Several LIRR branches experiencing heavy delays

According to the Metropolitan Tranportation Authority's website, trains on three separate lines are jammed up this morning on the Long Island Rail Road.

The Oyster Bay, Port Jefferson and Ronkonkoma branches are all experiencing 30- to 45-minute delays in both directions between Queens Village and Carle Place, according to the website. The delays are due to a downed power line near Mineola.

More specifically, the website noted a handful of trains that have experienced more excessive delays. The 8:03 a.m. train from Huntington to Penn Station was canceled because of signal problems west of the Mineola station, and two earlier trains -- the 6:16 a.m. eastbound train from Penn Station to Ronkonkoma and the 6:42 a.m. westbound train from Ronkonkoma to Penn Station -- were each operating approximately one hour late, again because of signal problems west of the Mineola station.

The website did not specify whether the signal problems stemmed from the downed power line.