LIRR expects normal evening rush

A broken rail in Seaford caused some late morning problems on the Babylon branch but the Long Island Rail Road expected to run a normal schedule for the evening rush hour, the commuter service said Monday.

Two trains were canceled on the Babylon branch between noon and 1 p.m. and at least three others were delayed as much as 15 to 25 minutes Monday as a crew repaired the broken rail, spokesman Sam Zambuto said.

"We have no issues currently," Zambuto said Monday afternoon, just prior to the evening commute, "and we anticipate a regular evening rush hour."

Zambuto said that extreme cold can cause the steel rails to contract abnormally, which can result in breaks.

The thermometer at Long Island-MacArthur Airport dipped to 4 degrees Monday, the coldest temperature ever for a Jan. 24 at the airport.

The service has extra welding crews on hand to make such rail repairs, Zambuto said.