(Union Switch & Signal issued the following news release on September 12.)
PITTSBURGH, Pa. — MTA Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) has awarded a contract to Union Switch & Signal (US&S) for a vital microprocessor- based signal system for the New Jamaica Interlocking. The contract includes the design of US&S’ MicroLok(R) II system, a microprocessor that controls the complex Jay, Hall and Dunton interlockings. Also included is a PC-based centralized supervisory control system for these interlockings. More than 400 trains pass through these interlockings daily, transporting commuters from Long Island to Manhattan, NY.
For the wayside elements of this project, US&S will furnish engineering and other services to support LIRR’s replacement of existing Model 14 interlocking machines at these interlockings. The new solid-state interlocking system is needed to replace 70-year old equipment.
A key benefit of this modernization program is the expanded event recording and diagnostic capabilities of the combined interlocking system. Test and troubleshooting tasks are simplified in a system having fewer piece- parts and common communications networks. Other benefits include reduced parts count, floor space and concentration of the control networks in a single location.
“The capabilities of MicroLok II, combined with the in-depth experience of the US&S team will ensure timely, successful completion of this project,” said Ken Burk, President and CEO of Union Switch & Signal. “US&S has successfully executed other projects on the LIRR in recent years. LIRR engineering and maintenance personnel have substantial hands-on experience with MicroLok II hardware, and US&S has worked in close partnership with LIRR for several years to develop MicroLok based systems,” Burk said.
The CTC subsystem for the New Jamaica Interlocking will enable independent (local) control from the individual interlocking huts, and it provides the supervisory control functions from a designated Central Control location.
The US&S control system is flexible and highly modular. The system can be easily grown to incorporate new functionality and increases to the size of the control area. Additional workstations can be added to the network without programming changes. The system can be easily modified using the supplied US&S System Configuration Tool, and can support remote backup and data replication over a wide area network for disaster recovery.
The project is scheduled to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2005.
About Union Switch & Signal Inc.
Headquartered in Pittsburgh, PA and with manufacturing operations in Batesburg, SC, Union Switch & Signal Inc. (US&S) is a leader in the design, manufacture and service of signaling, automation and control equipment and systems for the railroad and mass transit industries worldwide. US&S is a subsidiary of Ansaldo Signal N.V., a Finmeccanica company. More information about US&S is available at its website, www.switch.com