(The following story by John Valenti appeared on the Newsday website on February 14.)
NEW YORK — Problems continue for the Long Island Rail Road, which, once again, has been forced to cancel a train due to “equipment trouble.” The Thursday morning cancellation continues a week of trouble for the railroad, which has had to cancel trains on a daily basis — and which came under fire for snowstorm-related failures earlier in the tumultuous week.
During the snowstorm Tuesday night, railroad officials said “a computer server malfunction” prevented customers from receiving e-mail messages about service disruptions.
It was at least the second time in a year that the notification system failed, LIRR spokesman Sam Zambuto said.
On Thursday, the railroad announced that the 7:10 a.m. train from Babylon to Penn Station, due to arrive at Penn at 8:20 a.m., was operating 15 minutes late — due to equipment trouble. Then it announced that the 7:37 a.m. train from Babylon, scheduled to arrive at Penn at 8:48 a.m., had been cancelled.
Due to equipment trouble.
The “equipment trouble” was not defined by the LIRR.
Railroad officials said customers from the cancelled train would be accomodated on the 7:45 a.m. train from Babylon. That train is scheduled to arrive at Penn at 8:56 a.m.