LIRR operating normally after downed power lines cleared from tracks near Hicksville

The Long Island Rail Road was operating normally early Thursday after PSEG Long Island crews cleared downed power cables from the tracks near Hicksville that had caused major disruptions throughout the day and into the evening.

The downed wires prevented the railroad from operating trains on its Ronkonkoma branch east of Hicksville and west of Farmingdale.

The utility had no additional information, including what may have caused the cables to come down.

LIRR President Rob Free, in an interview Wednesday afternoon, said two-to-three high transmission poles and their power cables were down "across the tracks" somewhere between Hicksville and Bethpage stations.

"It’s not safe for us to operate trains as they're really low hanging," Free said of the high voltage wires. "There’s one of them that's literally like dangling in between the tracks."

The downed lines were not impacting any PSEG customers, utility spokesperson Katy Tatzel told Newsday via email earlier Thursday. She added: "Our crews will be working alongside the MTA to assess the damage and will be restoring power as quickly and as safely as possible."

There was no Ronkonkoma Branch service between Hicksville‌ and Farmingdale‌ well into the evening Wednesday. Trains between Hicksville and Manhattan, and Farmingdale and Ronkonkoma, were operating in both directions, according to the MTA. There was no LIRR service at the Bethpage station.

More information can be found here. 

"This is impactful for our whole system," said Free, who called the incident "unacceptable."

Newsday's Nicholas Grasso contributed to this story.

By Alfonso A. Castillo

alfonso.castillo@newsday.com@alfonsoreports

Alfonso Castillo has been reporting for Newsday since 1999 and covering the transportation beat since 2008. He grew up in the Bronx and Queens and now lives in Valley Stream with his wife and two sons.