After a lousy fall in 2017, New York's MTA Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) requested help from Amsterdam's Laser Precision Solutions BV (LPS). The use of Sandite and high-pressure cleaners did not help enough to keep their track clean, resulting in serious delays and 'square wheels'. 

LPS developed a LaserTrein for them, a high-tech laser system for installation in an existing train. After a successful prototype, LPS was asked this year to increase the speed of the system to 40 km / h in order to be able to run smoothly in the operation. LIRR is excited about the results this fall and negotiations for new Laser Trains to clean up the entire Long Island network are underway. 

The smoothness problem arises from a wafer-thin layer on the rail between the tricycle wheel and track that drastically reduces the grip. Slower acceleration and a longer braking distance cause delays, blocking brakes lead to square wheels and therefore whole trainsets that need to be repaired or worse: trains that slide through red signal. 

The Laser Train is used as a 'spreader' - some Laser Trains can keep an entire network clean for all other trains. The smooth layer is removed with high precision by powerful lasers without any damage or heating to the underlying track. The laser only uses energy, which is everywhere on the track and is also the most environmentally friendly option. 

As a result, as of this year, LIRR has decided to discontinue their use of Sandite trains. At Sandite, a spread of metal particles, potato starch and sand is spread on the rail, with the effect only noticeable for the next passing train. The effect of this medicine was too short-lived and mainly turned out to combat symptoms. Instead, the LaserTrain is used that completely removes the source, the leaf sauce, from the track in one go. 

The high-pressure cleaners, which LIRR still uses, are also about to become superfluous when an additional Laser Train is introduced. The high-pressure cleaners consume thousands of liters of water per cleaning and with a low cleaning effect. Deployment with cold is also difficult in connection with freezing. At those times, the LaserTrain can continue to do the thorough cleaning, without a difficult logistics operation and without any burden on the environment. This technology is a leap forward for the train industry and LPS is busy finding the first user in Europe.

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