Governor Andrew Cuomo announced Saturday that the MTA Long Island Rail Road will operate full morning and evening rush hour service beginning Monday, December 10.
Cuomo said Amtrak is restoring the signal system capacity in one of its two flood-damaged East River tunnels, marking the first full service rush hour for the LIRR since Superstorm Sandy hit six weeks ago.
In replacing the severely damaged signal system in one of the tunnels, combined with an increase in speed on a loop track connecting the East River tunnels with the Sunnyside storage yard, Amtrak restored sufficient train capacity to allow for the increased levels of service during the LIRR's rush hour. Amtrak is continuing their work to replace the damaged signal system in the other remaining tunnel to restore full train capacity to their East River tunnels. LIRR signal workers are assisting Amtrak in that effort by rewiring one of Amtrak's five new signal cases for the tunnels. The second tunnel signal system is expected to be restored to full capacity in time for the Christmas holiday.
The LIRR's off-peak service continues to operate on a regular schedule throughout the LIRR system - even while one of Amtrak's damaged tunnels is still at reduced capacity.
"Restoring full LIRR rush hour train service will provide relief to those customers that endured crowded conditions during peak periods due to the loss of tunnel capacity from the flooding effects of Superstorm Sandy," Governor Cuomo said. "I would like to acknowledge the efforts of the Long Island Rail Road and Amtrak in restoring this crucial LIRR service."
"I appreciate Amtrak's efforts to expedite the tunnel work to restore full train capacity in the East River tunnels by the Christmas holidays. And, I would like to thank the men and woman of the LIRR who toiled round the clock to help bring back service," said MTA Chairman and CEO Joseph Lhota.
The MTA says in bringing back one of the two damaged tunnels to full service, Amtrak replaced all the signal system cases, including the parts and all the intricate wiring within the cases that were destroyed by the flood waters. Installing the new signal cases in the tunnel also required new signal control wires to be fitted in the tunnels. Amtrak's cut over to the new signal system this past weekend, combined with the speed adjustment to the track connecting the East River tunnels with their Sunnyside storage yard allows all LIRR rush hour train service to be restored. (Reduced capacity remains in the one of Amtrak's East River tunnels which decreases the LIRR's operating flexibility during rush hours, in the event of a disruption.)
Amtrak is continuing their work to make permanent repairs to the signal system in the one remaining flood-damaged tunnel. Amtrak will be installing three new signal cases for the new permanent signal system. One of the signal cases was wired by LIRR signal personnel at the LIRR's Garden City facility. This new signal equipment is expected to be installed and tested on the weekend of December 15-16, so that full train capacity in the East River tunnels can be restored by the Christmas holiday.
For more information on LIRR service, customers should visit the MTA website.
Tuesday, June 18 2013 11:01 PM EDT2013-06-19 03:01:57 GMT
Photo courtesy of @N42_21_W71_04)
Riders should anticipate some changes but "near normal" service on the Long Island Rail Road for the Wednesday morning rush.
Riders should anticipate some changes but "near normal" service on the Long Island Rail Road for the Wednesday morning rush. Crews have bee working to repair tracks and switches after Monday's derailment.
Monday, June 17 2013 10:52 PM EDT2013-06-18 02:52:57 GMT
Federal authorities say they've raided 7-Eleven stores across Long Island and in Virginia as part of a probe into human smuggling, identity theft and money laundering.
Federal authorities say they've raided 7-Eleven stores across Long Island and in Virginia as part of a probe into human smuggling, identity theft and money laundering.
A lawsuit filed in 2005 claiming a suburban New York community discriminated against minorities in the way it approved local zoning policies is getting an airing in federal court.
A lawsuit filed in 2005 claiming a suburban New York community discriminated against minorities in the way it approved local zoning policies is getting an airing in federal court.
Saturday, June 15 2013 9:19 PM EDT2013-06-16 01:19:35 GMT
Long Island environmental officials say they are looking for another alligator seen in a river. According to Newsday, state Department of Environmental Conservation say the gator was reported on Sunday night and was confirmed by officers on Wednesday. The sighting is the fifth in the same area of the Peconic River where DEC officials captured four alligators in April.
Long Island environmental officials say they are looking for another alligator seen in a river. According to Newsday, state Department of Environmental Conservation say the gator was reported on Sunday night and was confirmed by officers on Wednesday. The sighting is the fifth in the same area of the Peconic River where DEC officials captured four alligators in April.
Saturday, June 15 2013 7:32 PM EDT2013-06-15 23:32:29 GMT
A pharmacist on Long Island defended himself from an attempted robbery by firing shots at the suspect Friday afternoon. Police say the incident happened inside Precision Pharmacy on Merrick Road in Bellmore around 3:30 p.m. 43-year-old Marc Gumpert entered the pharmacy and demanded the drugs Ritalin and Dilaudid. The 34-year-old pharmacist complied and handed over the drugs, but followed Gumpert outside. The pharmacist saw Gumpert inside his car. Gumpert saw the pharmacist, got out of...
A pharmacist on Long Island defended himself from an attempted robbery by firing shots at the suspect Friday afternoon. Police say the incident happened inside Precision Pharmacy on Merrick Road in Bellmore around 3:30 p.m. 43-year-old Marc Gumpert entered the pharmacy and demanded the drugs Ritalin and Dilaudid. The 34-year-old pharmacist complied and handed over the drugs, but followed Gumpert outside. The pharmacist saw Gumpert inside his car. Gumpert saw the pharmacist, got out of...
