MTA Long Island Rail Road is expecting to resume service to the East End of Long Island, in the wake of Hurricane Earl, with Saturday morning trains operating to Montauk and Greenport. The LIRR will add two extra trains for East End service on Saturday.

Montauk Branch Service:

The first train to operate to Montauk leaves Penn Station at 7:40 AM Saturday morning, makes a Jamaica stop at 8:08 AM, and arrives Montauk at 10:46 AM.

In addition to the regular eastbound Montauk trains operated on Saturday, the LIRR is running two extra trains to Montauk. The first added train is the 8:40 AM train from Penn Station, which normally terminates at Patchogue; however on Saturday it is being extended to Montauk, arriving at 12:05 PM. The second extra train is the 11:16 AM train from Penn Station, departing Jamaica at 11:43, and arriving Montauk at 2:21 PM.

Regular Saturday westbound train service from Montauk is being provided with the 3:35 PM, 5:35 PM and 7:34 PM departures from Montauk.

For those customers traveling to Patchogue and Speonk, the LIRR is providing its full complement of eastbound and westbound Saturday trains.

Customers should consult the attached timetable of eastbound Saturday service on the Montauk Branch to plan their travel.

Greenport Service:

The LIRR’s service east of Ronkonkoma to Greenport has also been restored.

The regular Saturday eastbound service is being provided with:

• the 9:16 AM departure from Penn Station, departing Jamaica at 9:38 AM, Ronkonkoma at 10:40 AM and arriving Greenport at 12:05 PM;

• the 2:16 PM departure from Penn Station, departing Jamaica at 2:38 PM, Ronkonkoma at 3:40 PM and arriving Greenport at 5:05 PM.

The regular Saturday westbound service from Greenport is restored with:

• the 1:13 PM departure from Greenport, arriving Ronkonkoma at 2:37 PM, Jamaica at 3:39 PM and Penn Station at 4:01 PM;

• the 6:13 PM departure from Greenport, arriving Ronkonkoma at 7:37 PM, Jamaica at 8:39 PM and Penn Station at 9:01 PM

Restoration after the storm

In restoring the LIRR’s East End service, the LIRR quickly assessed storm-related damage and crews are working through the overnight, in the wake of the storm, to reactivate the 79 grade crossings on the East End. These grade crossings were deactivated in advance of the storm in an effort to avoid damage to crossings gates that can be sustained during high winds – allowing for a quicker recovery.

The LIRR had suspended service to the East End Friday for safety in advance of forecasts that called for 40 mph sustained winds.

For up-to-date travel service information, customers can also contact the LIRR’s Travel Information Center in Suffolk County at 631-231-LIRR, in Nassau County at 516-822-LIRR or in New York City at 718-217-LIRR. The Travel Information Center’s TDD telephone number for the hearing impaired is 718-558-3022.

Customers can also text schedule request to CooCoo (266266).

Click here for the timetable for Saturday’s east bound service to Montauk starting at 8 AM.

LIRR riders who plan on going out to destinations east of Ronkonkoma or Speonk, read this entry with early information about potential service or lack thereof stemming from Hurricane Earl. I will be posting any & all updates I receive from the LIRR. So keep checking in here for the lates.

I suggest you print out a copy of the page to carry with you or use any mobile device to access the phone-friendly version of Transit Blogger. For those on Long Island, stay safe during the potentially damaging weather & lastly everyone try to stay cool & as always, have safe travels!

xoxo Transit Blogger

Our ongoing rehabilitations of stations in the Rockaways continue. The Manhattan-bound A platforms at Beach 25th, Beach 44th and Beach 67th Streets are scheduled to close for rehabilitation at 12:01 a.m. on Tuesday, September 7, 2010 until the fall of 2011. Also, the Rockaway Park-bound A S platforms at Beach 90th and Beach 105th Streets will close until spring 2011.

The work includes installing new canopies over the stairs and platforms, repairing the platforms, columns, stairs and tracks, redesigning area around station booth for easier access to trains, replacing the mezzanine and platform floors, replacing the stations’ lighting and platform edges, and installing a new, high-quality public address system.

Dyre Avenue bound 5 train leaving the Morris Park station. Resized photo courtesy of Eye On Transit.

The last few months have seemed extra painful for Bronx riders who use the 5 train during either rush hour period due to express service being suspended. As I noted in March, express service was to be suspended for 18 months due to the rehabilitation of the 180th St station & the $280 million East 180th Street signal modernization project.

Just a short time ago, MTA NYC Transit surprisingly announced that Bronx rush hour express service will be restored as of this Tuesday & lasting until March 2011. Here are the complete details from the press release I received:

MTA New York City Transit officials announced that beginning Tuesday, September 7 and continuing for seven months through March 2011, weekday rush hour 5 express service will be restored in the Bronx.

