LIRR Restores Long Beach Service
One of the biggest issues that Hurricane Sandy provided for the MTA Long Island Rail Road was the lost of service to the Long Beach line. Weeks after the other lines were restored, riders of the Long Beach line had to deal with part time service.
Thankfully some much needed relief is coming to those riders as the agency restored service as of this weekend. Here is more via the press release I received:
Governor Cuomo announced that the MTA Long Island Rail Road is restoring electric train service on the Long Beach Branch beginning Sunday, November 25th. In restoring the Long Beach electric service, the LIRR will be operating on a near-normal schedule on all of its 11 branches for the first time since Superstorm Sandy hit the region.
The LIRR will operate a regular weekend schedule on the Long Beach Branch on Sunday with four additional extra holiday trains scheduled eastbound and four extra holiday trains westbound. The first Long Beach bound train will depart Jamaica at 1:32 AM. The first train originating from Long Beach will be at 3:53 AM Sunday.
On Monday, the LIRR will operate electric train service on the Long Beach branch but four trains will be canceled in the AM Peak and four will be canceled in the PM Peak as a result of the reduced peak capacity in two of Amtrak’s East River tunnels that were flooded during the storm. Amtrak continues their work on repairing the signal system severely damaged in their two tunnels during Superstorm Sandy. A temporary signal system now controlling train traffic in the two tunnels that were flooded allows for fewer trains per hour to operate into and out of Penn Station.
“The LIRR’s Long Beach Branch was not spared the devastation that was brought upon Long Beach and the surrounding communities by Sandy, “ Governor Cuomo said. “I commend the intensive efforts made by the LIRR to clean, repair and replace the critical components in the flood-damaged electrical stations and signal equipment to restore the vital transportation link the railroad provides as these hard-hit communities begin to rebuild.”
“Restoring electric train service to Long Beach has been at the top of the LIRR’s priority list,” said LIRR President Helena E. Williams. “We recognize the importance of regular train service as the rebuilding effort continues in the Long Beach community and other communities all along the Long Beach branch. Our substations, which provide the power to run trains, did not escape Sandy’s wrath but our crews have worked tirelessly to restore power, clean and rehabilitate switches and signals so that we can resume service. We know customers depend on the LIRR to get back and forth to work and to reach NYC. We’re very pleased to be able to restore the service.”
LIRR employees have been working day and night in the aftermath of Sandy repairing electrical substations and critical signal equipment on the Long Beach Branch. Three of the four substations along the Long Beach branch are now back in service, including one in the Long Beach LIRR yard that also sustained damage from flooding and from the release of raw sewerage from an adjacent sewage treatment plant. Repair work continues on the Oceanside substation.
On the Long Beach Branch, approximately 1,000 electrical signal components were replaced, repaired or cleaned as LIRR signal employees worked at 21 different signal instrument locations. Their work, in part, included the repair/replacement or cleaning of: over 150 transformers, 350 relays, and 73 impedance bonds, as well as hundreds of other signal components. Work crews have already repaired or replaced over 100 high voltage connections (feeder cables to power the substations and third rail) in the yard and on the branch.
The salt-water damaged 3-megawatt substations have had switches, circuit breakers, relays and other critical substation parts cleaned, repaired or replaced. (The 3-megawatt substation, which provides the 750 volts of D.C. current to the third rail to run LIRR trains, is equivalent of powering approximately 200 homes.) Additional repair work will continue on the branch and the LIRR also will be examining ways to protect power, signal and switch equipment from the type of extreme flooding caused by Sandy.
Normal weekend, off peak fares will be charged on the Long Beach Branch on Sunday and regular fares will be in effect on Monday. However, Long Beach customers with a November monthly ticket who may have been displaced by the storm will still be able to use their monthly ticket on all other LIRR branches until December 1.
Regular Weekend & Extra Holiday Weekend Train Service
In addition to the return of normal weekend electric service, the LIRR is also adding extra weekend holiday train service on the Long Beach Branch to make travel to and from New York City more convenient for shopping, dining and entertainment.
Eight extra trains are being added to the weekend schedule – four westbound trains between 9 AM and 1 PM and four eastbound trains between 4 PM and 8 PM. With these additional trains, the LIRR will be providing half-hourly service during this holiday travel time period. The added weekend holiday service will be offered on the weekends through the end of the year.
Weekday Train Service
Because of the capacity reduction in Amtrak’s two East River tunnels, four morning rush hour and four evening rush hour trains on the Long Beach Branch will canceled as detailed below:
AM Peak Canceled Long Beach Branch Trains:
The 6:54 AM from Long Beach, due Atlantic Terminal at 7:49 AM, is canceled. Customers will be accommodated by the 7:04 AM from Long Beach due Penn Station at 7:57 AM. Customers for Atlantic Terminal must transfer at Jamaica.
The 7:23 AM from Long Beach, due Penn Station at 8:22 AM, is canceled. Customers will be accommodated by the 7:39 AM from Long Beach due Penn Station at 8:32 AM.
The 7:56 AM from Long Beach, due Atlantic Terminal at 8:51 AM, is canceled. Customers will be accommodated by the 8:03 AM from Long Beach due Penn Station at 8:54 AM. Customers for Atlantic Terminal must transfer at Jamaica.
The 8:08 AM from Long Beach, due Penn Station at 9:02 AM, is canceled. Customers will be accommodated by the 8:38 AM from Long Beach due Atlantic Terminal at 9:26 AM. Customers for Penn Station must transfer at Jamaica.
PM Peak Canceled Long Beach Branch Trains:
The 4:40 PM from Penn Station, due Long Beach at 5:37 PM, is canceled. Customers will be accommodated by the 5:00 PM train from Penn Station, due Long Beach 5:55 PM.
