Line-closure maintenance: NYCT calls it FASTRACK

MTA New York City Transit says it plans to introduce FASTRACK—“a new wayof working on the rails”—beginning Jan. 9, when the 4, 5, and 6 subwaylines will be shut down from 1:00 a.m. until 5 a.m., suspending all LexingtonAvenue Line service between Grand Central-42nd Street and Atlantic Avenue inboth directions for four consecutive weeknights.

In proceeding with this momentous change on a system famous for runninground the clock, NYCT described conditions leading to he closures:

“Signals, tracks, tunnels, structures, and stations must all be kept inproper working condition, an incredibly difficult task in a system wheretrains run 24 hours a day, every day. Providing maintenance for over 2,600switches, 12,000 train control signals, more than 700 miles of track and 468stations is an enormous challenge. NYC Transit is taking a new approach tothe performance of critical maintenance and upgrades. By shutting down asection of a subway line, we can work more efficiently at less cost andprovide a much safer environment for our transit workers.”