LIRR trains to the Hamptons and Montauk down Saturday after overnight train derailment
The Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) suspended all service to the Hamptons and Montauk for Saturday after an overnight work train derailment, the New York Metropolitan Train Authority (MTA) said.
The disruption to eastbound service is bound to cause problems for holiday travelers over Memorial Day Weekend, the official start of the summer season for urban beachgoers from New York City as well as commuters.
A Montauk-bound train that left Manhattan's Penn Station at 1:09 a.m. Saturday sideswiped a non-revenue train as part of a passing maneuver, the MTA told WABC, suspending train service to the Hamptons and Montauk for at least all of Saturday, the LIRR said.
LIRR service east of Patchogue, including to the Hamptons and Montauk, will be suspended all day – customers should not go to Penn Station, Atlantic Terminal, Jamaica or their local station expecting service to resume east of Patchogue, although regular service to Patchogue and Riverhead remain in effect.
The Montauk train traveling at approximately 30 miles per hour sideswiped a non-revenue train on a side track east of Speonk as part of a passing maneuver, the MTA said.
It was due to arrive in Montauk at 4:09 a.m. ET.
The engine of the Montauk train and the last car of the non-revenue train derailed, causing extensive damage to the tracks, the MTA said.
None of the commuter train's 32 passengers or LIRR employees suffered any injuries.
One alternative for eastbound travelers, the Hampton Jitney, was selling out, presumably as a result of the train problems. Buses were fully booked until 10:15 p.m. on its regular and Ambassador class coaches, according to a representative who answered the phone Saturday afternoon.
