Long Island Rail Road customers are advised that during two weekends in the fall - 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, N.Y. As a result of the extremely limited service, the LIRR advises that only customers traveling for essential business - such as first responders (police, fire) and service employees with no other alternatives - should use the LIRR during these two weekends. Customers traveling for recreational purposes during this period should consider travel on the Port Washington Branch or other travel alternatives.

During the two cutover weekends, many customers will need to take the "E" subway line service between Jamaica and Penn Station.

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 last month 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. "Last month's 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."

Extensive testing of the new equipment requires these weekend service reductions, including no train service between Mineola and Jamaica Station, no train service between Queens Village and Jamaica and no train service between Jamaica Station and Atlantic Terminal. LIRR train service on all branches will be significantly affected, except for the Port Washington Branch.

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 those experienced last month when high voltage power entered the signal system and damaged the wiring to the signal control board in Jamaica's Hall Tower.

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

During the cutover, train movement through Jamaica Station will be limited to two tracks (one track east and one track west).