Long Island Rail Road President Phillip Eng today announced that the LIRR had completed work to replace the Port Washington electrical substation, on time and on budget. The new substation, which was built at a cost of $26.2 million, replaces an earlier brick-and-mortar substation that had been in service more than 30 years and was beyond its useful life.

The new substation will ensure the continued reliability of Port Washington Branch train service by maintaining a robust power system for the electrified third rails that provide the traction power that moves trains and keeps them lit and temperature controlled. With greater capacity, the new substation will enable the anticipated growth in train service that is expected to coincide with the start of LIRR service to Grand Central in 2022.

Located at the intersection of Davis Avenue and Bayles Avenue, the Port Washington Substation is the first of 14 substations to be replaced or rebuilt through the LIRR Modernization Program, a $6.6 billion program called for by Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to rebuild, replace and renew components of the Long Island Rail Road to foster Long Island’s economic growth for generations to come.

The program includes 100 capital projects to renew, replace and rebuild bridges, railroad crossings, parking, stations, and other infrastructure, and expand the system.

“Our LIRR Modernization Program is transforming the railroad to enable more reliable and more frequent service that will underpin the 21^st century economic growth of Long Island,” Eng said. “Many of the projects in this program involve critical behind-the-scenes infrastructure that isn’t normally seen by the customer. This new electrical substation is one such unsung but critical piece of the railroad infrastructure that will improve our service reliability.”

Other substations being renewed are Meadowbrook, which is due to be completed in 2020, Ocean Avenue with the option for Bellmore, which are due to be completed in 2022. Additional new substations include Carle Place, Floral Park, Hicksville, Merillon Avenue, Mineola, New Cassel, New Hyde Park and Westbury, which are in preliminary design as part of the Mainline 3rd Track Expansion Project.

The work to replace the Port Washington Substation began in October 2016. The prime contractor was Myers Controlled Power of North Canton, Ohio.