LIRR adds afternoon trains due to snow

The extra service includes:

Three trains on the Port Jefferson Branch
Three on the Babylon Branch
One on the Port Washington Branch to Great Neck
One on the Far Rockaway Branch.

The extra service is as follows:

Port Jefferson Branch to Hicksville and Huntington
2:09 PM stopping at Jamaica, Carle Place, then all stops to Huntington
2:26 PM stopping at Forest Hills, Kew Gardens, Jamaica, New Hyde Park, then all stops to Huntington
3:24 PM stopping at Jamaica, Mineola, Westbury and Hicksville Babylon Branch
2:22 PM express to Lynbrook, then all stops to Babylon
3:00 PM stopping at Jamaica, Rockville Centre, then all stops to Babylon
3:31 PM express to Rockville Centre, then all stops to Babylon Port Washington Branch to Great Neck
3:40 PM stopping Woodside, Flushing-Main St., then all stops to Great Neck Far Rockaway Branch
3:48 PM stopping at Jamaica, Locust Manor, Laurelton, Rosedale, Valley Stream, then all stops to Far Rockaway.

Ridership on America's largest commuter railroad was down by 36-percent during the morning rush hour today, according to a preliminary assessment by railroad personnel. The LIRR ordinarily carries 100,000 morning rush hour commuters, but the weather apparently inspired one in three riders to stay home, according to railroad VP Joe Calderone.

There have been the typical problems with frozen switches, owing to the blowing and drifting snow, Calderone told me. Delays averaged 15-20 minutes, which means some trains were delayed even longer than that.

Third rail icing conditions have been reported on some routes, but no trains have stalled or been cancelled as of 10:30 a.m.

For additional information, customers can contact the LIRR's 24-hour Travel Information Center in Suffolk County at 631-231-LIRR, in Nassau County at 516-822-LIRR, or in New York City at 718-217-LIRR. The Travel Information Center's TDD telephone number for the hearing impaired is 718-558-3022. Customers may also consult the LIRR's website at www.mta.info.