MTA: 13 injured as LIRR train derails east of Jamaica; delays expected through at least Friday morning
Transportation officials say the investigation is in its “very early stages,” but News 12 is told “speed was not a factor.”
Thirteen people were injured, two seriously, when a train derailed half a mile east of the Jamaica station, officials say.
They say the Long Island Rail Road's 10:43 a.m. train departing from Grand Central to Hempstead derailed around 11:15 a.m. A total of eight cars with about 100 riders on board derailed.
Service on at least eight of the LIRR’s branches was impacted Thursday evening due to the derailment.
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority says three trains were canceled during the evening rush. Delays of around 10-15 minutes were also reported on several lines.
The derailment will cause service changes during tonight’s evening rush and Friday’s morning rush, the LIRR says.
Officials say the train was traveling at 54 mph and derailed at a speed transition point near the busy Jamaica hub.
Customers on board the train were transferred to an alternate train. Eastbound trains are bypassing Queens Village and Hollis.
One passenger told News 12 her neck hurt, and several people were seen being put onto stretchers and taken into ambulances. One man told News 12, “I felt like I was going to die.”
People on the trains had to wait around 90 minutes before a rescue train arrived to safely get them to the nearest station.
A closer look at recent history of LIRR train incidents
Both the MTA and FDNY say they were on the scene within minutes.
MTA officials say the restoration process is more involved and not merely rerailing a train. They say it will cause delays, canceled or combined trains through at least Friday morning’s commute.
There are also anticipated track changes at Jamaica All commuters have been able to board shuttle buses at Jamaica to get to Hollis and Queens Village.
Work is being done to reposition and move the derailed train, inspect the tracks and then repair any possible damages to the infrastructure.
Transportation officials say the investigation is in its “very early stages,” but News 12 is told “speed was not a factor.”
Officials say it is too early to know if there was any equipment malfunction.
