Metro-North Conductor Writes Letter Of Apology To Riders After Mix-Up

HARTFORD, Conn. (CBSNewYorkAP) -- A Metro-North Railroad conductor has apologized to passengers after instructing them to wait for a train that never showed up.

On Friday, Michael Shaw, who runs the New Haven to Grand Central route, told passengers at four Connecticut stations to wait on the platform for an express train that, unbeknownst to him, was canceled, WCBS 880's Fran Schneidau reported.

"I felt really bad about it all weekend long and I was trying to figure out a way to apologize to them," Shaw told 1010 WINS.

He ended up writing a letter of apology to his riders and placing 500 copies on railcar seats Monday morning.

"I said, 'I'm as tired of apologizing as you are of hearing the apologies,'" Shaw told Schneidau.

Shaw said the feedback he received was tremendous.

"I got a bunch of handshakes, a bunch compliments, one guy hugged me, which was a little uncomfortable, but it was still fine," Shaw said. "People really appreciated it, they felt it wasn't really my fault, but I told them that it is my fault."

Jim Cameron, a commuter advocate, said it's the first time he can remember a conductor apologizing in writing for Metro-North problems, but Shaw said he won't be leaving any more apology notes in the future.

"It's actually against policy, so I probably would never do it again and I don't think anybody else will either," Shaw said.

A spokeswoman said Metro-North does not condone Shaw's letter and that the railroad communicates schedule changes.

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