Buses, Shuttles Continue To Replace Trains After Derailment: LIRR

SUFFOLK COUNTY, NY — Buses continue replacing trains between Patchogue and Hampton Bays and a Long Island Rail Road shuttle train is providing service between Hampton Bays and Montauk Sunday, after Saturday's early morning derailment cut off service heading east to the Hamptons and Montauk, the MTA LIRR said.

Long Island Rail Road officials offered the alternatives for passengers through Sunday as work to repair the derailment that cut off all service on the Montauk line east of Patchogue continued.

As of Sunday morning, the LIRR suggested individuals traveling to the Hamptons and Montauk might want to consider alternate branches or means of transportation to avoid transfers.

LIRR crews have re-railed the trains impacted and track personnel are continuing to evaluate the extent of the damage —and investigate the cause of the incident, officials said.

According to a post by the MTA LIRR on social media, service will run in three segments through Sunday, both east and westbound: The train between Penn Station and Patchogue, a bus bridge between Patchogue and Hampton Bays, and a shuttle train between Hampton Bays and Montauk; the shuttle trains will await the buses.

(Lisa Finn)

Memorial Day weekend plans may have come to a screeching halt for some after Saturday's derailment led to the suspension of Long Island Rail Road service east of Patchogue, according to MTA LIRR officials.

According to a LIRR media representative, there was no service on the Montauk line east of Patchogue Saturday and into Sunday.

Service was interrupted after a Montauk bound train that left Penn Station at 1:09 a.m., due in Montauk at 4:09 a.m., sideswiped a non-revenue train east of Speonk as part of a passing maneuver, according to the LIRR. The non-revenue train was on a side track, and the Montauk train was traveling at approximately 30 mph.

According to the Eastport Fire Department, the collision led to a "large fuel spill and derailment of both trains." Environmental crews arrived to begin the offload of the remaining fuel and cleanup of the spill, the Eastport Fire Department said.

The engine of the Montauk train and the last car of the non-revenue train derailed. While there were 32 passengers on the Montauk train, there were no injuries to passengers or LIRR employees, the LIRR said.

The MTA LIRR is evaluating damage to tracks, which was initially indicated to be extensive, the LIRR said.

Regular service to Patchogue and Riverhead remain in effect, and the LIRR dispatched additional personnel to major transit hubs to provide information as it becomes available and manage potential crowding.

Southampton Town Supervisor Jay Schneiderman was at the scene of the derailment Saturday.

"The Long Island Rail Road is working expeditiously to restore train service and to move passengers by bus util that service is restored," he said. "Thankfully there were no injuries involved. It's certainly going to be an inconvenience this Memorial Day weekend but I observed the various emergency response teams in action and I am confident that they will do everything possible to get service back up and running as quickly as possible," he said.

(Lisa Finn)