LIRR attempts full service; running on special schedule with delays, post-storm issues

The Long Island Rail Road attempted to resume full service Wednesday morning after this week's historic storm forced the complete shutdown of the system Monday and reduced service Tuesday.

But the railroad was experiencing widespread delays during the Wednesday commute. It announced a "special schedule" across all its branches early Wednesday, saying there will still be schedule adjustments due to "lingering effects of the historic blizzard." 

Delays were reported on the Ronkonkoma Branch due to multiple trains experiencing equipment and weather-related switch and signal problems, the railroad said on its website. Impacted trains included the 5:49 a.m. ,the 6:07 a.m. and the 7:26 a.m. trains to Penn Station, operating up to 25 minutes late.

On the Port Washington Branch, the 6:14 a.m. train from Port Washington to Penn Station was operating 10 to15 minutes late due to earlier equipment trouble at Bayside, the LIRR said.

Even with the obstacles, commuters were eager and ready to go west toward Manhattan.

The Ronkonkoma station parking lot was full of cars and commuters early Wednesday despite snow taking up an abundance of parking spots. Many cars were still seen snowed in.

Many bundled-up commuters who parked farthest away from the train braced against Wednesday morning's cold winds, walking over snow and ice in the parking lot while carrying briefcases or lunch boxes.

Chris LaMantia, 53, of East Patchogue, who was waiting for the 5:49 a.m. train from Ronkonkoma to Penn Station, said it took him at least 20 minutes to find a spot in the lot compared to the typical two minutes.

While he usually works in person, LaMantia said he worked from home Monday and Tuesday. He wasn’t surprised at the amount of snow in the lot as his area received more than 23 inches. "They just plowed this morning," LaMantia said about municipal plows on his street. "I still have only one lane on my street."

Around 5:56 a.m., the 5:49 a.m. train went off the board, causing commuters to scurry. Many who were waiting on Track 3 quickly ran up the stairs and down Track 2 in case their train arrived on the other side on Track 1, optimizing their entry points.

The train came in around 6 a.m. on Track 3.

Denise Earl, 73, of Bayport, who was waiting for the 6:27 to Grand Central, described her experience commuting thus far Wednesday as “horrible.”

It took her a little while to find a parking spot in the station garage due to snow drifts still lingering. And since the creation of Station Yard apartments, Earl , who said she’s been commuting since the 70s, said she has noticed less available parking spots due to tenant cars.

“It’s crazy,” she said about trying to find a spot in the garage. “They’re not clearing the spots ... and you got to just keep going down and down and down.”

“I've been taking this train for since 1972,” she said. “Nothing has changed.”

Check back for updates on this developing story.