Tuesday, March 31, 2015

TRAINS ARE SAFE: LIRR: EXPECT DELAYS ON RONKONKOMA BRANCH DURING EVENING COMMUTE AFTER FREIGHT CAR DERAILMENT







MARCH 30, 2015

FARMINGDALE, LONG ISLAND (LINEWS)

It’s day 2 of delays for commuters on the Long Island Rail Road’s Ronkonkoma branch, caused by a freight train derailment.

LIRR officials say there was signal damage when the train went off the rails just west of the Wyandanch train station. It happened around midnight Sunday evening.

Until the signal system is repaired, trains must operate at a much slower speed than normal between Wyandanch and Farmingdale, in both directions. The LIRR warned that delays could stretch beween 15 and 25 minutes.

Work on re-railing the freight car is ongoing. According to the LIRR, it requires off-loading lumber from the derailed car and putting it back on the tracks. The system will then have to be repaired and tested.
Farmingdale (LInews) – It’s day 2 of delays for commuters on the Long Island Rail Road’s Ronkonkoma branch, caused by a freight train derailment.

LIRR officials say there was signal damage when the train went off the rails just west of the Wyandanch train station. It happened around midnight Sunday evening.

Until the signal system is repaired, trains must operate at a much slower speed than normal between Wyandanch and Farmingdale, in both directions. The LIRR warned that delays could stretch beween 15 and 25 minutes.

Work on re-railing the freight car is ongoing. According to the LIRR, it requires off-loading lumber from the derailed car and putting it back on the tracks. The system will then have to be repaired and tested.

"Unfortunately, the extent of the damage only became crystal clear after the derailed car was removed and we peeled away the crush of wires and machinery," he said. "The infrastructure loss -- you can't buy that stuff off the shelf. It has to be rebuilt from scratch, wire by wire, installed and tested.

Evening commuters on the Long Island Rail Road's Ronkonkoma branch can expect 15 to 25 minute delays east of Hicksville resulting from a freight car that derailed around midnight west of the Wyandanch station, the commuter service said.

Workers are continuing the re-railing process, the LIRR said at 2:30 p.m., to be followed by repair to signal equipment that was damaged by the freight car.
The Ronkonkoma branch of the Long Island Rail Road had delays throughout the Monday morning commute. 

Trains ran at a reduced speed between Farmingdale and Wyandanch for several hours, delaying morning travel on the line up to 25 minutes, spokeswoman Marjorie Anders said. Anders said a single freight car, part of another rail system, derailed around midnight and was leaning on a utility pole that carries system wires affecting three grade crossings.

Trains are safe.  All aboard!