The Long Island Rail Road Signal Strategy and its joint effort with New York City Transit on communication-based train control

Abstract

In June, 1997, MTA Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) completed its Signal Strategy, which is a 16 year, $700 Million plan to improve both the condition of its signaling and its suitability to supporting service demands. It addresses both short- and long-term issues regarding safety, reliability, cost, functionality and performance. In the long-term, the plan is heavily dependent on communication-based train control (CBTC) because of its potential benefits. Given the resultant need for the LIRR to assume an aggressive role in promoting the development of CBTC, and the MTA New York City Transit (NYCT) concurrent initiative to install it on its Canarsie Line, a joint effort was conceived to secure benefits for both MTA agencies through synergy and averting the duplication of effort. A fundamental characteristic of CBTC is its inherent capability for exchange of critical data between trains and the wayside. This characteristic will make possible expanded functionality that has not been possible previously. The preferred technical communication medium is spread spectrum radio due to its robustness, capacity and suitability to physical conditions such as site availability.