MTA Long Island Rail Road President Helena Williams was joined by elected and public officials for a demonstration and a dedication ceremony today for the Railroad’s new $25.5 million train wash facility located in the Village of Babylon.
The new facility, which was financed with funds from the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act of 2009 through the Federal Transit Administration, is expected to clean the exterior of more than 320 train cars a day. Up until now, the LIRR’s over 1,000-car electric fleet was cleaned at the LIRR’s only other train wash at the entrance to its Ronkonkoma Train Yard.
LIRR President Williams said: “This new, state-of-the-art train wash will enable us to clean more than 320 cars each day, seven-days-a-week using methods — such as solar power and waste-water recycling — that will help protect the environment. Aside from the important aesthetic benefits that the wash provides, it also helps maintain the life of the train equipment and prevents corrosion. We are very grateful to Mayor Scordino and the Village of Babylon for their cooperation in the planning and construction of this project and to the Federal Transit Administration for the funds that made it possible.”
The new train wash facility is located east of the Babylon LIRR Station, situated between the Babylon Village golf course and the LIRR tracks leading to the Babylon Train Yard. With the Babylon Branch being the busiest of the LIRR’s 11 branches, the location of the new wash facility allows trains to be cycled through the wash just prior to being moved into the Babylon Yard for overnight storage.
The train wash is fully automated and is activated upon the approach of a train.
The new facility consists of two buildings: A masonry equipment building (21′ x 180′), which houses the controls, wash room, pumps, reclaim/recycle wash water, waste water treatment system and storage tanks for the train wash. The second structure is the train wash bay, a steel/corrugated siding structure (26′ x 282′) consisting of pre-cast track slab sections, concrete foundations, wash water collection system and the train wash equipment.
NYS Senator Owen H. Johnson said: “I am pleased that our new high tech railroad car wash in Babylon Village provides our residents with clean and properly maintained railroad cars. I applaud the use of green technology such as solar panels producing electricity to operate the facility and water treatment systems allowing for recycling and safe disposal into our sewer system. This is a fine example of government embracing new technologies that help both the commuter and the environment.”
NYS Assemblyman Philip Boyle said: “Like everyone born and raised on Long Island, the LIRR plays a huge role in our lives as a conduit for transportation and commerce and this facility will enhance the rider experience for the generations to come.” – LIRR2010 on YouTube
Tags: Babylon, LIRR, Long Island Railroad, Metropolitan Transportation Authority, MTA, New York, NY
RSS Feed