Downed power lines halt LIRR service on 3 branches

Downed PSEG power lines on the tracks west of the Hicksville Long Island Rail Road station caused a suspension of the Ronkonkoma, Huntington/Port Jefferson and Oyster Bay branches Monday evening.

News 12 Staff

Mar 25, 2019, 10:17 PM

Updated 1,852 days ago

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Downed PSEG power lines on the tracks west of the Hicksville Long Island Rail Road station caused a suspension of the Ronkonkoma, Huntington/Port Jefferson and Oyster Bay branches Monday evening.
It happened around 6 p.m., leading to a hectic evening rush for rail riders.
The Mineola train station was packed with more people than usual as canceled trains dropped off passengers. Some of them called family and friends to come pick them up from the station, causing traffic jams around Mineola.
Frustrated commuters told News 12 that the railroad doesn't do enough to help riders who get stranded when a problem pops up.
The LIRR urged riders to use different train branches as PSEG sent specialized personnel to clear the downed line from the tracks.
Some riders say it took hours longer than usual to get home, while others were more easygoing and understanding of the delays and cancellations.
By late Monday, Oyster Bay branch service had fully resumed and the LIRR said service on the other two branches was returning to normal.
PSEG is yet to say what brought down the power line.


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