IBM today announced the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) will deploy IBM software to manage and maintain approximately 1,180 rail cars, locomotives, and their associated components to improve operations and passenger safety. As part of a project, expected to be completed in 2012, IBM will assist the LIRR in expanding its asset management system to include facilities, bridges, tunnels, and linear assets such as rail.

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Railroads are using software to manage the maintenance of their physical assets such as trains and related parts like wheels, doors, lighting systems and seats. Managing and maintaining these assets benefit railroads by allowing them to prepare for or receive instant notification of problems or equipment failures. This enables them to manage these issues in line with overall operations to keep trains on tracks, in service, and running on time.

The Long Island Rail Road is North America's busiest commuter railroad serving more than 300,000 passengers riding more than 700 miles of track every day. The LIRR plans to use IBM Maximo software to integrate with on-board systems to monitor and diagnose defects, like improper brake pressure or a malfunctioning train door, and issue work orders. The software also helps the LIRR maintain critical components, like traction motors, by replacing them periodically based on life expectancy. Additionally, the LIRR is currently using IBM Maximo software to maintain the shop equipment used to repair and overhaul rail car components.

The IBM Maximo software integrates the work order and materials management systems within the LIRR Corporate Asset Management System to improve business operations, lower maintenance costs and improve passenger safety.

"The efficiency of the Long Island Rail Road is heavily dependant on the proper maintenance and repair of thousands of components, from trains to facilities, tracks, signals and communications," said Vincent Mezzanotte, Chief Information Officer, Long Island Rail Road. "Our goal is to design and develop an intelligent asset management and maintenance system that is critical to the success of the Rail Road and the services we provide to our customers."

"Smarter transportation systems like the Long Island Rail Road improve safety and reliability while also reducing travel delays due to train or track maintenance, said Ken Donnelly, worldwide Maximo industry lead, IBM. "IBM Maximo software helps railroads replace components or fix assets before they break - keeping operations running smoothly and significantly lowering costs."

With help from IBM, the Long Island Rail Road Corporate Asset Management System will be expanded to include maintenance and management of all IT assets including PCs, laptops, servers, and software licenses, facilities including Penn Station and Atlantic Avenue Terminal, and assets being installed for the East Side Access project that will connect the LIRR to Grand Central Terminal. The system will also integrate with the LIRR's Geographic Information System and MTA Business Service Center software applications to improve administration and support. The LIRR plans to utilize hand-held devices using IBM's mobile version of their asset management software for work orders and materials management.

IBM is a leader in building smarter rail networks around the world including projects in China, The Netherlands, Russia, and Taiwan. Earlier this year IBM opened a Global Rail Innovation Center in Beijing in an effort to bring together rail leaders from around the world. Members of the new rail center share best practices and innovative approaches to building safer, faster and more efficient rail systems.

Beyond rail projects like the one with LIRR, IBM has researchers and consultants building intelligent transportation systems around the world in an effort to ease traffic congestion and improve environmental conditions. IBM has already helped build smarter transportation systems across Asia, Europe and in the United States.

The LIRR, publicly owned by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, is an essential component of the region's transportation infrastructure, leading to the development of the Long Island communities it serves and providing a gateway to the economic growth of the region.

For more information about the Long Island Rail Road, visit: http://www.mta.info/lirr/pubs/aboutlirr.htm

For more information about IBM smart rail solutions, visit: http://www.ibm.com/ibm/ideasfromibm/us/smartplanet/topics/smarterrailroads/200 90511/index.shtml?&re=sph

IBM Smarter Railroad video: newsroom.ibm.com/2009-06-11-IBM-Opens-New-Center-in-China-To-Drive-the-Development-of-High-Tech-Railroads

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SOURCE: IBM