New 'Game Changer' Lasers Will Fight Leaves On Metro-North Tracks

HUDSON VALLEY, NY — "Slippery track" season is ways away, but MTA officials are already thinking about the inevitable issues caused by fall leaves falling on Metro-North tracks and their plans involve more laser beams.

Following a successful pilot program this past fall, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) approved a contract on Wednesday that will allow the Metro-North Railroad to outfit a second train to use lasers to help fight the impacts of fallen leaves on the tracks and minimize the number of cars taken out of service during the fall season.

Railroads that operate in the Northeast, including Metro-North, experience leaf fall-induced low adhesion, caused by the slick pectin left by crushed leaves on rails, which get even more slippery with rain. Some commuter lines even release a reduced service "slippery track season schedule" in the fall.

When a train tries to speed up or slow down, the pectin can cause the wheels to slip or slide along the rails. According to the MTA, in severe cases, the train will automatically make an emergency stop because the on-board computer system perceives "slip-sliding" as the train not slowing down when it should. This slip-sliding and emergency braking also creates flat spots on the train's wheels, forcing Metro-North to take equipment out of service for repairs.

The MTA says that during the pilot study last fall, Metro-North was able to safely clean over 12,000 miles of track with the laser train, resulting in a 40 percent reduction in slip/slide events and the lowest wheel-true cost season on record.

"The MTA can’t keep the leaves on the trees, but it can fight their effects on Metro North’s infrastructure and cut back on delays for our customers," Metro-North Railroad President/Long Island Rail Road Interim President Catherine Rinaldi said. "The LIRR led the way in using this technology and has seen an incredible decrease in delays and equipment issues brought on by slip slide using this system prompting Metro-North’s successful pilot last fall. It’s a game changer."

The laser train technology works by using high-intensity lasers to remove layers of leaves from railway tracks, requiring a single pass to leave a smooth, clean rail behind. The MTA says that with the second laser train, they will be able to clean all vital parts of the network every 24 hours.

Metro-North will be working with Amsterdam-based manufacturer Laser Precision Solutions. The $3,231,300 contract iincludes a two-year base plus one year option.