LIRR Service Limited On Ronkonkoma, Huntington/Port Jefferson Branches Following Deadly Collision
WESTBURY, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) – Long Island Rail Road commuters experienced service changes and delays Wednesday following Tuesday night's deadly collision in Westbury.
The following trains were not operate for the evening rush:
Port Jefferson Branch
- The 2:29 p.m. train from Penn due in Hicksville at 3:17 p.m.
- The 3:27 p.m. train from Penn due Huntington at 4:35 p.m.
- The 4:00 p.m. train from Penn due Huntington at 5:07 p.m. 2354/2064
- The 5:29 p.m. train from Atlantic Terminal due in Huntington at 6:28 p.m.
- The 5:33 p.m. train from Penn due in Cold Spring Harbor at 6:46 p.m.
- The 5:46 p.m. train from Penn due in Huntington art 6:51 p.m.
- The 6:01 p.m. train from Penn due in Hicksville at 6:45 p.m.
- The 6:30 p.m. train from Penn due in Huntington at 7:32 p.m.
- The 6:35 p.m. train from Penn due in Hicksville at 7:22 p.m.
Ronkonkoma Branch
- The 3:07 p.m. train from Penn Station due in Ronkonkoma at 4:25 p.m.
- The 4:54 p.m. train from Penn Station due in Farmingdale at 5:56 p.m.
- The 6:53 p.m. train from Penn Station due in Ronkonkoma at 8:12 p.m.
For more information, click here.
Confused riders filled stations following the accident.
"It was very chaotic last night, I can tell you that much," said Hicksville resident Dorrie Kerzner.
Unsure of where to go, or how to get home, LIRR commuters had more questions than answers following the crash.
CBS2 spoke with commuters in Hicksville who were being put on shuttle buses and taken to other stations.
"I'm completely confused as to what's going on this morning. I'm just trying to get to work," one man said.
Faced with limited westbound service for the morning rush and a suspension eastbound on the Huntington/Port Jefferson and Ronkonkoma Branches, commuters had little options.
MORE: 'Very Scary:' 3 Killed When 2 LIRR Trains Strike Vehicle On Tracks In Westbury
"It's going to be a long trip in. I'm actually considering maybe just jumping back in the car and driving in," said commuter Ron Lagnado.
Riders could take the Babylon, Hempstead, Montauk and Oyster Bay lines as alternates or catch a packed shuttle bus. The inconvenience seemed to exacerbate commuter frustrations with the railroad's typically poor on time arrival.
"Twelve hours ago there was an accident and there's no buses here waiting to take us to another station," one commuter said.
A stream of alerts filled the LIRR's Twitter page, but commuters CBS2 spoke with said the information simply wasn't accurate.
"This morning, I don't know when the trains are coming, there's no information up on the boards," said Sean Valinoti of Levittown. "I just saw a Penn Station train came through here. It didn't even stop."
Most commuters acknowledged the deadly accident wasn't the LIRR's fault. Even so, riders needed the help getting to work.
"It's unfortunate. I just need them to communicate with me better so I know what train to take," one commuter said.
Others chalked it up to just another daily grind for the New York City commute.
"It is what it is. You just gotta go with it," one commuter said.
Six of the eight cars were removed Wednesday afternoon. Two more remain, and will be removed after the evening rush.
Officials say about 250 feet of rail needs to be replaced and the third rail was also damaged.
"We're very proud that we were able to restore limited rush hour service on a single track," Eng said.
After the evening rush hour, round-the-clock work will continue to restore the tracks and platform.
"It's too early to say," when 100 percent service would be restored, Eng said.
LIRR said they'll continue limited morning rush hour service on the two Port Jefferson and Ronkonkoma branches on Thursday. Shuttle buses will supplement service in the interim.
