MTA Feeling Lingering Effects of Irene

LIRR lines Long Beach, Port Jefferson to restore full service Wednesday

Workers coming into New York City on commuter rail lines were still feeling the lingering effects of Tropical Storm Irene Tuesday, but the Metropolitan Transportation Authority expected the majority of riders on the Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North Railroad to be able to get onto trains.

Damage from Irene had kept the commuter rails from coming back as fully as the New York City subway system, which was up and running back to normal Monday after having been shut down for the first time in a natural disaster.a

NJ Transit riders experienced delays of up to 30 minutes on the New Jersey Coast line and the Raritan line.

Only two of the LIRR lines were still suspended Tuesday afternoon, covering the eastern end of Long Island.

The LIRR released a statement Tuesday evening saying it would restore full weekday service during Wednesday morning’s rush hour for the Long Beach and Port Jefferson branches.

For Metro-North, officials said 85 percent of its morning peak customers would be able to get trains, with the restoration of the entire Hudson and New Haven main lines and the Harlem line up to North White Plains.

The New Haven line will resume service Tuesday afternoon, with the 3:57 from Stamford due at New Canaan at 4:14 p.m.

Busing is in effect on the Upper Harlem (Southeast to Wassaic).  Service was still suspended on the Port Jervis line.

The damage to Metro-North's system from Irene was severe, said MTA spokeswoman Marjorie Anders. "It's worse than anything we had ever seen," she said. Restoring some parts, on the Port Jervis line above Suffern, N.Y., would take months, she said.

Amtrak service between New York City and Boston and other northeast regional service was featuring minor disruptions on Tuesday.

Also in New England, Amtrak Downeaster service will operate normally between Boston and Portland, Maine, in the aftermath of Hurricane/Tropical Storm Irene.

Amtrak remained paralyzed between New York and Philadelphia. Late in the day, however, railroad officials announced that flooding had receded, allowing for repairs and for service to resume Wednesday morning.

For the most recent updates, check Amtrak's Facebook page.

LIRR riders were somewhat surprised and pleased that rail had made as much progress as it had, as they waited for trains Monday evening at Penn Station.

"On a good day, there are problems, so I'm shocked that it's working the way it is, to be honest," said Regina Haas, of Wantagh.

Dwayne Fletcher, 32, of Baldwin, said jokingly that he would expect the same quick response come winter storms.

While the trains were mostly back, there were still residual problems from Irene. Several thousand utility customers in the city were still without power, as were hundreds of thousands on Long Island.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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