A panel convened by New York's Metropolitan Transportation Authority says Metro-North Railroad has sacrificed safety for on-time performance in recent years.
The report released Wednesday echoes an assessment conducted earlier this year by the Federal Railroad Administration.
Metro-North drew scrutiny after a string of accidents including a December 2013 derailment in the Bronx that killed four riders.
Officials at the railroad that connects New York City to its northern suburbs and Connecticut have said they are working to improve safety.
The MTA panel examined safety and maintenance practices at the Long Island Rail Road and New York City's subway system as well as Metro-North.
The panel says the safety culture at LIRR and New York City Transit is "performing fairly well."
It says that's apparently not the case at Metro-North.
