LIRR breaks ground for Babylon train-washing facility

It creates jobs. It's environmentally friendly. And it gives trains that shower-fresh feeling.

Calling it a model for federally funded stimulus projects in New York, Long Island Rail Road officials and elected leaders broke ground Friday on a $25-million project to build a new train-washing facility in the Village of Babylon.

"When our economy turns around and the opportunity for ridership to grow presents itself, the railroad has to be there and it has to be equipped for the future," LIRR president Helena Williams said at the groundbreaking ceremony. "How are we equipped for the future? Well, this is a perfect project."

The train wash, to be located next to the E. Donald Conroy Golf Course at Sumpwams Creek in Babylon Village, is scheduled to be completed by January 2012. Another washing facility at the site for 30 years was shut down in 2005 because it had fallen into disrepair.

Michael Harrison, Gov. David A. Paterson's Long Island regional director, said the project, which is fully funded by the federal Economic Recovery Act, was an easy sell to state officials charged with doling out stimulus dollars.

"To have the combination of something that provides the jobs and promotes environmental sustainability, the case just makes itself," Harrison said.

The project, which Williams called one of the LIRR's "greenest," incorporates several environmentally friendly features, including a water filtering and recycling system and solar panels to power lighting and heating systems.

Similar to a standard car wash, the train wash will be about the length of three train cars and can be operated remotely, eliminating the need and expense of having employees stationed at the facility.

Train cars are treated with water, soap, and brushes before being blow-dried and sent back to work.

Over time, Williams said, the train wash will save the LIRR money by extending the life of train cars. It also will eliminate the complications of routing all trains that need to be cleaned to the LIRR's only existing train wash in Ronkonkoma.

LIRR officials said the project, which will be led by a private contractor, will create 20 to 30 jobs. Construction will take place only on weekends.

"This is a good example of a recovery project with short-term and long-term benefits," Paterson said in a statement. "Besides the boost from spending to build the facility now, its green design will save money and water."