The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) in the US has completed major signalling upgrade works in Harold Interlocking at Sunnyside, Queens.
The completion of the upgrade works is expected to bring better services on the New York commuter rail system Long Island Rail Road (LIRR). At the same time, it will also facilitate the start of the final East Side Access construction contract, which is scheduled to start later this year.
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The new microprocessor-based signal system has been broken across different locations throughout the interlocking due to the problems encountered with the previous version, where the routing of trains over all the switches and tracks in the region was managed from a single location.
As a result of the upgrade, any failure can be restricted into the respective location without disrupting the entire interlocking.
LIRR Main Line 4 has also been placed in its final position to offer a better connecting route.
Around $1.5bn has been invested for Harold Interlocking works as part of the East Side Access project, which involves the replacement of major railroad infrastructure for Amtrak and LIRR. The overall programme aims to enhance regular operations, as well as increase the capacity of the interlocking.
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By GlobalDataMTA chief development officer Janno Lieber said: “When East Side Access goes into service, there will be for the first time an alternate route into and out of Manhattan for commuters, allowing Amtrak to fix the existing East River Tunnels that were badly damaged during Superstorm Sandy.
“Fortunately, this project is much closer to the finish line than Gateway and will become operational in 2022.”