The 5:23 PM from Penn Station, due Long Beach at 6:18 PM, is canceled. Customers will be accommodated by the 5:20 PM train from Penn Station, due Long Beach 6:11 PM.
The 7:33 PM from Penn Station, due Long Beach at 8:26 PM, is canceled. Customers will be accommodated by the 8:12 PM train from Atlantic Terminal, due Long Beach 9:03 PM. Customers at Penn Station should take the 8:08 PM from Penn Station to Babylon and transfer at Jamaica for the Long Beach Train.
The 8:30 PM from Penn Station, due Long Beach at 9:22 PM, is canceled. Customers will be accommodated by the 9:00 PM train from Atlantic Terminal, due Long Beach 9:50 PM. Customers at Penn Station should take the 8:42 PM from Penn Station to Huntington and transfer at Jamaica for the Long Beach Train.
Near-Normal Weekday Service Now on All Branches
With the addition of the electric service on the Long Beach Branch, the LIRR is now operating a near-normal weekday and regular weekend schedule on all branches systemwide.
Starting Monday, November 26, with the addition of the Long Beach electric service, the LIRR’s weekday schedule represents an average 80 percent of the LIRR’s regular rush hour capacity. Twenty-six 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, 27 will be canceled.
Overall, across the entire day, the adjustments provide for approximately 92 percent of normal weekday service capacity.
Amtrak is continuing their work to make permanent repairs to the signal system in two of their East River tunnels flooded during the superstorm. The temporary repairs, which allowed the tunnels to be reopened earlier this month, reduces the number of trains that can travel through the tunnels. 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.
As a result of the reduced tunnel capacity, the LIRR’s weekday schedule continues to include canceled and/or diverted trains during the morning and evening rush hours through the end of the year.
LIRR Customers Should Anticipate Crowding
Because service continues to be limited on weekdays, waits will be longer and trains will be more crowded. Customers are advised to allow extra travel time, expect 10-15 minute delays. 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.
Detail of the AM & PM Rush cancellations/diversions:
The LIRR’s November 12-December 16, 2012 Branch Timetables do not reflect trains canceled/combined due to reduced capacity in the East River Tunnels as a result of Hurricane Sandy. Customers are advised to please cross-check these timetables with the canceled/diverted train listing below to learn how this may affect their commute
AM Peak Canceled/Diverted trains:
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 Wantagh, Bellmore and Merrick. 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.
Long Beach Branch (four canceled trains):
The 6:54 AM from Long Beach, due Atlantic Terminal at 7:49 AM, is canceled. Customers will be accommodated by the 7:04 AM from Long Beach due Penn Station at 7:57 AM. Customers for Atlantic Terminal must transfer at Jamaica.
The 7:23 AM from Long Beach, due Penn Station at 8:22 AM, is canceled. Customers will be accommodated by the 7:39 AM from Long Beach due Penn Station at 8:32 AM.
The 7:56 AM from Long Beach, due Atlantic Terminal at 8:51 AM, is canceled. Customers will be accommodated by the 8:03 AM from Long Beach due Penn Station at 8:54 AM. Customers for Atlantic Terminal must transfer at Jamaica.
The 8:08 AM from Long Beach, due Penn Station at 9:02 AM, is canceled. Customers will be accommodated by the 8:38 AM from Long Beach due Atlantic Terminal at 9:26 AM. Customers for Penn Station must transfer at Jamaica.
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, Hollis and Jamaica.
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 four minutes later – departing Huntington at 7:23 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.
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PM Peak Canceled/Diverted trains:
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.
Long Beach Branch (four canceled trains):
The 4:40 PM from Penn Station, due Long Beach at 5:37 PM, is canceled. Customers will be accommodated by the 5:00 PM train from Penn Station, due Long Beach 5:55 PM.
The 5:23 PM from Penn Station, due Long Beach at 6:18 PM, is canceled. Customers will be accommodated by the 5:20 PM train from Penn Station, due Long Beach 6:11 PM.
The 7:33 PM from Penn Station, due Long Beach at 8:26 PM, is canceled. Customers will be accommodated by the 8:12 PM train from Atlantic Terminal, due Long Beach 9:03 PM. Customers at Penn Station should take the 8:08 PM from Penn Station to Babylon and transfer at Jamaica for the Long Beach Train.
The 8:30 PM from Penn Station, due Long Beach at 9:22 PM, is canceled. Customers will be accommodated by the 9:00 PM train from Atlantic Terminal, due Long Beach 9:50 PM. Customers at Penn Station should take the 8:42 PM from Penn Station to Huntington and transfer at Jamaica for the Long Beach Train
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 6:36 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.
PM Reverse Peak Canceled Trains
Babylon Branch (one canceled train):
The 6:03 PM train from Babylon due Penn Station at 7:04 PM is canceled.
Port Jefferson/Huntington Branch (one canceled train):
The 7:05 PM train from Huntington due Penn Station at 8:09 PM is canceled.
Port Washington Branch (three canceled trains):
The 5:44 PM train from Great Neck due Penn Station at 6:17 PM is canceled.
The 6:23 PM train from Great Neck due Penn Station at 6:58 PM is canceled.
The 6:44 PM train from Great Neck due Penn Station at 7:15 PM is canceled.
Ronkonkoma Branch (one canceled train):
The 6:25 PM train from Farmingdale due Penn Station at 7:22 PM is canceled.
Although much is left to be done in Long Beach after Hurricane Sandy, hopefully a revival of near regular levels of service coming back provides some relief through these tough times.
xoxo Transit Blogger
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