Equipment Maintenance- Donald Nelson pinpointed the LIRR’s problem with diesel engines breaking down too often and he stated that they “need to be replaced.” “It is obvious that the entire diesel fleet is in serious trouble,” Nelson wrote. If Helena Williams is so focused in on-time performance, why is replacement of diesel trains not a priority issue? A Newsday article dated June 13, 2007 stated that the LIRR has completed only 2 of 16 safety projects that have been started since 9/11/2001. By its own admission, the MTA has “admitted their working with a transit system that is more than 100 years old.” “We’re dealing with retrofitting a 19^th century transportation system with 21^st century technology to respond to threats that were never contemplated before” said MTA spokesperson Jeremy Soffin.

Why hasn’t the MTA/LIRR ever brought up the idea of modernizing the rail system? Have they seen the modern transit systems in Europe and Asia? They are using Maglev Technology trains to run over the rails on magnets. This eliminates the pollution problems, noise, vibrations and the threat of fires. They run at much faster speeds and are much more efficient. They are faster, cleaner, safer and far more efficient today than the LIRR will be long after the Main Line Project is completed 20 years from now. How seriously has the Maglev System, or any other new railroad system been considered?