Metro-North says it will continue aggressive track maintenance plans through 2015

Written by Jenifer Nunez, assistant editor
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Metro-North Railroad

Metro-North is starting 2015 with rebuilding efforts and attention to major safety initiatives. The track improvements that defined 2014 are moving along and the railroad also expects continued progress as the last of the 405 M-8 cars are placed into service on the New Haven Line this spring.

 

“Numerous safety initiatives, both implemented and underway and our ongoing, aggressive track maintenance program are paying off as reliability increases, slowly but surely,” railroad President Joseph Giulietti told the Metro-North Committee of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority Board. “It is critical that we bring our infrastructure to a state of good repair and that we continue to focus each and every employee on the importance of safety as our core value.”

The railroad achieved record ridership in 2014 carrying a projected 84.7 million customers, higher than the previous record of 83.6 million set in 2008 and a 1.4 percent increase over 2013.

Giulietti also announced on-time performance goals for 2015 of 93 percent for trains operating in the A.M. and P.M. peaks and 92 perent for off-peak trains. The slightly lower goal for off-peak and weekends acknowledges that this is when most trackwork is performed. In 2014, Metro-North achieved an overall on-time performance of 91.5 percent.

Highlights of Metro-North’s track program in 2014 included replacing 42,500 crossties on all three lines, re-surfacing of 83 miles of track, drainage improvements and the installation of 24 new switches. Three highway grade crossings were renewed, workers replaced 7,000 feet of continuous welded rail on six curves on the Hudson Line and 4,700 feet of rail on three curves on the New Haven Line. Steel repairs were made to four under grade bridges and timber bridge decks were replaced on nine bridges east and west of the Hudson River. Additionally, new timber ties, continuous welded rail, new miter rails and presence detectors were installed at the Walk Bridge, in Norwalk, Conn., and new timber ties were installed at the Devon Bridge in Milford, Conn., and at the Harlem River Lift Bridge, that connects Manhattan and the Bronx.

In 2015, Metro-North will continue to clean or replace foul ballast throughout the territory and will create a new gang that focuses solely on drainage improvements. Another specialty track gang will be created to replace ties in areas that are difficult in which to work, such as interlockings and adjacent to station platforms.

Also on tap is the installation of eight miles of continuous welded rail, replacement of eight grade crossings in Connecticut and installation of fiberglass brackets and channels to support new aluminum third rail that will be installed in targeted locations.

 

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