LIRR riders can't catch a break from delays

Long Island riders faced another nightmare commute Monday after the "slow-speed derailment" of an NJ Transit train made fewer tracks available for LIRR trains throughout the day and into Monday night.

Officials said riders "should expect normal rush hour service" this morning and the MTA's website showed "good service" on all LIRR rails. 

Twenty-one LIRR trains were canceled out of 126 scheduled for the evening rush after the 10:47 a.m. derailment just west of the Penn Station platform by an eight-car train, transit officials said. About 300 passengers were on the NJ Transit train bound for Dover, N.J. None was hurt.

The Long Island Rail Road shares Penn Station and its tracks with NJ Transit and Amtrak, which owns the facility.

The incident came just hours after the LIRR announced it was back in business on all branches following a weekend of disruptions as the railroad scaled back service for switching upgrades.

Despite Monday's delays, which forced commuters to be rerouted on a busy afternoon, many seemed resigned to their fate of a slow commute.

Roy Hoffman, 46, of Woodmere, said the delay was an "annoyance" but that there are more important things in life to get angry about.

"For the most part the train is fine," Hoffman said. "Once in a while things happen."

Nicole Seymour, 30, of Freeport, waited with hundreds of others at Penn, aware her train would be a half-hour or even 45 minutes late.

An experienced commuter who has endured the LIRR's recent rash of service delays, Seymour said she "rolls with the punches" since the line is her only way home.

Many commuters said the LIRR's recent delays, either for repairs or malfunctions, have almost made delays like Monday's slowdown feel normal.

Over the weekend, the railroad reduced service across the system to upgrade its antiquated signal and switching systems.

The railroad plans the same on Nov. 6 and 7.

In August, an electrical fire shut down the ancient switching system atJamaica Station, causing a week's worth of disruptions.

LIRR president Helena Williams said the reports she received indicated there was no crowding at Jamaica Monday.

Speaking of Penn Station, she said: "We have to remember that this is a facility that three major carriers operate out of. And we try to accommodate them and they try to accommodate us."

At the Port Washington, some riders waited patiently for trains into the city while others who had just returned from work waited for rides home.

Carrie Diamond of Port Washington was to attend a class in Manhattan. Diamond said she didn't worry about the delays.

"I try not to stress about things I can't control," said Diamond, 44.

Casey Stultz, 34, of Port Washington, said he was delayed about 30 minutes on the train from Penn Station.

"It's just too much, especially with all the (fare) hikes coming up," Stultz said as he waited for his wife to pick him up. "Lately, it's been a hassle."

Stultz had plans to head to the gym after work. After his commute he said he would rather get dinner and watch football.

"Now that I've been on the train an hour," he said, "I have no motivation."

With Alfonso Castillo, Anthony Destefano and Nomaan Merchant