(The Associated Press circulated the following on April 29, 2010.)
NEW YORK — About a dozen new, smaller diesel trains have been approved for the Long Island Rail Road.
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority gave the green to spend $78 million to buy the trains for LIRR branches served by diesel engines.
But commuters will have to wait until at least 2014 to see the new trains They will largely serve areas with lighter ridership.
The trains are part of the MTA’s $26 billion, 5-year capital plan that was approved on Wednesday.
The LIRR’s existing diesel trains have been plagued with problems for years. Specially prone to breakdowns are the trains that switch between diesel and electric power. The new trains will not replace the older models.