Major Delays Persist After Vehicles On Tracks Shut Down Multiple LIRR Lines
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Unauthorized vehicles at two different locations on the tracks shut down service on several branches of the Long Island Rail Road Tuesday evening.
Service was restored to all lines by the 7 p.m. hour, but delays of 90 minutes persisted.
The LIRR said service was suspended east of Jamaica in both directions on the Oyster Bay, Port Jefferson, and Ronkonkoma branches because of the vehicle on the tracks near Mineola.
The Ronkonkoma Branch was also shut down due to another unauthorized vehicle that was hit by a train west of the Wyandanch station. That vehicle was later removed, the LIRR said.
Twitter photos showed huge crowds swarming in Penn Station during the service outage.
Penn station is madness tonight with service suspension.. heads up everyone #lirr #pennstation #nyc pic.twitter.com/yweWsS6UtQ
— Anthony Thornton (@antdogs) November 8, 2017
Another view of people trying to get into track 13-14 #longislandrailroad #lirr #nyc #pennstation #longisland pic.twitter.com/OtciKCef2n
— Anthony Thornton (@antdogs) November 8, 2017
Some commuters complained that the delays were preventing them from voting Tuesday evening. Polls for New York state races closed at 9 p.m.
.@LIRR I'm going to miss polls close time because of you. You have robbed me of my right to vote. How do you plan on repaying me?
— Bob Rice (@BobRice11) November 8, 2017
@LIRR I left work early to vote. However! Your consistent incompetence, poor performance & over all lack of concern for your customers is inexcusable! What you do could easily be argued in a court of law as fraudulent & grossly misrepresentitive.
— Wolfgang Vann (@VannWolfgang) November 8, 2017
@NYGovCuomo the #LIRR is keeping thousand of long islanders from voting tonight
— jackieo (@jackieojac) November 8, 2017
Trying hard to suppress the votes to the point they will block two different #LIRR tracks. Jokes on you, I already voted.????????????????????????
— Javier Carreno (@Javvvvv) November 7, 2017
CHECK: LIRR Updates
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority police also restricted access to Penn Station for a time.