LIRR: Port Washington Service Restored Following Broken Rail
GREAT NECK, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) – Long Island Railroad riders experienced more service changes Tuesday, because of another broken rail.
Service was suspended in both directions between Great Neck and Port Washington due to a problem in Plandome. The railroad said eastbound trains were ending and westbound trains were starting at Great Neck, and buses were being used to provide service between Great Neck and Port Washington.
Service is suspended in both directions between Great Neck and Port Washington due to a broken rail at Plandome. E/B trains will terminate, and W/B trains will originate, at Great Neck. Buses have been secured, but are not expected to be on scene until 1:30PM.
— LIRR. Wear a Mask. (@LIRR) January 2, 2018
About an hour and a half later, the LIRR said that service had been restored.
Service is restored in both directions btwn Great Neck & Pt Washington. Earlier, service was suspended because of a broken rail at Plandome.
— LIRR. Wear a Mask. (@LIRR) January 2, 2018
Last week, riders dealt with major backups due to a broken rail near Queens Village.
On Tuesday, Long Island Sen. Todd Kaminsky called on the LIRR to look into the delays and cancellations.
"In December alone, there were literately hundreds of cancellations and delays on some of the main Long Island Railroad branches, and that just cannot be the new normal," he told WCBS 880's Sophia Hall.
The state senator wants the LIRR to investigate immediately.
"The stories I hear are not just ones of inconvenience. They really turn people's lives upside down," he said. "You have to be home to pick your child up from childcare. And in the morning, you have to be at work. You can't just miss meetings or not show up to court dates or doctors appointments or big meetings. These are very things."
WCBS 880 contacted the railroad for comment, which said it is "absolutely committed to operating the safest, most efficient railroad in the country."
"Most of the issues this fall were related to leaves falling on the tracks – which we aggressively combat with special rail cars, high pressure washes, and speed restrictions," the statement continued. "This season was more difficult than usual because the leaves dropped in a very short time frame at the end of November and December."