(The following story by John Valenti appeared on the Newsday website on August 27.)
NEW YORK — Thousands of Long Island Rail Road riders were left in a lurch during the Monday morning rush hour as more than 10 trains were unexpectedly terminated at Jamaica Station or diverted to other stations due to an undisclosed problem with tracks in one of the four East River Tunnels providing access to Penn Station.
The problem was discovered during a Sunday night inspection by Amtrak, which owns the four tunnels. Because the track could not be repaired before the Monday morning rush hour, a speed restriction was placed on trains using the tunnel, LIRR spokesman Mike Charles said. That dropped the tunnel speed from 30 mph to 10 mph — causing scattered 10 to 15 minute delays for trains accessing the tunnel.
Fearing additional delays caused by the speed restriction, LIRR officials have terminated seven westbound trains at Jamaica Station. Four other Manhattan-bound trains have been diverted to Flatbush Avenue or Hunterspoint Avenue, where riders will be forced to used subway trains for access to New York City.
The safety of the East River Tunnels has been the subject of political debate in recent years, as has the ownership and maintenance of the tunnels.
The four tunnels are the lifeblood of the LIRR, providing access for trains to Penn Station.
The biggest question Monday morning was why the LIRR did not inform passengers of the service disruptions earlier. A so-called “Service Alert” was posted on the Metropolitan Transportation Authority/LIRR Web site only at 7 a.m. Monday. Charles said the railroad was informed of the track problem by Amtrak “sometime after midnight” on Monday.
“What time did we know about the track condition?” Charles said Monday. “All I can tell you is it was sometime after midnight . . . Sometime after midnight could mean 5 a.m., it could mean 3 a.m., it could mean 6 a.m. I don’t know the answer to that.”
On Saturday and Sunday railroad officials took hits for disruptions in service on its main line tracks, after service was suspended between Mineola and Hicksville so the New York State Department of Transportation could build a railroad bridge — and eliminate a grade-level crossing — at Roslyn Road.
Though the $24.3-million project had long been scheduled, commuters said railroad officials had not provided adequate warning the disruptions — which affected more than 50,000 riders — would take place. Though the LIRR provided bus service for customers affected by the project, which forced the cancellation of all service between Mineola and Hicksville, many riders complained the bus service added significant additional time to their trips and said had the railroad made them aware of the disruptions caused by the project they would have tried to make alternate plans.
New LIRR president Helena Williams defended the railroad over the weekend, saying the LIRR had given fair warning to riders who might be affected by the bridge project.
She said the railroad had made service announcements, sent e-mail alerts, placed posters in stations and even dropped service advisory pamphlets on train seats.
But a service alert regarding the project was not posted on the MTA/LIRR Web site until at least Thursday night, giving commuters who check the site for information — something railroad officials have urged riders to do — only about 24 hours advance warning.
Of course on Monday commuters had even less time to find another way to work — and many were left unaware of the diversions and terminations until they were already on-board their morning trains. The following trains have been diverted to Flatbush Avenue, Hunterspoint Avenue or terminated at Jamaica Station on Monday:
–The 5:56 a.m. train from Babylon to Penn Station has been diverted to Flatbush Avenue, Brooklyn.
–The 6:29 a.m. train from Oyster Bay has been terminated at Jamaica Station.
–The 6:57 a.m. train from Freeport to Penn Station has been diverted to Flatbush Avenue, Brooklyn.
–The 6:58 a.m. train from Hempstead to Penn Station has been terminated at Jamaica.
–The 7:12 a.m. train from Hempstead to Penn Station has been terminated at Jamaica.
–The 7:29 a.m. train from Freeport to Penn Station has been terminated at Jamaica.
–The 7:36 a.m. train from West Hempstead to Penn Station has been diverted to Hunterspoint Avenue.
–The 7:37 a.m. train from Babylon to Penn Station has been terminated at Jamaica.
–The 8:21 a.m. train from Far Rockaway to Penn Station has been terminated at Jamaica.
–The 8:25 a.m. train from Freeport to Penn Station has been diverted to Flatbush Avenue, Brooklyn.
–The 8:35 a.m. train from Babylon to Penn Station has been terminated at Jamaica.