Spike in LIRR trains running stop signals

The Long Island Rail Road has seen a significant increase this year in the number of trains going through stop signals on tracks as compared to the past two years, sparking concerns about safety and potential delays, LIRR officials said.

Eight trains have moved through a stop signal since the beginning of this year, according to the LIRR. None of the violations resulted in accidents.

In 2009, there were five violations. In 2008, there were three.

LIRR officials said the eight violations took place near Penn Station, Jamaica and a rail yard in Rockaway. In all cases, the trains were moving at less than 15 mph. Four of the eight trains contained passengers.

Signals are meant to alert trains to stop for any reason, including that another train is ahead. LIRR officials said safeguards exist to prevent accidents even when a train passes a stop signal - including having tower operators monitor train movement to alert a train crew to stop. Part of the LIRR's concerns over the violations are the delays they cause to service. LIRR rules require the agency to immediately replace the entire train crew and thoroughly inspect track and signal systems when a violation occurs.

Of 37 train signal violations on the LIRR since 2006, three resulted in collisions between trains, LIRR officials said. None involved serious injuries. In November 2008, five people suffered minor injuries when a train went through a stop signal near Jamaica station and collided with another train.

The six engineers, one conductor and one train dispatcher accused of violating signals in 2010 have faced internal LIRR disciplinary measures as well as sanctions by the Federal Railroad Administration. Federal law requires engineers to be suspended for 30 days without pay once they violate a stop signal. In two cases, the engineer was not at fault, the railroad said.

In all of the cases, LIRR officials said human error was involved, as opposed to equipment problems.

"It's very alarming. It's scary," LIRR Commuter Council president Maureen Michaels said of the recent spike. Michaels implored LIRR management and engineers to work together to find reasons for the recent increase. "The way I look at this, either the old data was wrong or they have a really serious problem right now," Michael said.

"Our goal is to provide safe, secure and reliable train service," LIRR president Helena Williams, who added that her agency began an "immediate and comprehensive operations and safety response" in March when the increase became apparent.

In addition to reaching out to engineers and their labor representatives about the problem, Williams said the LIRR "dramatically increased" observation of train crews and the frequency "situational awareness" exercises designed to keep LIRR engineers on their toes. Those include draping a cloth banner across tracks to test whether engineers stop in time when there is an obstruction on tracks.

John Bentley, a spokesman for the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen, the union representing the LIRR's 400 engineers, declined to comment Monday.