The Connecticut Democrat called it a shameful record that shows an urgent need for immediate attention to safety and reliability.
There were 139 violations since 2004, Blumenthal said, citing data he received from the Federal Railroad Administration. He said per 100 miles of track, Metro-North had five times the number of safety defects than any other commuter railroad in the country.
A message left Friday morning with Metro-North seeking comment wasn't immediately returned. A spokeswoman said earlier this month that Metro-North generally does better during federal inspections than most railroads.
The railroad had two derailments last year, one in New York City that left four passengers dead and one in Bridgeport that injured dozens. It carried more than 83.4 million riders between New York City and its suburbs last year.
"While not every reported defect is a serious safety threat, the magnitude of violations is deeply troubling," Blumenthal said. "The pertinence and practical importance of these defects is staggeringly clear. One of the most serious failings - broken or cracked joint bars, loose rail braces and missing bolts - almost certainly caused the Bridgeport derailment and collision, which resulted in more than 70 injuries and paralyzed the regional economy."
Of the 139 violations, 60 involved accident reporting; 11 were alcohol and drug violations; 27, passenger equipment safety standards; 14, railroad operating practices; 3, roadway worker protection; and 5, track safety standards, Blumenthal said.
He criticized the FRA for not imposing steeper fines or stepping up its enforcement until last year despite a spike in violations five years earlier.
"These fines are shocking in sheer frequency, but what is frankly incomprehensible and unacceptable is the Federal Railroad Administration's inexplicable failure to do its job and demand changes and improvements as these defects and fines mounted," Blumenthal said.
A message left Friday morning with the FRA seeking comment wasn't immediately returned.
The FRA said in a report to Congress last month that Metro-North allowed safety to erode while pushing to keep its trains on time. The agency ordered the railroad to immediately "prioritize safety above all else" and required Metro-North to submit plans of action within 60 days.
Metro-North President Joseph Giulietti, who took office after the Bronx derailment, said last month that the report was "deeply troubling and it raises real concerns."
"Safety was not the top priority," he said. "It must be, and it will be. ... Every problem I have seen here can be fixed and will be fixed." He said "aggressive actions" were already underway, including a program that would allow workers to make confidential calls raising safety issues.
