LIRR: Good service on Far Rockaway, Hempstead lines after broken rail

The Long Island Rail Road Monday morning was reporting good service on the Hempstead and Far Rockaway branches after a broken rail near East New York in Brooklyn caused delays and cancellations Sunday night.

MTA spokeswoman Sarah Armaghan said Sunday night that crews were making repairs overnight and the broken rail was not expected to affect the Monday morning rush hour, the first day of winter repairs at Penn Station.

Also Monday morning, buses will replace trains between Greenport and Riverhead because of high snow drifts, the railroad said on Twitter Sunday night. Train service will be available between Riverhead and Ronkonkoma, the LIRR said.

The railroad reported the broken rail issue on Twitter at 7:19 p.m. Riders were asked to transfer in Jamaica for eastbound Hempstead service. For Far Rockaway westbound service, riders had to transfer in Jamaica to a Hempstead train.

The new repairs have forced the LIRR to alter schedules to accommodate the work, diverting eight rush-hour trains that typically terminate or originate at Penn Station to Atlantic Terminal in Brooklyn or Hunterspoint Avenue in Queens.