Normal LIRR service expected Friday

The Long Island Rail Road expects to resume normal service Friday morning, after four days of major service disruptions caused by an Amtrak train derailment Sunday.

Until then, the LIRR will be on the reduced schedule it has used since Monday morning, with 23 canceled or diverted trains during the morning rush and 20 cancellations in the evening. Westbound service into Penn Station from Jamaica and Woodside remains suspended during peak evening hours.

LIRR officials Wednesday toured the East River tunnel where Amtrak crews have been working around the clock to repair the damage caused when a five-car Amtrak equipment train came off the tracks while moving at 60 mph. The wreckage was not cleared out of the tunnel until Monday night.

As of 5:30 p.m., crews had replaced all 282 damaged wooden rail ties, as well as damaged portions of rail, LIRR spokesman Joe Calderone said.

"We're pretty confident at this point that Friday is looking pretty good," Calderone said.

"It's very difficult, painstaking, labor-intensive work, in a very confined space."

LIRR Commuter's Council chairwoman Maureen Michaels applauded the LIRR for fine-tuning its "disruption" schedule and communicating with thousands of customers -- including through messages on the Madison Square Garden marquee.

SEE PHOTOSLIRR trains and commuters through the years

"The LIRR has done an excellent job keeping people informed about the problems, cancellations and delays," Michaels said on her last full day in office.

The following trains will be canceled or diverted Thursday morning, according to the LIRR's website:

Port Washington Branch

* The 6:17 AM train from Port Washington, due in Penn Station at 7:03 AM, is canceled
* The 7:22 AM Little Neck train due in Penn Station at 7:55 AM, is canceled
* The 7:36 AM train from Port Washington, due in Penn Station at 8:11 AM, is canceled.
* The 8:24 AM Great Neck train due in Penn Station at 8:59 AM is canceled. Customers will be accommodated by the 8:18 AM Port Washington train due in Penn Station at 9:02 AM, making all combined stops.
* The 8:58 AM train from Great Neck, due in Penn Station at 9:34 AM, is canceled. Customers will be accommodated by the 8:45 AM train from Port Washington, due in Penn Station at 9:20 AM, which will make all combined stops.

Babylon Branch

* The 5:56 AM train from Babylon, due in NY at 6:59 AM, will be diverted to Atlantic Terminal.
* The 6:14 AM train from Massapequa Park, due in Penn Station at 7:08 AM, is canceled.
* The 6:42 AM Babylon train due in Penn Station at 7:49 AM, is canceled.
* The 6:57 AM train from Freeport, due in Penn Station at 7:40 AM, will be diverted to Atlantic Terminal.
* The 7:29 AM train from Freeport, due in Penn Station at 8:13 AM, will be canceled at Jamaica.
* The 7:37 AM train from Babylon, due in Penn Station at 8:48 AM, will be canceled at Jamaica.
* The 7:43 AM train from Merrick, due in Penn Station at 8:31 AM, is canceled.
* The 8:10 AM train from Freeport, due in Penn Station at 8:50 AM, is canceled.
* The 8:25 AM train from Freeport, due in Penn Station at 9:08 AM, will be diverted to Atlantic Terminal.
* The 8:35 AM train from Babylon, due in Penn Station at 9:37 AM, will be canceled at Jamaica.

Far Rockaway Branch

* The 8:03 AM train from Valley Stream due in Penn Station at 8:42 AM is canceled.
* The 8:10 AM train from Far Rockaway due in Penn Station at 9:05 AM is canceled. Customers will be accommodated by the 8:21 AM train from Far Rockaway, to Penn Station, which will be diverted to Atlantic Terminal.

Long Beach Branch

* The 8:03 AM train from Long Beach, due in Penn Station at 8:54 AM, is canceled.

Hempstead Branch

* The 6:58 AM train from Hempstead, due in Penn Station at 7:52 AM, will be canceled at Jamaica.
* The 7:12 AM train from Hempstead, due in Penn Station at 8:03 AM, will be canceled at Jamaica.

West Hempstead Branch

* The 7:36 AM train from West Hempstead, due in Penn Station at 8:29 AM, will be diverted to Hunterspoint Avenue.