Frigid conditions plague LIRR Jamaica station

The weather outside's been frightful. Frigid, that is.

But Long Island Rail Road riders haven't found much warmth from the arctic temperatures inside the platform-level waiting areas at Jamaica Station so far this cold season.

A routine pre-winter-season inspection weeks ago revealed the pipes supplying natural gas to the station's waiting room heating system had "multiple leaks," a railroad spokesman said.

So the gas was turned off, the pipes are being repaired, the system has been so far inoperative and the railroad has posted an apology. Oh, and the customers have remained, brrrr ... Cold.

Especially on a morning like Friday, when the mercury registered 25-degrees around 5:30 a.m.

It wasn't much warmer Friday evening, either.

LIRR spokesman Sal Arena said the railroad has used space heaters while the permanent system is being fixed.

He said the leaks were discovered last month and estimates the repair project will be completed and the system back in operation by Monday. He said the cost of the repairs is still being calculated.

Meanwhile, the railroad has posted signs on the waiting area doors that read:

"To Our Customers. The LIRR is in the process of repairing utility supply lines that provide heat to the platform-level waiting rooms at Jamaica. As a result, there is no heat in these waiting rooms as repairs are performed.

"Please know the LIRR is working to restore heat as soon as possible and we apologize for any inconvenience or discomfort this may cause."

The railroad said Jamaica is the only station affected by the disruption. Other platform waiting areas in the system are operating normally, Arena said.