5 trains will again run express in the peak direction during morning (southbound) and afternoon (northbound) rush hours between East 180th Street and 3rd Avenue-149th Street. Service in Brooklyn and Manhattan remains unchanged, and 2 trains continue to serve Bronx local stops at all times.

This service had been operating local since March 2010 in order to support two projects on the 2 5 lines in the Bronx – the ongoing East 180th Street signal modernization project and the East 180th Street station rehabilitation.

By rescheduling planned work, 5 express service can be temporarily reinstated until April 2011. At that time, 5 service will again operate local in the Bronx until August 2011. Work on these projects will also cause weekend service changes to occur.

xoxo Transit Blogger

Before heading out to the East End on Saturday, LIRR customers are strongly urged to check the LIRR’s website for the latest information on LIRR service to the East End.

If there is minimal damage to our tracks on the East End, the LIRR is hoping to restore train service to the Hamptons and Montauk with the regularly scheduled 8:08 AM Saturday train from Jamaica to Montauk.

In order to restore this service, the LIRR will need to assess any storm-related damage late Friday night into early Saturday morning before deciding when service can resume on Saturday. The LIRR’s goal is to resume service as soon as possible on Saturday morning, depending on the extent of the storm damage. Even if there is no, or minimal, damage from the storm – such as fallen trees on the tracks, downed wires, power outages and flooding – it may take between 6 and 8 hours to reactivate crossing gates after the storm passes.

Friday Service to the East End Suspended

MTA Long Island Rail Road service to the East End of Long Island is suspended on Friday, September 3 for safety reasons related to the forecast of Hurricane Earl bringing sustained winds of 40 mph (with gusts of up to 60 mph), heavy rains and possible flooding.

Throughout the day Friday, LIRR train service will remain suspended east of Speonk on the Montauk Branch and east of Ronkonkoma on the Main Line, which normally takes customers to Greenport and Long Island’s North Fork.

Update on the Montauk Branch: The 5:09 PM train from Penn Station will not be canceled today, as earlier reported. This train will operate, but will terminate at Speonk at 7:18 PM. The LIRR’s website contains the details of LIRR storm-related service changes.

LIRR service west of Ronkonkoma and west of Speonk is expected to operate on a normal schedule.

The eight early getaway trains between 2:02 PM and 3:48 PM scheduled from Penn Station heading east on Friday will continue to operate to Babylon, Great Neck, Far Rockaway, Hicksville and Huntington.

These service changes are being made for three reasons:

• Safety of Our Customers: Suspension of service helps to ensure that no customers will be put at risk or stranded due to flooding or fallen trees.

• Protection of Our Equipment and Facilities: The LIRR will be securing 79 grade crossings on the East End in advance of the storm in an effort to avoid damage to crossings gates that can be sustained during high winds. Flooding is also a concern as the LIRR maintains storage yard facilities at both Greenport and Montauk Stations.

• Faster Recovery Time: By securing gates and other equipment in advance, the LIRR anticipates a quicker recovery time from any storm related damage and better service for customers throughout the holiday weekend.

While forecasters expect Hurricane Earl to weaken significantly as it proceeds north, they indicate that the East End should be prepared for Tropical Storm level winds and rain – strong enough to down trees and power lines and cause considerable flooding.

The LIRR will continue to monitor the storm closely and is in close contact with Nassau, Suffolk, New York City and New York State emergency officials.

In any storm situation, the LIRR’s storm safety policy is to begin to limit or suspend service as necessary once winds reach a sustained speed of 39 miles per hour, or what the LIRR calls “Zero Hour.” This policy is designed to ensure the safety of LIRR customers, employees and the Railroad’s equipment and infrastructure, including electric and diesel rolling stock and over 700 miles of track stretching from Manhattan to Montauk.

I will continue to post information as I receive it.

xoxo Transit Blogger

MTA Long Island Rail Road will suspend service on Friday to the East End of Long Island for safety reasons as forecasters are calling for Hurricane Earl to bring sustained winds of 40 mph (with gusts of up to 60 mph), heavy rains and possible flooding.

The LIRR will suspend train service east of Speonk on the Montauk Branch and east of Ronkonkoma on the Main Line, which normally takes customers to Greenport and Long Island’s North Fork.

LIRR service west of Ronkonkoma and west of Speonk will operate on a normal schedule. In addition, eight early getaway trains between 2:02 PM and 3:48 PM scheduled from Penn Station heading east on Friday will continue to operate to Babylon, Great Neck, Far Rockaway, Hicksville and Huntington.

These service changes are being made for three reasons:

• Safety of Our Customers: Suspension of service helps to ensure that no customers will be put at risk or stranded due to flooding or fallen trees.

