LIRR: Service will be fully restored for Tuesday rush

Long Island Rail Road President Patrick Nowakowski announced late Monday that the railroad will be fully operational systemwide in time for the morning rush Tuesday. On Monday, frustrated commuters

News 12 Staff

Jan 26, 2016, 8:34 AM

Updated 3,147 days ago

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Long Island Rail Road President Patrick Nowakowski announced late Monday that the railroad will be fully operational systemwide in time for the morning rush Tuesday.
On Monday, frustrated commuters dealt with delays, cancellations and crowded trains as the LIRR tried to get back on track in the wake of the weekend blizzard.
The railroad says the storm overwhelmed its system, froze its switches and caused icing on its rails. Crews worked overnight and throughout the day to open up lines.
Service was only running on the Port Washington, Oyster Bay, Port Jefferson, Ronkonkoma, Huntington, Babylon and Greenport branches by Monday night. Partial service was also running on the Montauk Branch as far as Speonk.
The LIRR said that it required additional work on the Hempstead, West Hempstead, Far Rockaway and Long Beach branches.
LIRR service to Atlantic Terminal was suspended Monday, and tickets were cross-honored on subways.
Gameday service to Barclays Center for the Islanders game against Detroit was also canceled.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo ordered the LIRR to suspend service systemwide Saturday afternoon due to dangerous conditions from the storm. The railroad announced Sunday night that "almost all" service would be restored by 5 a.m. Monday, but that start time was pushed back due to overnight icing, and only six of the railroad's 12 lines ran for much of the day.
The trains that did arrive were crammed full of riders. Some people waiting at stations told News 12 they saw trains just speed by -- some full, some empty.
Some riders felt communication from the LIRR could have been better in the wake of the storm. The LIRR says it tried to update riders through emails, texts and social media, but it says there were some problems in the morning with its mobile website.