Asset management

Long Island Rail Road – Comprehensive Inspection Program

The Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) is the busiest commuter railroad in North America, carrying 265,000 customers on 735 trains—daily. We were brought in to conduct a structural inspection, and one of our major challenges was the need to minimize the effects of our work on train operations.

The LIRR system has over 700 miles of track on 11 branches and 124 stations. Developing an efficient inspection schedule was complex and required coordination with various agencies to obtain approvals and safety training for inspection personnel.

We needed ladders and lifts (truck and rail-mounted) to inspect the system’s assets—under-grade rail bridges, rail viaducts, culverts, over-grade bridges, and tunnels. We performed load rating analysis on select structures and conducted special inspections and testing of electrical and mechanical controls, post-tensioning systems, truss pins, and high mast towers.

Once the structural inspections and load ratings were complete, we prepared reports and updated the LIRR’s inventory in their MAXIMO asset management software.