Dana Rubenstein is reporting for Politico New York U.S. Senators Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand are trying to get Amtrak and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to stop their bickering. In a letter to MTA Chairman Joe Lhota and Amtrak President Richard Anderson dated November 2, the two senators pointed out that New York depends on both organizations to work collaboratively. Specifically Schumer and Gillibrand expressed their concerns about ongoing repairs to Amtrak's Hurricane-Sandy damaged East River tunnels, bringing Metro-North Railroad service to Penn Station by way of the Bronx, and bringing Long Island Rail Road service to a new terminal beneath Grand Central, a project called East Side Access. Despite their interdependency that collaboration has not been Amtrak's and the MTA's strong suit. In October, an MTA official blamed Amtrak for a breakdown in negotiations over a deal to bring Metro-North service to Penn Station, via an existing Amtrak right-of-way in the Bronx. And in May, the two squabbled over Amtrak’s plans to overhaul its Penn Station concourse. Amtrak spokesperson Christina Leeds insisted the two organizations are working together. A spokesperson for the MTA had no immediate comment. Read the full story at Politico New York.