Union boss: Safety concerns on commuters' 1st day of LIRR service reduction at Penn
Commuters walk toward a LIRR train on Track 17 as a crew works on Track 18 at Penn Station during the start of the next stage of Amtrak's infrastructure renewal project on Monday. Credit: Charles Eckert
The Long Island Rail Road’s top union leader is raising safety concerns over the LIRR’s latest construction-related service reductions at Penn Station.
Monday was the first day of what is expected to be a five-month reduction of rush-hour LIRR service at Penn Station, where the latest phase of Amtrak’s infrastructure renewal project is shrinking track capacity. Although assorted LIRR issues, including a broken rail near Bellmore, caused some minor delays Monday, railroad officials said, overall, trains ran on or close to schedule throughout the morning.
There also were minor delays Monday evening on the Ronkonkoma and Port Jefferson branches, including those caused by a track condition in Northport.
The LIRR is diverting or canceling several rush-hour trains through May, and making other changes to its schedule, as Amtrak performs upgrades on several tracks at the station. Work related to the MTA’s East Side Access project is also causing some disruptions for the next month.
Anthony Simon, general chairman of the Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Union division 505, which represents about 3,000 LIRR employees, said his workers are concerned that the change in customer patterns at Penn and reduced capacity in some train cars could affect customer safety.
“This will create loading and unloading challenges and disrupt the typical flow of riders on and off our trains,” Simon said. “On behalf of the workforce responsible for the safety of our riders, we encourage our customers to exercise caution and be aware of their surroundings while commuting. While improvements are necessary for the future, safety and situational awareness should be a priority.”
In a statement, LIRR president Phillip Eng said the railroad is in “complete agreement,” with its labor partners. Eng said that’s why the railroad has improved coordination with Amtrak with a focus on ensuring the ongoing repairs are completed on time, “which is critical to operations and the safety of our customers and our employees.”
“This increased commitment toward cooperation has resulted in more timely and robust communication regarding travel options, allowing our customers to make informed decisions about their commutes,” Eng said.
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.
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