ALBANY, N.Y. /New York Netwire/ — Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced that the Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) will begin operating a weekday schedule on Monday, November 12, on 10 of its 11 branches as two of the Amtrak East River Tunnels flooded during Hurricane Sandy are reopened.
“We are continuing step by step to bring back our public transportation system after the tremendous damage caused by Hurricane Sandy, and the restoration of most of the LIRR service will help alleviate inconveniences caused by this catastrophic storm,” Governor Cuomo said. “I commend the hard work done by the MTA to get the regional transportation system running again so New Yorkers can get back to normal life as quickly as possible.”
The temporary repairs, which allow the tunnels to be reopened, reduce the number of trains that can travel through the tunnels. As a result, this schedule will include canceled and/or diverted trains during the morning and evening rush hours through the end of the year. Amtrak will continue to make permanent repairs to the signal system for the two impacted tunnels.
The new weekday schedule represents an average 70 percent of the LIRR’s regular rush hour capacity. Starting Monday, nineteen of the LIRR’s 143 morning rush hour trains will be canceled or diverted to another terminal. In the evening rush hour, of the 127 trains the LIRR operates, 23 will be canceled. Overall, across the entire day, the adjustments provide for 83 percent of normal weekday service capacity.
Train service on the Long Beach Branch remains suspended with bus service operating beginning at 5 AM between Long Beach and Lynbrook, where train connections can be made.
To reopen the two damaged tunnels, Amtrak is using a temporary signal sequence while the various components of the permanent signal system are removed, repaired and replaced. Amtrak estimates that the repair to the salt water-damaged signal system is not expected to be completed until the end of the year. The LIRR has been in close contact with Amtrak on the repair plan and effort.
“We know this has been a very difficult two weeks for our customers, for all of Long Island and for the entire region,” said LIRR President Helena E. Williams. “We are as eager as our customers to return to normal service as part of the on-going recovery process.
“We appreciate the cooperation and patience our customers have demonstrated throughout this period. We will continue to work aggressively with Amtrak to assure full restoration of service as quickly as possible.”
Beginning Monday, November 12, new timetables will be in effect and full fares will be charged on all trains, including higher onboard fares for those who do not purchase tickets in advance, except at stations where the ticket vending machine is not operating due to the storm impact and/or a ticket window is not open.
Some trains are likely to be crowded. Customers are advised to allow extra travel time, expect 10-15 minute delays and move to the center of the train.
Weekend service is expected to be unaffected since a smaller number of trains operate on the weekends.
PM Peak Canceled/Diverted trains:
Long Beach Branch:
• Long Beach Branch Service is suspended and replaced with bus service.
Babylon Branch (eight trains canceled):
• The 4:04 PM train from Penn Station, due Babylon at 5:05 PM, is canceled. Customers will be accommodated by the 4:12 PM train from NY due Massapequa Park at 5:10 PM with stops at Woodside, Forest Hills, Kew Gardens, Jamaica, Rockville Centre, and then all local stops to Babylon.
• The 4:34 PM train from Penn Station, due Babylon at 5:39 PM, is canceled. Customers will be accommodated by the 4:37 PM train from NY due Babylon at 5:52 PM with stops at Jamaica, St. Albans, Lynbrook, Rockville Centre, and then all local stops to Babylon.
•The 4:52 PM train from Penn Station, due Babylon at 5:55 PM, is canceled. Customers will be accommodated by the 5:03 PM train from NY due Wantagh at 5:53 PM with a stop at Rockville Centre and then all local stops to Babylon.
• The 5:13 PM train from Penn Station, due Wantagh at 6:19 PM, is canceled. Customers will be accommodated by the 5:19 PM train from Penn Station, due Wantagh at 6:06 PM with stops at Woodside, Jamaica, Merrick, and then all local stops to Babylon.
• The 5:24 PM train from Penn Station, due Freeport at 6:10 PM, is canceled. Customers will be accommodated by the 5:35 PM Huntington train from Penn Station, due Jamaica at 5:55 PM, for transfer to the 6:05 PM Babylon train with a stop at Rockville Centre, and then all local stops to Babylon.
•The 5:36 PM train from Penn Station, due Babylon at 6:40 PM, is canceled. Customers will be accommodated by the 5:40 PM train from Penn Station, due Seaford at 6:30 PM, with a stop at Merrick, and then all local stops to Babylon.
•The 6:05 PM train from Penn Station, due Wantagh at 6:51 PM is canceled. Customers will be accommodated by the 6:10 PM train from Penn Station, due Freeport at 6:54 PM, with a stop at Rockville Centre, and then all local stops to Wantagh.
•The 6:33 PM train from Penn Station, due Babylon at 7:35 PM, is canceled. Customers will be accommodated by the 6:36 PM train from Penn Station, due Wantagh at 7:29 PM, with stops at Jamaica, St. Albans, Rockville Centre, and then all local stops to Babylon.
Hempstead (one train canceled):
•The 5:04 PM train from Penn Station, due Hempstead at 5:57 PM, is canceled. Customers will be accommodated by the 5:06 PM Huntington train from Penn Station, due Jamaica at 5:25 PM for transfer to the 5:39 PM Hempstead train with a stop at Hollis, and then all local stops to Hempstead.
Oyster Bay (one train canceled):
•The 6:16 PM train from Penn Station, due Oyster Bay at 7:30 PM, is canceled from Penn Station and will originate at Jamaica departing at 6:36 PM. Customers will be accommodated by the 6:08 PM Huntington train from Penn Station, due Jamaica at 6:28 PM for transfer to the Oyster Bay train.
