As difficult as this year has been, there’s another side to this story that we can’t lose sight of: the progress and success we’ve made at the Long Island Rail Road, delivering critical infrastructure work resulting in improved service delivery for our customers.
Several of the innovations our teams here at LIRR have conceptualized, tested, and executed with success have led the way in the global railroading industry. We know we have to continue to think outside the box and adapt to problems and issues that arise so we can continue to deliver the service our customers deserve, no matter what Mother Nature or a global pandemic throws at us.
The finish line is in sight for Positive Train Control that already covers 98% of LIRR’s 305 route miles. Remaining implementation is in the area between Jamaica and Penn Station which is expected to be finished ahead of schedule before the end of the year. Positive Train Control enhances train safety behind the scenes by reducing the potential for human error to contribute to train-to-train collisions, trains traveling into zones where railroad employees are working on tracks, and other types of accidental mishaps.
Last year we piloted a first-in the-world laser train to combat leaf fall season, which has historically been a major source of delays during autumn. This year we added a second laser train and increased the speeds. In conjunction with our improved pressure washers, we’ve hit record on-time performance figures this fall. So far this year, trains were on time 96% of the time, 3.6 percentage points higher compared to the same period last year. This shows what we’re doing is working.
For more opinions visit longislandpress.com/category/opinions.
