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LIRR Announces Tuesday A.M. Service Changes

Posted by
on November 24th, 2008 at 9:14 pm

The aftershock of Sunday’s train derailment is still being felt as the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) has announced service changes for Tuesday’s A.M. rush commute. Here are the complete details which were sent out via an e-mailed press release 10 minutes ago:

MTA Long Island Rail Road customers are advised to anticipate schedule changes that include canceled trains and delays tomorrow (Tuesday) morning as a result of a derailment that occurred in Jamaica on Sunday.

Over 200 LIRR employees have been working round-the-clock to re-rail the three train cars on the west end of Jamaica Station. The work also includes repair to the damaged switches and track caused by the derailment. Currently, three tracks remain out of service due to the accident.

“We are grateful to our customers for their patience during this time,” said LIRR President Helena Williams. “The Monday evening rush hour went smoothly under the circumstances. Our LIRR crews have been working nonstop to repair damaged rail and switches so that we can resume normal operations as soon as is safely possible. We are making progress and will keep our customers updated on our efforts.”

The Tuesday AM Rush service plan includes cancellation of 12 westbound AM rush trains. As a result, there will be residual delays from added station stops and not all scheduled connections will be available at Jamaica Station to Penn Station, Flatbush Avenue-Brooklyn, Hunterspoint Avenue, and Long Island City. LIRR station personnel will be available at Jamaica to assist customers with service information. The modified plan also includes service changes for the eastbound AM Rush – in particular 9 of the 15 eastbound reverse peak trains from Flatbush Avenue Brooklyn will be canceled.

Westbound AM Peak Service:

The following westbound AM Rush trains will be canceled Tuesday morning in the modified service plan:

• 6:25 AM train from Hicksville, scheduled to arrive in Penn Station at 7:11 AM

• 6:26 AM train from Massapequa Park, scheduled to arrive in Penn Station at 7:22 AM

• 6:57 AM train from Freeport, scheduled to arrive in Penn Station at 7:40 AM.

• 7:23 AM train from Hempstead, scheduled to arrive in Flatbush Avenue at 8:20 AM

• 7:29 AM train from Freeport, scheduled to arrive in Penn Station at 8:13 AM

• 7:40 AM train from Ronkonkoma, scheduled to arrive in Flatbush Avenue at 9:01 AM

• 7:43 AM train from Merrick, scheduled to arrive in Penn Station at 8:31 AM

• 8:03 AM train from Long Beach, scheduled to arrive in Penn Station at 8:54 AM

• 8:03 AM train from Valley Stream, scheduled to arrive in Penn Station at 8:42 AM

• 8:38 AM train from Long Beach, scheduled to arrive in Flatbush Avenue at 9:26 AM

———-

The following trains will terminate in Jamaica Tuesday morning:

• 7:12 AM train from Hempstead, scheduled to arrive in Penn Station at 8:03 AM

• 7:16 AM train from West Hempstead, scheduled to arrive in Flatbush Ave. at 8:03 AM

———-

Eastbound (Reverse Peak) Service:

LIRR eastbound, reverse peak service from Flatbush Avenue, Brooklyn will be extremely limited – with one passenger train departing the Brooklyn terminal per hour. Customers should consider using Penn Station reverse peak service, which is expected to operate at regularly scheduled times; however customers should anticipate delays en-route.

The following reverse peak trains will operate from Flatbush Avenue on Tuesday morning:

• 5:29 AM train from Flatbush Avenue, scheduled to arrive in Long Beach at 6:22 AM

• 5:52 AM train from Flatbush Avenue, scheduled to arrive in West Hempstead at 6:38 AM

• 6:48 AM train from Flatbush Avenue, scheduled to arrive in Long Beach at 7:36 AM

• 7:51 AM train from Flatbush Avenue, scheduled to arrive in Hempstead at 8:38 AM

• 8:37 AM train from Flatbush Avenue, scheduled to arrive in Hempstead at 9:26 AM

• 9:36 AM train from Flatbush Avenue, scheduled to arrive in Hempstead at 10:28 AM

———-

Service Updates:

The LIRR will continue to update this Service Advisory as track repairs are made. Customers should monitor news media reports and the LIRR’s website (at www.mta.info/lirr) for updates to this AM modified service plan and information regarding PM train service.

xoxo Transit Blogger

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MTA to Announce Major Text Messaging & Email Alert Initiative

Posted by
on November 24th, 2008 at 5:00 pm

Just a few short minutes ago the MTA sent word out of a press conference to be held at the MTA Headquarters tomorrow. The press conference is to announce a major text messaging & e-mail alert initiative. Here are the details:

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) tomorrow will launch a major new text messaging and email alert initiative that will allow customers to receive real-time notices about planned and unplanned service changes. MTA officials will describe the new system and explain how it works.

