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

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.