MTA says LIRR timetable might be pushed back

Web produced by Bill King, Eyewitness NewsNEW YORK (WABC) -- The MTA said Tuesday that it took longer than expected to assess the damage and remove the last car from an Amtrak derailment in an East River tunnel over the weekend, and that the timetable to resume normal Long Island Rail Road service might be pushed back from Thursday.

It is unknown when that date might be, but disrupted service could continue through the weekend.

LIRR riders again are being advised to give themselves extra time as repairs on the damaged track continues.

The railroad says 22 of its 98 trains were canceled, terminated or diverted for the morning commute Tuesday, and cancelations and delays will continue for the evening rush. Officials say passengers should expect scattered delays of 10 to 20 minutes.

The disruptions are the result of an empty Amtrak train derailment on Sunday. LIRR trains run on Amtrak rails in and out of Penn Station.

Crews are now working to repair damage from the derailment, but officials tell Eyewitness News that the work won't be easy.

"It's inside one of the East River tunnels," LIRR spokesman Joe Calderone said. "So it complicates all the repair efforts, because you're working in extremely close quarters."

Monday's commute was a challenge for tens of thousands of riders.

"It's a nightmare," one rider said. "Long Island Rail Road doesn't give you any information how to get out anywhere."

"I'll just have to make do," another said. "What can you do?"

And for the time being longer waits and crowded platforms will be very much in effect.

"Just sit on the train, relax and that's it," one commuter said. "What can you do, right?"

The derailment did extensive damage that will also require extensive testing after the repairs are complete before any regular service can resume.

This is the third major disruption caused by Amtrak since February 7. The worst of the worst was on the first night of Passover, when Amtrak's emergency repairs in a tunnel forced the LIRR to cancel 21 rush-hour trains.

"At least once or twice a month, there's something substantial that delays my commute home," one woman said.

Customers are urged to check on LIRR service before heading to train stations by monitoring the MTA website, MTA.info, listening to the latest news broadcasts and traffic reports and/or signing up for free E-Alerts that provide the latest train information direct from the LIRR train operations center.

For the latest information on train service, customers should go to MTA.info or monitor LIRR service alerts via email. Customers can also contact the LIRR's Travel Information Center at 718-217-5477 (718-217-LIRR). If you are deaf or hard of hearing, use your preferred relay service provider or the free 711 relay to reach LIRR at 718-217-5477.

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