LIRR resumes East End service after Earl passes by

The Long Island Rail Road resumed service in eastern Suffolk in time for Hamptons travelers to get to Montauk Saturday morning.

The railroad, which suspended service Friday on the East End, said it will run all of its Montauk branch trains Saturday and will even add two eastbound trains from Penn Station — one at 8:40 a.m., the other at 11:16 a.m. 

The railroad had suspended service east of Speonk and Ronkonkoma because of Hurricane Earl, whose predicted high winds had threatened to snap grade crossing gates and blow down power lines, trees and other debris onto tracks. Work crews deactivated 79 crossing gates in eastern Suffolk and tied them to poles in the upright position. 

The schedule is as follows: Montauk branch — The first train to operate to Montauk leaves Penn Station at 7:40 a.m., making a Jamaica stop at 8:08 a.m., and arrives in Montauk at 10:46 a.m. In addition to the regular eastbound Montauk trains operated on Saturday, the railroad will run an 8:40 a.m. train from Penn Station, which normally terminates at Patchogue, to Montauk. It is scheduled to arrive at 12:05 p.m. 

The second extra train is the 11:16 a.m. train from Penn Station, departing Jamaica at 11:43 a.m., arriving in Montauk at 2:21 p.m. Regular Saturday westbound train service from Montauk is being provided with departures at 3:35 p.m., 5:35 p.m. and 7:34 p.m. Customers traveling to Patchogue and Speonk will be provided with a full complement of eastbound and westbound Saturday trains. Greenport Service — Service east of Ronkonkoma to Greenport has also been restored. 

Regular Saturday eastbound service includes: the 9:16 a.m. train from Penn Station, departing Jamaica at 9:38 a.m., Ronkonkoma at 10:40 a.m. and arriving Greenport at 12:05 p.m.; the 2:16 p.m. train from Penn Station, departing Jamaica at 2:38 p.m., Ronkonkoma at 3:40 p.m. and arriving at Greenport at 5:05 p.m. The regular Saturday westbound service from Greenport includes the 1:13 p.m. train arriving at Ronkonkoma at 2:37 p.m., Jamaica at 3:39 p.m. and Penn Station at 4:01 p.m.; and the 6:13 p.m. train arriving at Ronkonkoma at 7:37 p.m., Jamaica at 8:39 p.m. and Penn Station at 9:01 p.m., officials said. 

For up-to-date travel service information, customers can also contact the LIRR’s Travel Information Center in Suffolk at 631-231-LIRR, in Nassau at 516-822-LIRR or in New York City at 718-217-LIRR. The Travel Information Center’s TDD telephone number for the hearing impaired is 718-558-3022. The railroad website is www.mta.info/lirr.