Relief is in sight for Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) customers following Hurricane Sandy's pummeling across southern New York (NY).
NY Governor Andrew Cuomo has confirmed that LIRR service will resume on 10 of 11 lines as the floods in the Amtrak East River Tunnels have been removed.
"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. 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," said Cuomo.
Despite the good news, expect cancelations to still occur.
According to the MTA (Metropolitan Transportation Authority), cancelations or train diversions will continue until the end of the year during its morning and evening rush hours.
With 10 of the 11 lines available, it represents 70 percent of the LIRR's regular rush hour capacity. The MTA did note that the Monday morning rush hour will see 19 trains canceled or diverted among the 143 trains that originally run. The evening rush schedule will see 23 trains canceled of the 127 set to run.
Service on for the Long Beach Branch is still suspended but bus service is operating between the Long Beach and Lynbrook stations starting at 5 a.m., making stops at Island Park, Oceanside, East Rockaway, and Centre Avenue stations along the way. The bus service will continue after 5:30 p.m. to and from Lynbrook and Island Park until 9 p.m. Train connections can then be made at the stations.
"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."
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The following are the updated schedule for the LIRR according to the MTA:
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 Babylon10:57 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 Branch (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 Branch (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 Branch (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.
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