Community Corner
Update: LIRR Operating on Schedule; Delays Expected
The Port Jefferson Branch is operating according to schedule, but MTA said that riders should anticipate delays as a result of the snow; LIRR spokesman gives a statement on the day.
The Long Island Rail Road cancelled 23 westbound trains during Wednesday's rush hour, affecting Syosset and the Port Jefferson Line, but the MTA is now reporting trains operating on schedule - just expect some delays.
A winter storm has again caused widespread problems on the railroad, causing major commuter headaches. Among the morning cancellations was the 8:35 a.m train from Syosset to Penn Station. The Railroad reported that the 9:44 a.m. train from Hicksville, due in Penn Station at 10:29 a.m., was operating with added stops at Westbury, Carle Place, Merillon Avenue, New Hyde Park, Kew Gardens, Forest Hills and Woodside.
The LIRR issued a warning Tuesday night of possible service disruptions because of Wednesday's winter storm.
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LIRR spokesman Salvatore Arena said they were well prepared for the day.
"We had a lot of notice," Arena said. "We were anticipating, based on the earlier forecast, much more snow. We were anticipating the possibility as we did in December that we might have to suspend service on multiple branches or the whole system once the snow got into the 10 to 13 inch level."
Find out what's happening in Syossetwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Arena added on the problems that heavy snow brings to the railroad operations.
"It's hard to run these trains with this snow, especially the electric fleet, because you have the third rail covered," he said. "The policy of the railroad is that when the snow gets that high, people should know we might start suspending service."
The suspensions on the railroads would allow for tracks and the third rail to be cleared by special equipment and to avoid stranding trains between stations.
During the big storm in December, frozen switches forced widespread delays on the railroad's 11 branches. Most of the LIRR was shut down on the second day of the storm.
The railroad urged passengers who are not required to travel on Wednesday morning to stay home. Service updates are available on the MTA's web site: http://www.mta.info/
The phone for the LIRR's Travel Information Center is 718-217-5477.
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