Metro-North, LIRR workers to get sleep apnea tests

NEW YORK (AP) — New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo says conductors and engineers with two commuter railroads will need to undergo testing for sleep apnea after a deadly 2013 derailment caused by a sleeping engineer.

Cuomo says Tuesday the testing will be required at the Long Island Rail Road and the Metro-North.

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority began testing some Metro-North engineers in 2015. Cuomo says that, as a result, some participants were required to undergo treatment for sleep apnea.

The pilot program did not require LIRR engineers to be tested.

In December 2013, a Metro-North engineer with undiagnosed sleep apnea fell asleep at the controls. Four people were killed and dozens injured when the train derailed in the Bronx.