LIRR Delays, Cancellations Could Last For Days: MTA

Long Island Rail Road service will face heavy cancellations and delays during Tuesday evening rush hour and beyond while Amtrak crews continue to repair track damage at Penn Station caused by the NJ Transit derailment, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority says.

Twenty-six LIRR rush hour trains will be canceled or diverted from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., and eight other trains will be diverted to originate elsewhere. The LIRR plans to operate on the same evening rush hour schedule as Monday. (scroll down to check how each branch is affected.)

These Amtrak service disruptions, which already affected Monday service and Tuesday morning service, could last for days. “Because of that, we must continue to operate on a reduced schedule until all repairs have been safely completed,” LIRR President Patrick Nowakowski said in a press release. “We have offered support and any assistance they need to help speed these repairs.”

The remaining LIRR trains from Penn Station could experience delays and crowding, the MTA says. Customers will mostly be able to board trains leaving within 10 minutes of their normal departure, with the alternate trains making additional stops to accommodate the cancellations.

Typically, the LIRR has use of Tracks 13 through 21, but the MTA says the LIRR will primarily operate out of Tracks 17 through 21 on Tuesday evening. Some trains may depart from Tracks 10, 11 or 12, which can be accessed from the Exit Corridor closer to Eighth Avenue or via NJ Transit’s concourse.

There will be no westbound service between Jamaica and Penn Station during this time. Commuters can transfer to the E subway to get to Penn Station. The westbound Port Washington branch will terminate at Woodside from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Riders can transfer to the 7 subway to get to Penn Station. New York City Transit will cross-honor LIRR tickets at Woodside and Jamaica.

On Monday morning, a NJ Transit train carrying 1,200 people derailed in Penn Station. The FDNY said five people suffered injuries, all of which were not life-threatening. At least one person was seen being taken out of Penn Station on a stretcher. Read more here.

The MTA announced the following changes on eastbound LIRR trains: (The following trains will be canceled or originate from Atlantic Terminal or Jamaica.)

Atlantic Terminal

• The LIRR will operate on near normal schedules out of Atlantic Terminal, Brooklyn, and Hunterspoint Avenue, Queens. New York City Transit will cross-honor LIRR tickets at 34th Street-Penn Station on the 1, 2, 3 and A, C, E.

Babylon Branch

• The 4:03 p.m. train from Penn Station due Babylon at 5:05 p.m. has been cancelled. Customers can take the 4:12 p.m. train from Penn Station due Massapequa Park at 5:10 p.m. with stops at Woodside, Forest Hills, Kew Gardens, Jamaica, Rockville Centre, and all further stops to Babylon.
• The 4:34 p.m. train from Penn Station due Babylon at 5:39 p.m. has been cancelled. Customers can take the 4:37 p.m. train from Penn Station due Wantagh at 5:27 p.m. with stops at Rockville Centre, and all further stops to Babylon.
• The 4:57 p.m. train from Penn Station due Wantagh at 5:42 p.m. has been cancelled. Customers can take the 5:03 p.m. train from Penn Station due Freeport at 5:46 p.m. with stops at Rockville Centre, Baldwin, Freeport, Merrick, Bellmore and Wantagh.
• The 5:19 p.m. train from Penn Station due Wantagh at 6:06 p.m. has been cancelled. Customers can take the 5:24 p.m. train from Penn Station due Freeport at 6:10 p.m. with stops at Forest Hills, Kew Gardens, Jamaica, Rockville Centre, and all further stops to Wantagh.
• The 5:40 p.m. train from Penn Station due Seaford at 6:30 p.m. has been cancelled. Customers can take the 5:47 p.m. train from Penn Station due Freeport at 6:31 p.m. with a stop at Rockville Centre, and all further stops to Seaford.
• The 6:05 p.m. train from Penn Station due Wantagh at 6:51 p.m. has been cancelled. Customers can take the 6:10 p.m. train from Penn Station due Freeport at 6:54 p.m. with a stop at Rockville Centre, and all further stops to Wantagh.
• The 6:33 p.m. train from Penn Station due Babylon at 7:35 p.m. has been cancelled. Customers can take the 6:36 p.m. train from Penn Station due Wantagh at 7:29 p.m. with stops at Jamaica, St. Albans, Rockville Centre, and all further stops to Babylon.

