Nov 24, 2008 2:50 pm US/Eastern
LIRR Problems To Continue Through Evening Rush
Morning Commuters Face Service Cancellations, Changes
QUEENS (CBS) ―
It was a frustrating morning for thousands of Long Island Rail Road riders, and things weren't expected to be much better on Monday night. The rail road is still experiencing major delays a day after a train derailed in Queens.
It was a sight for sore eyes and a fright for sore feet: at 8 a.m. – the peak of the peak of the morning rush at Jamaica Station – commuters are wall-to-wall on the platform heading east to Nassau and Suffolk, too crowded for some.
"I am not squishing for a train that's too crowded. I'll wait for another one. I have that leeway," said LIRR commuter Stephanie Paradiso.
In all, ten trains heading into the city and two heading east were either canceled or modified because of Sunday's derailment. Crews worked through the night to remedy the situation, but Monday morning four train cars were still stuck on the tracks, causing half of Jamaica's eight tracks to be shut down. At Penn Station and Jamaica, there were packed platforms, but differing opinions on how the morning commute went.
"It's been horrible. I can't believe this mess. I just came back from Texas, couldn't get a train where I live," one passenger told CBS 2.
But it wasn't so bad for others.
"I don't see chaos yet, everybody's calm," said Cynthis Bryan.
Sunday's derailment is the second in five days at Jamaica, the third this year.
"These incidents are not related, though they both occurred here. The causes are not the same, both are under investigation," said LIRR spokeswoman Susan McGowan.
Work crews are still trying to reopen the four closed tracks. The MTA has already advised passengers to expect delays and cancelations to continue through the evening.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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