LIRR restoring service but delays plentiful, limited train options after storm shutdown

Long Island commuters returning to the LIRR system after it was shut down for more than 24 hours during the storm encountered scarce options and plentiful delays.

Following its first weather-related shutdown in four years, the Long Island Rail Road overnight restored limited service on most of its branches, although the Far Rockaway, Long Beach, Hempstead, Greenport and West Hempstead branches remained suspended.

Commuters from Valley Stream were directed to catch trains out of Lynbrook. And those destined for Grand Central Madison were further put out, as scheduled service to the LIRR’s new Manhattan service was replaced with "extremely limited" shuttle service between Jamaica and Grand Central.

The history-making blizzard battered the LIRR, freezing track switches, interrupting connectivity between trains and the electrified third rail, and dropping trees onto tracks.

"The scheduled suspension prioritized passenger safety and allowed crews to focus on snow-clearing efforts from this extreme winter weather event, which impacted Long Island more than any other part of the MTA service area," the LIRR said in a statement. "The LIRR will work to restore service on other branches throughout the day on Tuesday. Service will resume on a rolling basis as conditions allow."

Throughout the morning, the LIRR reported delays ranging from 10 to 20 minutes on all its operating branches.

The 10:07 a.m. Long Island Rail Road train to Penn Station from Ronkonkoma started six minutes late Tuesday, with dozens of travelers eager to board.

The parking lot leading to the platform posed a challenge, as only a sliver of a path was carved out from the massive piles of snow pushed to a median.

Untouched and unplowed snow put an abundance of parking spaces out of commission in the lot, at 1000 Railroad Ave.

Despite a few puddles, the Ronkonkoma train platform had been thoroughly salted and was clear of snow and ice Tuesday morning.

Katy Carroll, 37, of Albany, said she traveled to her hometown of Nesconset on Sunday to attend her sister’s baby shower.

"I knew things were going to be bad, but it was important to me," she said, wearing a hat, coat and scarf while and carrying two full tote bags.

Meanwhile, the Nassau Inter-County Express, or NICE bus announced Tuesday morning that it had resumed its full daily schedule, after suspending service between Sunday and Monday afternoon, and running only limited service on some branches through Monday night.

"Scattered delays however are still possible due to local road conditions, and riders are advised to use the NICE GoMobile app ... to check the status of their specific bus in real-time," NICE spokesman Mark Smith said in a statement.

Newsday's Maureen Mullarkey 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.