More LIRR Delays, Cancelations for Thurs AM Rush

MTA Long Island Rail Road will once again run reduced service for Thursday morning's rush hour system-wide – affecting the Babylon line that runs through Lindenhurst – as a result of continuing repair work by Amtrak in the East River Tunnel.

A total of 22 trains that normally run into Penn Station will be canceled, terminated or diverted, according to a statement on the LIRR website.

The repair work is related to Sunday's in that tunnel, and those repairs have taken longer than anticipated, noted the LIRR.

As of late Wednesday night the LIRR said it “continues to closely monitor the progress of the repair work in the East River tunnel stemming from Sunday's Amtrak derailment. At this time the tunnel is scheduled to be returned to service for Friday morning's rush hour service.”

In the meantime, LIRR officials told customers to expect 10 to 20 minute delays during the morning rush hour and allow for extra travel time.

Specifically, the Babylon branch service changes posted to the LIRR website affecting Thursday morning’s commute are as follows:

• The 5:56 a.m. train from Babylon, due at New York at 6:59 a.m., will be diverted to Atlantic Terminal.
• The 6:42 a.m. Babylon train, due at Penn at 7:49 a.m., is canceled
• The 7:37 a.m. train from Babylon, due at Penn Station at 8:48 a.m., will be canceled at Jamaica.
• The 8:35 a.m. train from Babylon, due at Penn at 9:37 a.m., will be canceled at Jamaica.

In addition, these trains on the Babylon branch will also be affected:

• The 6:14 a.m. train from Massapequa Park, due at Penn Station at 7:08 a.m., is canceled.
• The 6:57 a.m. train from Freeport, due at Penn at 7:40 a.m., will be diverted to Atlantic Terminal.
• The 7:29 a.m. train from Freeport, due at Penn at 8:13 a.m., will be canceled at Jamaica.
• The 7:43 a.m. train from Merrick, due at Penn at 8:31 a.m., is canceled.
• The 8:10 a.m. train from Freeport, due at Penn Station at 8:50 a.m., is canceled.
• The 8:25 a.m. train from Freeport, due at Penn at 9:08 a.m., will be diverted to Atlantic Terminal.

New York City Transit will also cross-honor LIRR tickets on the E, J and Z trains from Jamaica, as well as the Number 7 train from Woodside, said the LIRR.

Customers should continue to check on service before heading to train stations, said railroad officials, by monitoring the MTA website.

They can also contact the LIRR's Travel Information Center at 718-217-5477 (718-217-LIRR). Hearing impaired customers can use the free 711 relay at 718-217-5477.