Long Island Rail Road service still limited Friday after repairs finished late

ByEyewitness News WABC logo

Friday, April 7, 2017

LIRR trains canceled after track repairs not done

Shannon Sohn reporting live

MIDTOWN, Manhattan (WABC) -- Ten morning rush-hour LIRR trains were canceled again Friday for part of the morning because tracks repairs at Penn Station were not done on time.

LIRR will operate a reduced morning rush-hour schedule, impacting 14 trains. The LIRR normally operates 144 morning rush hours train; 98 go to Penn Station.

On Thursday, Amtrak, NJ Transit and the Long Island Rail Road officials announced that regular rail service would return into and out of New York City's Penn Station Friday.

But at 4 a.m. Friday, LIRR confirmed that 10 trains going into Penn Station between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m. would be canceled. Three trains will terminate at Jamaica, and one train will divert to Hunterspoint Avenue, Queens.

Full rush-hour service was planned for evening rush hour, according to the LIRR.

The LIRR blamed Amtrak crews for not finishing track repair work by 4 a.m. "as promised" and a lack of "access to tracks overnight so that Long Island Rail Road could pre-position trains."

Amtrak responded, saying major repair work at Penn Station actually was completed, and that workers were testing and adjusting components Friday morning.

Around 7 a.m., Amtrak released a statement saying crews had restored service to all tracks at Penn Station, and warned that commuters should expect some delays Friday morning.

New York City Transit will cross-honor LIRR tickets at Jamaica, Atlantic Terminal and Hunterspoint Avenue.

NJ Transit still planned to run normal service Friday morning, but also warned customers to expect delays because of the late finish to repair work.

Below are details of the impacted rush hour trains, by branch.

Babylon Branch

-- The 6:13 a.m. train from Massapequa Park due into Penn Station at 7:08 a.m. is canceled. Customers can take the 6:26 a.m. train from Massapequa Park due into Penn Station at 7:22 a.m., which will have a stop added at St. Albans.

-- The 6:31 a.m. train from Lindenhurst due into Penn Station at 7:33 a.m. is canceled. Customers can take the 6:32 a.m. from Babylon due into Penn Station at 7:37 a.m. making all local stops to Merrick.

-- The 7:10 a.m. train from Babylon due into Penn Station at 8:20 a.m. is canceled. Customers will can take the 7:29 a.m. train from Babylon due into Atlantic Terminal at 8:43 a.m. Change at Jamaica for service to Penn Station.

-- The 7:48 a.m. train from Wantagh due into Penn Station at 8:40 a.m. will terminate at Jamaica. Customers can change at Jamaica to a Long Island Rail Road train to Penn Station or the E subway line for continuing service to Manhattan.

-- The 8:10 a.m. train from Freeport due into Penn Station at 8:50 a.m. is canceled. Customers will be accommodated by the 7:45 a.m. train from Babylon due into Penn Station at 8:56 a.m., adding stops at Freeport, Baldwin and Rockville Centre.

-- The 8:35 a.m. train from Babylon due into Penn Station at 9:37 a.m. will terminate at Jamaica. Customers can change at Jamaica to a Long Island Rail Road train to Penn Station or the E subway line for continuing service to Manhattan.

Hempstead Branch

-- The 7:12 a.m. train from Hempstead due into Penn Station at 8:03 a.m. will terminate at Jamaica. Customers can change at Jamaica to a Long Island Rail Road train to Penn Station or the E subway line for continuing service to Manhattan.

Long Beach Branch

-- The 7:04 a.m. train from Long Beach due into Penn Station at 7:57 a.m. is canceled. Customers can take the 7:23 a.m. train from Long Beach due into Penn Station at 8:22 a.m.

--The 8:08 a.m. train from Long Beach due into Penn Station at 9:02 a.m. is canceled. Customers will be accommodated by the 8:03 a.m. from Long Beach due into Penn Station at 8:54 a.m., making added stops at Valley Stream, Jamaica and Woodside, or the 8:38 a.m. train from Long Beach due into Atlantic Terminal 9:26 a.m. Change at Jamaica for service to Penn Station.

Port Jefferson Branch

-- The 7:28 a.m. train from Cold Spring Harbor due into Penn Station at 8:25 a.m. is canceled. Customers can take the 7:37 a.m. train from Huntington due into Penn Station at 8:37 a.m., adding a stop at Hicksville.

Port Washington Branch

-- The 8:04 a.m. train from Great Neck due into Penn Station at 8:38 a.m. is canceled. Customers can take the 8:19 a.m. train from Great Neck due into Penn Station at 8:44 a.m., adding stops at Little Neck and Douglaston, or the 8:24 a.m. train from Great Neck, adding a stop at Woodside.

Ronkonkoma Branch

-- The 6:54 a.m. train from Central Islip, due into Penn Station at 8:06 a.m. is canceled. Customers can take the 6:56 a.m. train from Ronkonkoma due into Atlantic Terminal at 8:17 a.m. Change at Jamaica for service to Penn Station.

-- The 6:57 a.m. train from Farmingdale due into Penn Station at 7:48 a.m. is canceled. Customers can take the 6:39 a.m. train from Ronkonkoma due into Penn Station at 8:00 a.m. making an added stop at Hicksville.

West Hempstead Branch

--The 7:36 a.m. train from West Hempstead due into Penn Station at 8:29 a.m. will be diverted to Hunterspoint Ave. Customers can change at Jamaica to a Long Island Rail Road train to Penn Station or the E subway line for continuing service to Manhattan.