New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced the completion of the Long Island Rail Road double track more than a year ahead of schedule, which adds 21-km track between Farmingdale and Ronkonkoma, a section which carries 48,000 riders every weekday.
“After 70 years of stagnation we are investing USD 6.6 billion in 100 projects to completely transform the LIRR and improve service, and the completion of the new Double Track demonstrates our commitment to delivering results. The LIRR is the lifeblood of the region’s economy and projects like the double track and third track will help support future growth and vastly improve riders’ experience on the busiest commuter rail in the country,” Governor Cuomo said.
The double track project also includes a new signal system, electrical substation modifications and new third rail electrical systems that will power the new track’s trains. At the same event, the Governor Cuomo also announced the official opening of a new and fully accessible Wyandanch Station along the new double track.
The double track allows the LIRR to begin offering substantial reverse peak service on the Ronkonkoma Line in the mornings and evenings for the first time. The new infrastructure will enhance train reliability by allowing dispatchers flexibility to route trains around problems that may arise. The double track project added 21 km of new track to an already existing 8-km stretch of previously unused track, totaling 29 km.
The first trains are entering the new double track region more than a year ahead of the original construction schedule, which was accelerated in 2016 at Governor Cuomo’s direction.
Early completion of the project will free up LIRR resources for other projects in support of LIRR’s expansion and modernization like east side access, the main line third track, and the Mid-Suffolk Train storage yard. Commuters can look forward to improvements at 39 stations throughout Long Island which will include amenities such as free public Wi-Fi, USB charging ports, bicycle racks, and customer information system.
Share on:
