Evening Commuting Headaches on LIRR

Long Island Rail Road service has been finally restored but delays are expected to linger on two of its major branches, the railroad reported.

Service is now restored between Mineola and Hicksville with the 3:43 p.m. train from Penn Station to Huntington and the 3:55 p.m. train from Penn Station to Ronkonkoma. Those are the first eastbound trains to have run through Hicksville all day.

Hundreds of commuters were left stranded on platforms as a major portion of the LIRR system came to a halt, authorities said.

The service suspension was the result of a broken LIPA utility pole that fell about a half-mile west of Hicksville station overnight. The delays should linger through the evening commute, the railroad is reporting.

The downed pole affected service on both the Port Jefferson and Ronkonkoma branches, both of which funnel through Hicksville station to join its main line.

For example, westbound service to New York City resumed only at 4:11 p.m. from Ronkonkoma. The line runs through Farmingdale and Bethpage into Hicksville. The railroad is also reporting equipment problems.

Delays on the Port Jefferson branch, serving Northport, Huntington and Syosset, are expected to be up to 30 minutes or more.

You can check for updates on the MTA's LIRR site here.