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    1. Rail

    LIRR restores full service less than 48 hours after most damaging wind event since Superstorm Sandy

    Aug. 8, 2020
    LIRR has extended its service systemwide to Montauk, Greenport and Port Jefferson.
    Related To: MTA Long Island Rail Road
    LIRR
    LIRR crews clear a downed tree along the Port Jefferson Branch in Smithtown.
    LIRR crews clear a downed tree along the Port Jefferson Branch in Smithtown.

    The Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) has restored full service less than 48 hours after Tropical Storm Isaias, according to an announcement from New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA). Service on the Port Jefferson, Montauk, Oyster Bay and Greenport branches has now been restored after suspensions due to downed trees, utility poles and power lines caused by the most damaging winds since Superstorm Sandy.

    LIRR restored full service on the Oyster Bay and Greenport branches Aug. 5, following the restoration of the Babylon, Far Rockaway, Hempstead, Huntington, Ronkonkoma, Long Beach, Port Washington and West Hempstead branches less than 24 hours after the storm. 

    “Just a heroic job done by the LIRR workforce,” said LIRR President Phil Eng. “Our crews worked around-the-clock and their hard work resulted in a quick return to service. Given the strength of this storm and the amount of debris that had to be cleared from our tracks, I really can’t credit each and every worker enough and I’m confident our riders feel the same.”

    “Metro-North continues to be hard at work clearing debris and fallen trees from our tracks to restore full service as quickly as possible,” said Metro-North President Cathy Rinaldi. “Our dedicated crews continue to work around-the-clock as our system sustained severe damage. Our workforce is truly incredible, and I thank them for the herculean effort they are making on behalf of customers.”

    On the Metro-North Railroad, all lines operated on a weekend schedule on Aug. 6. Harlem Line service has been extended from Grand Central Terminal to Pleasantville. New Haven Line service continues to operate from Grand Central to Stamford, with bus service on the New Canaan and Waterbury branches. Crews are working to remove trees on the Upper Harlem Line, the New Haven Line between Stamford and New Haven and on the Danbury Branch.

    In total, LIRR crews cleared more than 200 trees. Metro-North crews have cleared approximately 175 trees so far.