Extremely limited LIRR train service Oct. 23-24, Nov. 6-7 for signal cutover

The MTA Long Island Rail Road is advising its customers October 23-24, and November 6-7, there will be extremely limited LIRR service, especially between Jamaica Station and Penn Station, as the LIRR cuts over to a modern signal and switching control system at Jamaica. During these weekends, the LIRR recommends customers use the LIRR for essential business travel only 


The only branches with
direct service to and from Penn Station during the two cutover weekends are the
Port Washington Branch on the north shore, and the Babylon and Long Beach
branches on the south shore. All other LIRR branches have significant changes
that will require many customers to use the "E" subway service for travel between
Jamaica and Penn stations. Customers on some branches – Huntington/Port
Jefferson, Oyster Bay, Hempstead and Ronkonkoma (only during the overnight)
will have to take buses for a portion of their trip. During these two weekends,
there will be no LIRR train service between Jamaica and Atlantic Terminal.
Customers traveling for recreational purposes during this period should
consider alternate transportation. 


During the cutover, train
movement through Jamaica Station will be limited to two tracks (one track east
and one track west). Routes will be limited through Jamaica resulting in the
ability to move three trains per hour in each direction from the south shore
only. Normally, the LIRR operates 2 to 3 times more weekend trains through
Jamaica from 10 of its 11 branches. As a result, buses and subway service will
replace LIRR trains. Because of the route restrictions, train service will also
bypass some LIRR stations. 




 The new signal system
upgrade will bring state-of-the-art computerized microprocessor technology to
Jamaica’s critical switching area and centralizes the switching and signal
control from three existing signal towers at Jamaica – including Hall Tower
where the switching board was damaged by a major fire in August that disrupted
service. 

"This project will help us get ready for the future and continue our
ongoing effort to modernize the LIRR’s most critical signal and switching
systems," said LIRR President Helena E. Williams. "The August fire at Jamaica
underscored the need for this upgrade and we ask for customer’s patience during
these two weekends. The work will help ensure reliability of train service
going forward." 



The more than 1,000 tests
of the new equipment during the cutover require these weekend service
reductions. 

The Jamaica Signal cutover project consists of installing a new
microprocessor technology signal system in the three interlockings (signal and
switching areas) that control train movement through Jamaica. These three
interlockings are called Jay, Dunton and Hall. Upon completion of the project –
which requires two 48-hour weekend service disruptions – signals and switches
will be controlled from one facility, Jamaica Central Control; instead of the
three towers located in each of these interlockings.

The project brings
state-of-the-art technology to this critical LIRR location by replacing the
1910’s-era electro-mechanical Model 14 Interlocking Machines at the three
towers with a modern microprocessor based system. The new more reliable system
will increase operational flexibility for the large volume of trains that pass
through this area, helping to reduce customer delays. The new system also will
provide redundant signal control systems and will allow for quicker recovery
time in the event of a power surge, or lightning storm or fire-related service
disruption like the one experienced in August 2010 when high voltage power
entered the signal system and damaged the wiring to the signal control board in
Jamaica’s Hall Tower. 

The train directors, presently located in three towers,
will be located at in a single office that provides them with the ability to
communicate face to face in real time instead of by telephone. The overview
board will allow all the train directors to see the train movements as they are
being made in other parts of the complex – enabling them to plan for changes in
real time. This will allow for improved planning and coordination of train
movements in this very dynamic operation. 

The cost of the project is
approximately $56 million. Funding is provided by the MTA Capital Program.

With the reduced train
movement through Jamaica Station during the cutover weekends, the LIRR will
also use this time to perform right-of-way clean-up in the areas surrounding
Hall Tower (to the east of Jamaica) and Jay Tower (to the west of Jamaica). On October
23, specialized track equipment will be used to perform this clean-up of the
Jamaica Station tracks and surrounding areas in Jamaica between 6 a.m. and 2
p.m.