Far Rockaway Branch

• The 4:42 p.m. train from Penn Station, due into Far Rockaway at 5:40 p.m., will originate at Atlantic Terminal, Brooklyn.
• The 5:32 p.m. train from Penn Station, due into Far Rockaway at 6:24 p.m., will originate at Jamaica.
• The 6:02 p.m. train from Penn Station, due into Far Rockaway at 6:58 p.m., will originate at Jamaica.

Hempstead Branch

• The 4:32 p.m. train from Penn Station, due into Hempstead at 5:23 p.m., will originate at Atlantic Terminal, Brooklyn.
• The 5:04 p.m. train from Penn Station, due into Hempstead at 5:57 p.m., will originate at Jamaica.
• The 5:38 p.m. train from Penn Station, due into Hempstead at 6:36 p.m., will originate at Atlantic Terminal, Brooklyn.
• The 6:39 p.m. train from Penn Station, due into Hempstead at 7:38 p.m. will originate at Jamaica.
• The 7:05 p.m. train from Penn Station, due into Hempstead at 7:56 p.m., will originate at Atlantic Terminal, Brooklyn.

Long Beach Branch

• The 4:40 p.m. train from Penn Station due Long Beach at 5:37 p.m. has been cancelled. Customers can take the 5:00 p.m. train from Penn Station due Long Beach at 5:55 p.m. with stops at Jamaica, Locust Manor, and all further stops to Long Beach.
• The 5:20 p.m. train from Penn Station due Long Beach at 6:11 p.m. has been cancelled. Customers can take the 5:23 p.m. train from Penn Station due Long Beach at 6:18 p.m. with stops at Jamaica, Locust Manor, Laurelton, Rosedale, Valley Stream, Lynbrook, and all further stops to Long Beach.

Port Jefferson Branch

• The 3:27 p.m. train from Penn Station due Huntington at 4:33 p.m. has been cancelled. Customers can take the 3:43 p.m. train from Penn Station due Huntington at 4:49 p.m. with stops at Woodside, Jamaica, New Hyde Park, and all further stops to Huntington.
• The 5:06 p.m. train from Penn Station due Huntington at 6:07 p.m. has been cancelled. Customers can take the 5:17 p.m. train from Penn Station, due into Huntington at 6:21 p.m.
• The 6:30 p.m. train from Penn Station due Huntington at 7:32 p.m. has been cancelled. Customers can take the 6:35 p.m. train from Penn Station due Hicksville at 7:22 p.m. with stops at Jamaica, New Hyde Park, and all further stops to Huntington.

Port Washington Branch

• The 5:11 p.m. train from Penn Station due Port Washington at 5:47 p.m. has been cancelled. Customers can take the 5:14 p.m. train from Penn Station due Great Neck at 5:45 p.m. with a stop at Bayside and all further stops to Port Washington, excluding Mets-Willets Point.
• The 5:26 p.m. train from Penn Station due Port Washington at 6:04 p.m. has been cancelled. Customers can take the 5:29 p.m. train from Penn Station due Great Neck at 6:05 p.m. with a stop at Woodside and all further stops to Port Washington, excluding Mets-Willets Point.
• The 5:50 p.m. train from Penn Station due Great Neck at 6:19 p.m. has been cancelled. Customers can take the 5:56 p.m. train from Penn Station due Great Neck at 6:31 p.m. with a stop at Woodside, and all further stops to Great Neck, excluding Mets-Willets Point.
• The 6:11 p.m. train from Penn Station due Port Washington at 6:48 p.m. has been cancelled. Customers can take the 6:14 p.m. train from Penn Station due Great Neck at 6:49 p.m. with a stop at Woodside, and all further stops to Port Washington, excluding Mets-Willets Point.
• The 6:24 p.m. train from Penn Station due Port Washington at 7:04 p.m. has been cancelled. Customers can take the 6:42 p.m. train from Penn Station due Great Neck at 7:17 p.m. with a stop at Woodside, and all further stops to Port Washington, excluding Mets-Willets Point.
• The 7:01 p.m. train from Penn Station due Port Washington at 7:36 p.m. has been cancelled. Customers can take the 7:14 p.m. train from Penn Station due Great Neck at 7:48 p.m. with a stop at Woodside, and all further stops to Port Washington, excluding Mets-Willets Point.

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Patch photo