• Protection of Our Equipment and Facilities: The LIRR will be securing 79 grade crossings on the East End in advance of the storm in an effort to avoid damage to crossings gates that can be sustained during high winds. Flooding is also a concern as the LIRR maintains storage yard facilities at both Greenport and Montauk Stations.

• Faster Recovery Time: By securing gates and other equipment in advance, the LIRR anticipates a quicker recovery time from any storm related damage and better service for customers throughout the holiday weekend.

The last eastbound train to Montauk will leave Penn Station at 12:39 AM Friday morning and arrive in Montauk at 3:57 AM. The last train traveling westbound to Penn Station is scheduled to leave Montauk at 5:39 AM and arrive at Penn Station at 8:42 AM.

The last westbound train will leave Greenport at 5:30 AM Friday morning.

LIRR service to the East End will operate as scheduled Thursday afternoon and evening.

Customers who commute to New York City daily from stations east of Speonk and Ronkonkoma should be aware that LIRR service would not be available to bring them home from work on Friday afternoon.

The LIRR will assess any storm related damage late Friday night before deciding on when service can resume on Saturday. The LIRR’s goal is to resume service as soon as possible on Saturday morning, depending on the extent of the storm damage. It may take between 6 and 8 hours to reactivate gates after the storm passes.

Hurricane Earl is presently a Category 4 hurricane situated off the coast of North Carolina with sustained winds of 140 MPH. While forecasters expect the Earl to weaken significantly as it proceeds north, they say the East End should be prepared for Tropical Storm level winds and rain, strong enough to down trees and power lines and cause considerable flooding.

The LIRR will continue to monitor the storm closely and is in close contact with Nassau, Suffolk, New York City and New York State emergency officials.

In any storm situation, the LIRR’s storm safety policy is to begin to limit or suspend service as necessary once winds reach a sustained speed of 39 miles per hour, or what the LIRR calls “Zero Hour.” This policy is designed to ensure the safety of LIRR customers, employees and the Railroad’s equipment and infrastructure, including electric and diesel rolling stock and over 700 miles of track stretching from Manhattan to Montauk.

As a result, the following trains are being canceled on Friday:

Eastbound Friday-only Montauk Trains Canceled – Friday, September 3

• 1:50 PM from Penn Station due to arrive in Montauk at 4:45 PM.

• 3:58 PM from Penn Station due to arrive in Montauk at 6:48 PM.

• 5:09 PM from Penn Station due to arrive at Montauk at 8:29 PM.

• 7:11 PM from Penn Station due to arrive at Montauk at 10:10 PM.

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All other regularly scheduled Montauk trains will either terminate or originate at Speonk, as detailed below:

Eastbound regularly scheduled Montauk trains terminating at Speonk – Fri., Sept. 3

• 7:39 AM from Penn Station, due to arrive in Montauk at 10:53 AM will terminate at Speonk at 9:44 AM.

• 11:06 AM from Penn Station, due to arrive in Montauk at 2:19 PM will terminate at Speonk at 1:10 PM.

• 4:15 PM AM from Penn Station, due to arrive in Montauk at 7:35 PM will terminate at Speonk at 6:24 PM.

• 5:51 PM from Penn Station, due to arrive in Montauk at 9:07 PM will terminate at Speonk at 7:55 PM.

• 8:30 PM from Penn Station, due to arrive in Montauk at 11:57 PM will terminate at Speonk at 10:30 PM.

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Westbound regularly scheduled Montauk trains originating from Speonk – Fri., Sept. 3

• 11:22 AM from Montauk will originate from Speonk at 12:42 PM, arriving Penn Station at 2:44 PM.

• 2:51 PM from Montauk will originate from Speonk at 4:14 PM, arriving Penn Station at 6:20 PM.

• 10:38 PM from Montauk will originate from Speonk at 12:03 AM, arriving Penn Station at 2:02 AM

I will post any breaking info as I receive it from the agency.

xoxo Transit Blogger

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) today announced that it is preparing for any service-related issues that may arise from Hurricane Earl. The MTA is closely monitoring the storm and will work hard to ensure that customers get where they need to go.

Long Island Rail Road Service Changes:

MTA Long Island Rail Road will suspend train service east of Speonk on the Montauk Branch and east of Ronkonkoma on the Main Line, which normally takes customers to Greenport and Long Island’s North Fork. LIRR service west of Ronkonkoma and west of Speonk will operate on a normal schedule.

The last train traveling west to Penn Station is scheduled to leave Montauk at 5:39 AM and arrive at Penn Station at 8:32 AM. The last train leaving New York for Montauk is scheduled to depart from Penn Station at 12:39 AM Friday morning and arrive in Montauk at 3:57 AM. The last westbound train will leave Greenport at 5:30 AM Friday morning. The LIRR will assess any storm related damage late Friday night before deciding on when service can resume on Saturday.

