Metro-North Railroad Asbestos Exposure & Compensation

Metro-North Railroad, commonly referred to simply as Metro-North, is a major commuter railroad operated by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) that services customers throughout Connecticut and New York. Metro-North employees and local contractors were once frequently exposed to asbestos used in train engines and cars, power equipment, tracks, tunnels, yards, and stations, particularly Grand Central Terminal.

Asbestos exposure is known to cause mesothelioma and some types of lung cancer. Railroad workers who have been diagnosed with mesothelioma or lung cancer should consult with a mesothelioma lawyer who has experience handling railroad cases. Railroad workers are covered by the Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA).

The Connecticut mesothelioma attorneys at Early, Lucarelli, Sweeney & Meisenkothen (ELSM) have extensive experience representing clients who worked at or for Metro-North.

Metro-North Railroad at a Glance

• Metro-North Railroad was formed to operate commuter railroads in the New York metropolitan area and currently operates three lines, the Harlem, Hudson, New Haven and the Port Jervis and Pascack Valley lines are operated by NJ Transit under contract with Metro-North.
• Train equipment, electrical equipment and various materials used around tracks and tunnels contained asbestos. Metro-North employees and contractors that worked aboard trains, repaired equipment, and worked on tracks were frequently exposed to asbestos.
• Due to extensive asbestos issues in Grand Central Terminal, particularly around steam pipes, major asbestos abatement programs have been instituted over time there.
• At least 3 asbestos trust funds, established to compensate mesothelioma victims, recognize Metro-North Railroad as a known asbestos exposure jobsite.
• Current and former Metro-North employees harmed by asbestos exposure on the job may pursue compensation directly from Metro-North under the Federal Employers Liability Act, which allows railroad employees to sue their employer for injuries or death caused by negligence.

Metro-North Railroad Asbestos Exposure

Metro-North serves customers in New York and Connecticut, connecting commuters along three main lines and 124 stations with Grand Central Terminal. Formed in 1983, Metro-North took over operating railroads previously owned by Conrail and Penn Central, which had bought or taken over operations from older railroads. Some of those predecessor railroads had been in operation from the early 1800s.

Metro-North railroad workers and contractors provide a wide range of services, including operating trains, maintaining and repairing train equipment, servicing power supplies, and maintaining tracks, tunnels, and bridges. Each of these roles has come with significant risk of asbestos exposure.

Brake pads, brake linings, clutches, insulation, wiring, and other components in rail cars and engines all once contained asbestos. Conductors and engineers who worked aboard trains could be exposed to asbestos and mechanics who repaired train equipment were frequently exposed to asbestos. The two main yards where Metro-North trains are maintained and serviced are the New Haven Rail Yard adjacent to Union Station and the Harmon Shop in Croton-on-Hudson.

For heat resistance and insulation, electrical equipment that was used to power Metro-North’s electric trains once contained significant amounts of asbestos. Electricians and linemen who installed and repaired lines, panels, wires, switches, and other components were exposed to asbestos. Electricians frequently worked in the M42 sub-basement of Grand Central Terminal.

Metro-North also employs and contracts with many different tradesmen to build and maintain their tracks, tunnels, and bridges. Tradesmen regularly inhaled significant amounts of asbestos dust while working with and around insulation, pipe covering, and gaskets, particularly in the tunnels leading into Manhattan and Grand Central Terminal.

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High-Risk Occupations at Metro-North Railroad

Some of the many occupations at Metro-North with a high risk of asbestos exposure, and later asbestos-related disease, include but are not limited to:

Secondary Asbestos Exposure

When workers were exposed to asbestos at Metro-North, asbestos dust could travel home with them on their clothing and in their hair. Loved ones who greeted the workers at home or who laundered their clothes could breathe in the same asbestos particles that the workers did leading to asbestos-related disease diagnoses later in life. Compensation is also available for those victims that were exposed to second-hand asbestos.

The air was very dusty because there was no ventilation, there wasn’t even a window down there. The dust came from the walls and the insulation. Welder’s Helper at Metro-North
Recalling his work in Grand Central Station, 1980s

Asbestos Products Used at Metro-North Railroad

Below is a list of some of the many products found on Metro-North trains and along tracks that contained asbestos:

Compensation for Metro-North Employees and Contractors Diagnosed with Mesothelioma

ELSM Law has extensive experience representing Metro-North and other railroad workers with their mesothelioma lawsuits or for other asbestos-related diseases due, at least in part, to exposure to asbestos while working at Metro-North. Railroad workers who are harmed from occupational exposure to asbestos are covered by the Federal Employers Liability Act, their equivalent of workers’ compensation.

Mesothelioma compensation may also be sought from the many companies whose products were used on Metro-North trains or on and around their tracks. If those companies are still solvent, a lawsuit may be filed against each company whose products the injured party can prove caused their exposure. If those companies are bankrupt, claims can be filed with the trust fund of each company whose products exposed the worker.

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Asbestos Trust Funds

ELSM Law has databases of asbestos products, jobsites, and qualifying occupations to help determine eligibility for mesothelioma claim submission.

The following list of bankrupt companies with established asbestos trusts include Grand Central Terminal as a jobsite match.

Asbestos Lawsuits

The mesothelioma attorneys at ELSM Law work to maximize financial recovery for their clients while also requiring as little of their clients’ time as possible during the litigation process. Their priority is ensuring clients can focus on treatment and quality of life. A Metro-North asbestos lawsuit will likely be filed in Connecticut or New York. In most lawsuits, only a deposition detailing work history at sites where asbestos exposure occurred will be necessary. In the rare case that a jury trial is needed to obtain compensation, ELSM has a history of securing some of the highest mesothelioma settlements and trial verdicts.

Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA)

Railroad workers are covered for on-the-job injuries by the Federal Employers Liability Act, including latent asbestos-related diseases. Under this act, unlike with most other workers’ compensation claims, former or current Metro-North employees can sue Metro-North Railroad directly if they have been diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease connected to their time spent working at Metro-North. It is important to understand that a retired or former Metro-North employee can still file a FELA claim for mesothelioma or lung cancer, even if they worked at another job after their time at Metro-North.