LIRR: 2 branches back on schedule after gas leak in New Cassel

A gas leak near the Long Island Rail Road tracks in New Cassel suspended and delayed trains on the Huntington-Port Jefferson and Ronkonkoma branches Tuesday morning, the railroad said.

The incident began when a contractor breached a gas line near the intersection of Siegel Street and Railroad Avenue east of the Westbury station at 8:26 a.m., Nassau County police said.

Service was suspended for all Ronkonkoma Branch trains and for Huntington-Port Jefferson Branch trains east of Mineola for about half an hour, the railroad said. That was followed by delays of 10 to 20 minutes for two hours before trains were back to on or close to schedule at 11:35 a.m.

PSEG Long Island crews responded to the scene, police said. LIRR personnel, police and fire departments did as well, the railroad said.

By John Valenti

john.valenti@newsday.com

John Valenti, a reporter at Newsday since 1981, has been honored nationally by the Associated Press and Society of the Silurians for investigative, enterprise and breaking news reporting, as well as column writing, and is the author of “Swee'pea,” a book about former New York playground basketball star Lloyd Daniels. Valenti is featured in the Emmy Award-winning ESPN 30-for-30 film “Big Shot.”