to improve air quality by reducing the number of microparticles emitted from friction braking. “Transit authorities around the world are looking for ways to improve air quality throughout their network and especially in their tunnels,” Lilian Leroux, president of Wabtec’s Transit Business, said in a press release. “One challenge is to offer an innovative new friction material with nearly no particle emissions, while at the same time maintaining performance, durability and safety. Through this partnership, we will demonstrate how our Green Friction solution meets all those requirements and significantly reduces braking emissions.” The technology is expected to reduce particle emissions from friction braking on Paris Metro trains by up to 90%
Amtrak employee injured when hit by train at Washington Union Station
An Amtrak employee in a golf cart used to transport baggage at Washington Union Station was struck by a train and injured Thursday morning, the Washington Post reports. The incident happened about 5 a.m., and the employee was taken to an area trauma center, a D.C. Fire spokesman told the newspaper. No information on the extent of the person’s injuries was available. Amtrak spokeswoman Kimberly Woods said the 21 passengers onboard the train involved were put on another train; no one on the train was injured.