WHO: Elliot G. Sander, Executive Director and CEO of the MTA; Christopher P. Boylan, Deputy Executive Director / Corporate and Community Affairs

WHAT: Launch of the creation of a new email alert and text messaging system.

WHEN: Tomorrow, Tuesday, November 25, 2008 – 10 a.m.

WHERE: MTA Headquarters, 347 Madison Avenue (between 44th & 45th Streets), 5th Floor Board Room. (4, 5, 6, 7 42nd Street Shuttle or Metro-North to Grand Central.)

xoxo Transit Blogger

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1

LIRR Announces P.M. Rush Service Changes

Posted by
on November 24th, 2008 at 3:56 pm

As you know by now a train derailment occurred yesterday afternoon just west of the Jamaica Station. As a result service was suspended on every line except one for a period of time. The amount of damage done to tracks, switches, etc… led to service changes that affected the A.M. rush commute. Unfortunately the ramifications are still being felt as the LIRR has announced service changes for the P.M. rush. Customers will have to deal with delays. canceled trains, & connecting train changes.

The Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) issued a press release via e-mail within the last 10 minutes to announce these service changes. Here are the complete details:

MTA Long Island Rail Road customers are advised to anticipate major adjustments to the evening rush hour schedule including 19 canceled trains, delays and no across-the-platform connections at Jamaica for Monday’s evening rush hour as a result of a derailment that occurred in Jamaica on Sunday.

LIRR crews have been working round-the-clock to re-rail the three train cars on the west end of Jamaica Station. The work also includes repair to the damaged switches and track caused by the derailment. Currently three tracks are out of service due to the accident.

Monday PM Service Changes:

The Monday PM Rush service plan includes the cancellation of 19 of the 132 eastbound PM rush trains operated – 11 of the canceled trains are Penn Station departures, 6 trains are from Brooklyn, and 2 trains are from Hunterspoint Avenue. Customers should anticipate delays and there will be no across-the-platform connections at Jamaica. Customers are advised, if possible, to take trains that will bring them to their destination without the need for a change at Jamaica.

Those customers requiring a change of trains at Jamaica will be advised to descend to street-level to be directed to the appropriate platform for their connection. LIRR station personnel will be available at Penn Station, Flatbush Avenue-Brooklyn and Jamaica to assist customers with service information. Under the modified service plan, there will be time adjustments to the eastbound local service to Woodside, Forest Hills and Kew Gardens. The LIRR appreciates the patience and understanding of our customers.

Eastbound PM Peak Service train cancellations:

The following evening rush hour trains from Penn Station will be canceled.

• The 3:34 PM to Wantagh will be canceled. Customers will be accommodated by the 3:46 PM due in Babylon at 4:52 PM.

• The 4:12 PM to Massapequa Park will be canceled. Customers will be accommodated by the 4:21 PM train to Freeport, which will be extended to Massapequa Park.

• The 4:22 PM to Port Washington will be canceled. Customers will be accommodated by the 4:25 PM to Great Neck, which is extended to Port Washington.

• The 4:34 PM to Babylon will be canceled. Customers will be accommodated by the 4:37 PM to Wantagh, which will be extended to Babylon

• The 4:43 PM to Port Washington will be canceled. Customers will be accommodated by the 4:46 PM to Great Neck, which will be extended to Port Washington.

• The 4:57 PM to Wantagh will be canceled. Customers will be accommodated by the 5:03 PM to Freeport, which will be extended to Wantagh.

• The 5:20 PM to Long Beach will be canceled. Customers will be accommodated by the 5:23 PM to Long Beach, which will stop at Jamaica.

• The 5:19 PM to Wantagh will be canceled. Customers will be accommodated by the 5:24 PM to Freeport, which will be extended to Wantagh.

• The 5:40 PM to Seaford will be canceled. Customers will be accommodated by the 5:47 PM to Freeport, which will be extended to Seaford.

• The 6:05 PM to Wantagh will be canceled. Customers will be accommodated by the 6:10 PM to Freeport, which will be extended to Wantagh.

• The 6:33 PM to Babylon will be canceled. Customers will be accommodated by the 6:36 PM to Wantagh, which will be extended to Babylon.

—————-

The following evening rush hour trains from Brooklyn’s Flatbush Avenue Terminal will be canceled:

• The 4:39 PM from Flatbush Avenue due in Babylon 5:52 PM will be canceled.

• The 4:31 PM from Flatbush Avenue due in Far Rockaway 5:26 PM will be canceled.

