The Long Island Rail Road (LIRR), a commuter rail system in the US state of New York, is set to carry out double track works and other upgrade projects on the main line later this month.
Under the plan, LIRR staff will be deployed across several branches of the system this weekend to carry out essential works on the double track project on the Ronkonkoma Branch and conduct Positive Train Control tests on the Port Washington Branch.
The crew will also carry out rail replacement works on the Atlantic Branch.
LIRR president Phil Eng said: “Planned track work is an essential part of our infrastructure renewal progress, to both keep our system in a state of good repair while embarking on transformative projects that will change the way Long Island gets around.”
The Double Track Project is expected to enhance services and reduce delays during service disruptions on the LIRR’s Ronkonkoma Branch.
Currently, the 18 mile section between Ronkonkoma and Farmingdale has only one track. The service is often disrupted during incidents as the east and westbound trains have no alternative track to circumnavigate a train that could be blocking the track.
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By GlobalDataThe ridership on the Ronkonkoma Branch has also doubled in the last 25 years, furthering the need for expansion.
The doubling of the tracks is also expected to bolster economic activity in the region and improve connectivity to the Long Island MacArthur Airport.
The scope of the double track project works taking place this weekend includes the realignment of existing track at the west end of the existing Central Islip interlocking track; the continuation of track surfacing and installation of signal cables to the west of Central Islip; and installation of new signal huts in Farmingdale.
LIRR is expected to make adjustments to the train schedule to carry out these upgrade works.
