Passengers' Friend

To mark its 125th birthday this year, the Long Island Rail Road, busiest U.S. commuter line, decided to spruce up its grimy face and its public image. Last week the railroad's coaches sported the latest evidence of its campaign: a gay new insignia to replace the drab, 100-year-old L.I. in a circle. The insignia: a red, yellow and blue emblem showing a harried commuter rushing to catch a train, eyes glued to his watch and hand gripping a briefcase and umbrella. The new insignia for "The Route of the Dashing Commuter," is designed to humanize the Long Island, point up the fact that 98% of the time it now gets passengers to their destinations on schedule.

Such improvements are part of a $65 million rehabilitation program. The road, now in the black after years of heavy losses, considers the commuter a valued customer--in contrast to many railroads (e.g., the New Haven and the N.Y. Central) that treat him as an unnecessary evil. The Long Island has repainted 140 of its 160 stations, 75 of them in colors selected by the commuters who use them, has modernized hundreds of its coaches. For the road, which once stirred only wrath from commuters, the program has caused "an impressive improvement in relations between the railroad and its riders."

This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so reader's discretion is required.