Port Jefferson Branch (three trains canceled):
• The 3:27 PM train from Penn Station, due Huntington at 4:33 PM is canceled. Customers will be accommodated by the 3:43 PM train from Penn Station, due Huntington at 4:49 PM with stops at Woodside, Jamaica, New Hyde Park, Merillon Avenue, Mineola, Carle Place and then all local stops to Huntington.
•The 5:46 PM train from Penn Station, due Huntington at 6:51 PM has been canceled. Customers will be accommodated by the 6:08 PM train from Penn Station, due Huntington at 7:18 PM, with stops at Woodside, Jamaica, New Hyde Park, and then all local stops to Huntington.
• The 6:30 PM train from Penn Station, due Huntington at 7:32 PM, has been canceled. Customers will be accommodated by the 6:56 PM train from Penn Station, due Huntington at 8:04 PM with stops at Woodside, Jamaica, New Hyde Park, and then all local stops to Huntington.
Port Washington Branch (eight trains canceled):
•The 4:22 PM train from Penn Station, due Port Washington at 4:58 PM has been canceled. Customers will be accommodated by the 4:25 PM train from Penn Station, due Great Neck at 5:02 PM with stops at Woodside and then all stops to Port Washington, excluding Mets-Willet Point.
• The 4:43 PM train from Penn Station, due Port Washington at 5:21 PM, is canceled. Customers will be accommodated by the 4:46 PM train from Penn Station, due Great Neck at 5:23 PM, with a stop at Woodside, and all stops to Port Washington, excluding Mets-Willet Point.
• The 5:11P M train from Penn Station, due Port Washington at 5:47 PM, is canceled. Customers will be accommodated by the 5:14 PM train from Penn Station, due Great Neck at 5:45 PM, with a stop at Bayside and then all stops to Port Washington, excluding Mets-Willet Point.
•The 5:26 PM train from Penn Station, due Port Washington at 6:04 PM, is canceled. Customers will be accommodated by the 5:29 PM train from Penn Station, due Great Neck at 6:05 PM, with a stop at Woodside and then all stops to Port Washington, excluding Mets-Willet Point.
•The 5:50 PM train from Penn Station, due Great Neck at 6:19 PM is canceled. Customers will be accommodated by the 5:56 PM train from Penn Station, due Great Neck at 6:31 PM, with a stop at Woodside, and then all stops to Great Neck, excluding Mets-Willet Point.
• The 6:11 PM train from Penn Station, due Port Washington at 6:48 PM, is canceled. Customers will be accommodated by the 6:14 PM train from Penn Station, due Great Neck at 6:49 PM, with a stop at Woodside, and then all stops to Port Washington, excluding Mets-Willet Point.
• The 6:24 PM train from Penn Station, due Port Washington at 7:04 PM, is canceled. Customers will be accommodated by the 6:42 PM train from Penn Station, due Great Neck at 7:17 PM, with a stop at Woodside, and then all stops to Port Washington, excluding Mets-Willet Point.
•The 7:01 PM train from Penn Station, due Port Washington at 7:36 PM, is canceled. Customers will be accommodated by the 7:14 PM train from Penn Station, due Great Neck at 7:48 PM, with a stop at Woodside, and then all stops to Port Washington.
Ronkonkoma (two trains canceled):
•The 4:54 PM train from Penn Station, due Farmingdale at 5:56 PM, is canceled. Customers will be accommodated by the 5:01 PM train from Penn Station, due Ronkonkoma at 6:20 PM, with stops at Woodside, Jamaica, New Hyde Park, and then all stops to Ronkonkoma.
•The 5:22 PM train from Penn Station, due Ronkonkoma at 6:38 PM, is canceled. Customers will be accommodated by the 5:41 PM train from Penn Station, due Ronkonkoma at 6:49 PM, with stops at Hicksville, Wyandanch and then all stops to Ronkonkoma.
Because of the significant storm surge damage in Long Beach and along the LIRR’s Long Beach Branch – affecting power to electric substations and salt water exposure to switches and signals – the LIRR will continue to operate a bus service for Long Beach Branch customers, which will be extended on Friday to include the Long Beach Station from 5 AM until 5:30 PM due to the City of Long Beach’s curfew.
Starting at 5 AM, the LIRR’s bus service makes a loop between the LIRR’s Long Beach and Lynbrook stations – making stops at Island Park, Oceanside, East Rockaway, and Centre Avenue stations along the way. After 5:30 PM, the bus loop continues to operate between Island Park and Lynbrook until 9 PM. Train connections to and from the bus loop can be made at Lynbrook Station.
The buses are expected take approximately 45 minutes to travel between Long Beach and Lynbrook, and to depart approximately every five minutes during the morning and evening rush hours. Outside rush hours, the departure time between buses will be greater.
LIRR Long Beach Comfort Station Opened:
After a thorough cleaning and hook-up to a generator, the LIRR has turned its Long Beach Station waiting room into a comfort station for use by the hard-hit community. In addition to heat, water and restrooms, the Long Beach Station waiting room is also equipped with power strips for use in charging cell phones and other electronic devices. The comfort station will be open daily from 6 AM to 4 PM.
LIRR Customers Should Anticipate Crowding:
Because service continues to be limited on weekdays, waits will be longer and trains will be more crowded. In the evening rush hour, customers should expect crowded conditions in Penn Station. Customers are advised to stagger work hours and travel in off-peak hours, if possible, to help reduced crowding in the peak periods.
For More Information:
Customers should monitor news reports, the MTA website, www.mta.info, and sign up for free E-Alerts for updates on LIRR service. Customers can also contact the LIRR’s Travel Information Center by calling 511, the New York State Travel Information Line, and say: Long Island Rail Road. If you are deaf or hard of hearing, use your preferred relay service provider for the free 711 relay to reach LIRR at 511.
