LIRR To Run Weekday Schedule Again

The effects of Hurricane Sandy are still taking its toll throughout the region. However some good news to report for LIRR riders, the agency will start running weekday schedules again during the AM & PM rush hour periods (albeit with some canceled or diverted trains). Here are the complete details via the press release I received earlier today:

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.

The detail of the cancellations and diversions follows:

AM Peak Canceled/Diverted trains:

Long Beach Branch:

Long Beach Branch Service is suspended and replaced with bus service.

Babylon Branch (four canceled trains, three partially canceled trains in Jamaica and two diverted trains to Hunterspoint Ave.):

The 5:56 AM from Babylon, due Penn Station at 6:59 AM, will be diverted to Atlantic Terminal. Customers for Penn Station must transfer at Jamaica.

The 6:57 AM from Freeport, due Penn Station at 7:40 AM, will be diverted to Atlantic Terminal. Customers for Penn Station must transfer at Jamaica.

The 7:26 AM from Wantagh, due Penn Station at 8:16 AM, is canceled. Customers will be accommodated by the 7:10 AM from Babylon due Penn Station at 8:20 AM, which will make added stops at Freeport, Baldwin and Rockville Centre. Customers for Penn Station must transfer in Jamaica.

The 7:29 AM from Freeport, due Penn Station at 8:13 AM, will be canceled at Jamaica. Customers will transfer to the next available westbound train to Penn Station.

The 7:37 AM from Babylon, due Penn Station at 8:48 AM, will be canceled at Jamaica. Customers will transfer to the next available westbound train to Penn Station.

The 7:48 AM from Wantagh, due Penn Station at 8:40 AM, is canceled. Customers will be accommodated by the 7:29 AM from Babylon due Atlantic Terminal at 8:43 AM. Customers for Penn Station must transfer at Jamaica.

The 8:10 AM from Freeport, due Penn Station at 8:50 AM, is canceled. Customers will be accommodated by the 7:45 AM from Babylon, scheduled to arrive Penn Station at 8:56 AM, which will make added stops at Freeport, Baldwin and Rockville Centre.

The 8:25 AM from Freeport, due Penn Station at 9:08 AM, is canceled. Customers will be accommodated by the 8:03 AM from Babylon, scheduled to arrive Penn Station at 9:11 AM, which will make added stops at Baldwin and Rockville Centre.

The 8:35 AM from Babylon, due Penn Station at 9:37 AM, will be cancelled at Jamaica. Customers for Penn Station must transfer at Jamaica.

Far Rockaway Branch (one canceled train, one diverted train):

The 8:10 AM from Far Rockaway, due Penn Station at 9:05 AM, is canceled. Customers will be accommodated by the 8:21 AM from Far Rockaway, due Penn Station at 9:17 AM, which will be canceled at Jamaica. Customers for Penn Station must transfer at Jamaica. The Kew Gardens and Forest Hills stops for this train will be added to another westbound train at 8:54 AM and 8:56 AM, respectively.

The 8:21 AM from Far Rockaway, due Penn Station at 9:17 AM, will be canceled at Jamaica. Customers for Penn Station must transfer at Jamaica.

Hempstead Branch (one canceled train; two partially canceled trains at Jamaica):

The 6:58 AM from Hempstead, due Penn Station at 7:52 AM, will terminate at Jamaica. Customers for Penn Station must transfer at Jamaica.

The 7:12 AM from Hempstead, due Penn Station at 8:03 AM, will terminate at Jamaica. Customers for Penn Station must transfer at Jamaica.

The 7:38 AM from Floral Park, due Penn Station at 8:14 AM is canceled. Customers will be accommodated by the 7:29 AM train from Hicksville, due Penn Station at 8:17 AM, which will make added stops at Floral Park, Queens Village, and Hollis.

Montauk Branch (one partially canceled train at Jamaica):

The 5:08 AM from Speonk, due Penn Station at 7:02 AM will be canceled at Jamaica. Customers can take the 5:30 AM train from Speonk, due Hunterspoint Avenue at 7:26 AM. Customers for Penn Station must transfer at Jamaica.

Oyster Bay Branch (one canceled train):

The 7:26 AM from East Williston (7:31 AM train from Mineola), due Penn Station 8:14 AM, is canceled. Customers accommodated by the 7:29 AM train from Hicksville, due Penn Station at 8:17 AM, which will make added stops at Mineola, Merillon Avenue, and New Hyde Park, as well as Floral Park, Queens Village and Hollis. The next train from East Williston will depart at 7:48 AM.

Port Jefferson/Huntington Branch (one canceled train):

The 6:25 AM from Hicksville, due Penn Station 7:11 AM, is canceled. Customers will be accommodated by the 6:15 AM from Huntington, due Penn Station at 7:17 AM, which will make added stops at Carle Place, Merillon Avenue, and New Hyde Park.

The 7:28 AM from Cold Spring Harbor, due Penn Station at 8:25 AM, is canceled. Customers will be accommodated by the 7:19 AM from Huntington, due Atlantic Terminal at 8:25 AM, which will operate five minutes later – departing Huntington at 7:24 AM. Customers for Penn Station must transfer at Jamaica.

The 7:31 AM train from Mineola, due Penn Station 8:14 AM, is canceled. Customers will be accommodated by the 7:29 AM train from Hicksville, due Penn Station at 8:17 AM, which will make added stops at Mineola, Merillon Avenue, and New Hyde Park, as well as Floral Park, Queens Village and Hollis.

Port Washington Branch (one canceled train):

The 8:58 AM from Great Neck, due Penn Station at 9:34 AM, is canceled. Customers will be accommodated by the 8:45 AM from Port Washington, due Penn Station at 9:20 AM, which will leave Great Neck two minutes later at 8:58 AM and make added stops at Little Neck, Douglaston, Bayside, Auburndale, Broadway, Murray Hill, and Flushing-Main St.

Ronkonkoma Branch (three canceled trains):

The 6:00 AM from Farmingdale, due Penn Station at 6:50 AM, is canceled. Customers will be accommodated by the 5:42 AM from Ronkonkoma, due Penn Station at 6:58 AM, which will make and added stop at Mineola.

The 6:54 AM from Central Islip, due Penn Station at 8:06 AM, is canceled. Customers will be accommodated by the 6:56 AM from Ronkonkoma, due Atlantic Terminal at 8:17 AM.

The 6:57 AM from Farmingdale, due Penn Station at 7:48 AM, is canceled. Customers will be accommodated by the 6:39 AM from Ronkonkoma, due Penn Station at 8:00 AM, which will make and added stop at Hicksville.

West Hempstead Branch (one diverted train to Hunterspoint Ave.):

The 7:36 AM from West Hempstead, due Penn Station at 8:29 AM, is being diverted to Hunterspoint Avenue. Customers for Penn Station must transfer at Jamaica

AM Reverse Peak Canceled Train:

The 9:22 AM from Penn Station, due Babylon at 10:24 AM, is canceled. Eastbound customers will be accommodated by either the 9:05 AM from Penn Station, due Babylon at 10:21 AM; or the 9:41 AM from Penn Station, due Babylon 10:57 AM.

_______

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

I admit that I will continue to stay as far away from the LIRR as possible as these trains will be beyond frustrating to ride until full service is restored. Any LIRR regular will tell you how hellish rush hour commuting is on a normal day much less when not running at full capacity.

Hopefully these cancellations & diversions will be gone soon. In the mean time, if you have any horror stories or rants about commutes upcoming, feel free to contact me via the form on here or on the official Twitter account @TransitBlogger

xoxo Transit Blogger

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