LIRR: Nearly full service restored on two branches after fatal crash

Long Island commuters could see a repeat performance Friday of Thursday's "near normal" morning and afternoon rush as crews continue round-the-clock repairs in Westbury following a fatal crash involving two trains and a vehicle, officials said.

Riders will still need to be prepared for scattered cancellations and delays, either because of the ongoing repair work or the light snow possible Friday morning. 

The Tuesday night crash brought rail service to a halt on the Port Jefferson and Ronkonkoma branches of the Long Island Rail Road. Two trains collided with a vehicle Tuesday night as it tried to go around a gate crossing. Three men in the vehicle were killed. 

On Thursday, most commuters were adjusting to the new reality of delays and sometimes last-minute cancellations. 

Carl Holzhauer, of Bethpage, who usually takes the train from his hometown station to work, was delayed Wednesday and took the train from Babylon Thursday.

"What are you going to do?" Holzhauer said. "Something like this, you can’t really avoid it."

The LIRR pulled the two damaged trains from service after the crash, creating a shortage of trains to fill out the system's rush hour schedule, rail officials said.

Thursday, LIRR President Phillip Eng said train service was nearly back to full service.

After the rush hour had completed Thursday, crews removed the damaged cars from the crash site and completed the work of rebuilding the westbound track, third rail, and signals, allowing for restoration of evening rush hour service, officials said.

More than 110 feet of platform struck by the westbound train, which derailed, still needs to be rebuilt, the LIRR said.

By sunset Thursday, limited service in both directions had resumed with crews making repairs close by. Workers could be seen on the damaged concrete platform at the nearby LIRR station.

Other crews were replacing damaged fencing near the tracks while new heavy concrete support posts were poised to replace those damaged when the westbound train slammed into the station after hitting the vehicle.

There were plenty of workers and a buzz of activity at the crash site but inside the Westbury station — normally alive with rush hour commuters, only a few scattered riders waited for the 5:34 p.m. train to Penn Station. One of them was Douglas Williams, 30, of Jamaica, Queens.

The cancellations led the mechanic in Westbury to save time Wednesday by spending $50 for a cab back to Queens.

“I’m hoping for better luck tonight,” he said.