• The 5:19 PM from Flatbush Avenue due in Hempstead at 6:09 PM will be canceled.

• The 5:40 PM from Flatbush Avenue due in Long Beach at 6:32 PM will be canceled.

• The 5:29 PM from Flatbush Avenue due in Huntington at 6:28 has been canceled.

• The 6:04 PM from Flatbush Avenue due Ronkonkoma at 7:27 PM has been canceled from Brooklyn and will instead originate at Jamaica.

—————-

The following evening rush hour trains from Hunterspoint Avenue Terminal will be canceled:

• The 5:29 PM from Hunterspoint Avenue due in Ronkonkoma at 6:45 PM is canceled from Hunterspoint Avenue and will instead originate from Jamaica.

• The 6:30 PM from Hunterspoint Avenue due in Port Jefferson at 8:15 PM is canceled from Hunterspoint Avenue and will instead originate from Mineola.

Service Updates:

The LIRR will continue to update this Service Advisory as track repairs are made. Customers should monitor news media reports and the LIRR’s website (at www.mta.info/lirr) for updates to this PM modified service plan. The LIRR anticipates that there will some impact to Tuesday morning’s AM Rush and will advise customers of that service plan later today. The LIRR would like to thank our customers for their patience and understanding during this period.

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LIRR President Releases A Statement On Recent Accidents

Posted by
on November 24th, 2008 at 3:47 pm

Earlier today, Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) President Helena Williams held a press conference at the Jamaica Station to discuss the recent accidents around the station including how yesterday’s accident would affect the P.M. rush. The agency just released her statement via a press release:

The three major service disruptions that have occurred this year at Jamaica Station are all unrelated. Here is a review of each incident and cause or apparent cause of incidents still under investigation.

Sunday, November 23, 2008:
Cause: Under Investigation:

An eastbound Huntington-Port Jefferson train entering Jamaica Station derailed at approximately 12:20 p.m. as the eighth car passed over a switch. The rear three cars derailed, with one car jackknifing over three separate tracks. No passengers were injured. The investigation, which is ongoing, is focusing on track conditions and train equipment. The Railroad has retained a nationally known expert in derailment investigations to assist our efforts. The consultant is Rail Sciences Inc., of Scottdale, Georgia.

Wednesday, November 19, 2008:
Cause: Under Investigation

A train from Port Jefferson bound for Hunterspoint Ave. sideswiped a westbound Babylon train as both trains were departing Jamaica during the morning rush hour. A preliminary investigation indicates that the Port Jefferson train may have missed a stop signal that caused it to strike the Babylon train, which had the right of way. Five passengers suffered minor injuries. The engineer of the Port Jefferson train has been removed from service without pay pending conclusion of an internal investigation.

Thursday, March 27, 2008:
Cause: Testing of New Switching Equipment

An eastbound train derailed as it entered Jamaica Station, sideswiping another train as it went off the tracks. An investigation determined that the eastbound train derailed as it passed over a switch as the switch was moving. The switch was inadvertently activated during testing of new signal equipment. No passengers were injured. New procedures have been put in place to prevent this type of occurrence from happening again during testing.

Safety continues to be the number one priority at the LIRR.

• In 2008, the railroad was awarded the E.H. Harriman Memorial Awards Institute Bronze Medal in recognition of employee safety performance.

• In 2007, the railroad has also received the MTA Chairman’s Sustained Achievement in Employee Safety Award for its 2007 record.

• The Railroad saw a 7% decrease in passenger accidents and an 11% decrease in reportable employee accidents from 2007-2008.

The LIRR reached these milestones while serving 86.1 million customers, and achieving record on-time-performance levels.

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MTA Reopens Dey Street

Posted by
on November 24th, 2008 at 3:22 pm

Just a short while ago the MTA issued a press release to announce the reopening of Dey Street to vehicular traffic.

MTA is pleased to announce that Dey Street, between Broadway and Church Street, is being reopened today to vehicular traffic. The reopening of the street will benefit local merchants, businesses and residents just in time for the holiday season.

This section of Dey Street in Lower Manhattan has been closed to vehicular traffic since October 2005 to accommodate excavation and construction of an underground pedestrian concourse that will provide a direct connection between the new Transit Center and the World Trade Center PATH station. While the underground work for the Transit Center continues, the surface work on Dey Street has been completed.

“The completion of the structural box of the Dey Street underground pedestrian concourse is a significant milestone for the Fulton Street Transit Center project,” said MTA Capital Construction President, Dr. Michael Horodniceanu. “The cooperation we encountered from local businesses and residents during construction has been a key ingredient to its successful completion.”

xoxo Transit Blogger

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