Eight early getaway trains between 2:02 PM and 3:48 PM scheduled from Penn Station heading east on Friday will continue to operate to Babylon, Great Neck, Far Rockaway, Hicksville and Huntington.

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NYC Transit, MTA Bus, Long Island Bus:

Service on subways and buses is expected to remain normal but delays, disruptions and the rerouting of buses are possible if there is flooding underground and on city streets. Customers are urged to use caution, especially on stairs, outdoor platforms and at bus shelters.

The potential for service disruptions caused by flooding during periods of sustained heavy rains does exist so New York City Transit maintains three pump trains capable of pumping 300 gallons of water from the system every minute. The Track and Infrastructure Division also has a fleet of portable pumps, some with a pumping capacity of 600 gallons per minute. Crews will also be dispatched to cover sidewalk vent gratings in areas that are prone to flooding.

Inspections of the system’s drains and culverts have already begun to make certain that they are clear and free of debris. Transit workers will also survey outdoor train lines and construction areas to identify and secure any loose materials.

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Metro-North Railroad and Long Island Rail Road Preparedness:

The Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North Railroad are working closely with emergency officials on hurricane contingency plans. The railroads have mobilized their maintenance of way employees, gathering teams to respond to fallen trees, downed power lines, clogged culverts, mudslides, and washouts. In preparation for the storm, both railroads are ensuring that all equipment necessary to deal with the effects of the storm are ready to go – chain saws for clearing downed trees, pumps for flooded areas, and identifying locations and availability of replacement supplies for replacing damaged utility poles and crossing gates. Vehicle fuel tanks have been topped-off and generators are being tested and fueled.

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MTA Bridges & Tunnels:

MTA Bridges and Tunnels is part of the city’s Office of Emergency Management preparedness team and is involved in daily preparations and updates as the storm gets closer. B&T staff are readying equipment and working with contractors at our seven bridges and two tunnels, making sure that all work sites and equipment are secure in case of high winds.

Bridges and Tunnels personnel are also checking all storm drains at our facilities to ensure that they are free of debris. Wind restrictions will be in place at various B&T facilities if winds gusts rise to between 30 (wet conditions) and 39 m.p.h. (dry conditions), and motorists will be asked to reduce speeds. If winds reach 49 m.p.h., certain vehicles, including box trucks, step vans, and motorcycles would be banned.

The MTA urges all customers to give themselves extra travel time whenever there is inclement weather. Customers should visit the MTA’s website, www.mta.info, and monitor news media and traffic and transit reports for updated information on storm-related service. We also urge customers to sign up for email alerts by visiting MyMTAAlerts.com to begin receiving real-time status updates about your subway, bus, rail and/or bridge and tunnel route.

xoxo Transit Blogger

Darius McCollum being escorted out of the 103rd Precinct Tuesday night after his recent arrest. Photo courtesy of Kendall Rodriguez for the New York Post.

Almost 24 hours ago, I wrote about how notorious transit criminal Darius McCollum was once again busted. His latest crime involved the theft of a Trailways bus from a maintenance facility in Hoboken, New Jersey.

It seems there is more to the story that originally appeared in the New York Daily News. According to the report from Emily Ngo & Tom Namako of the New York Post, the bus theft over the weekend was not the first by Darius from this company & facility. 21 days earlier he allegedly stole another bus from the facility & drove it to Washington D.C.:

The mass-transit madman who yanked a bus from a Hoboken depot yesterday appears to have stolen yet another bus 21 days ago from the same spot and driven it to Washington D.C., police sources said.

Darius McCollum, 45, told officers after his arrest yesterday that he stole another bus nearly three weeks ago – and hasn’t yet been caught, law enforcement sources said.

Authorities in Washington D.C. are checking the fingerprints on the recovered Trailways bus to see if they match McCollum’s, sources said.

“It’s bizzarre. It’s around that time frame,” police sources said.

Officials from the MTA – who McCollum has terrorized for 30 years — confirmed that none of their buses were stolen three weeks ago.

His lawyer, Stephen Jackson, said, “He vehemently denies that. He has not been charged with any other incident and there’s no indication of him taking anything else than what was charged in this case.”

Trailways spokeswoman Anne Noonan was unavailable for comment. Her assistant said she was “out of the office for the rest of the day.”

McCollum, 45, who has a history of commandeering subways and slipping in to transit facilities with impeccable uniform fakes, is now being held on $100,000 bail after appearing in Queens criminal court this morning.

He went on a joy ride around Queens with a Trailways coach yesterday.

Click here for the complete report.

What else is left to be said about Darius. He clearly needs help as there is a clear obsession with public transportation & just being a fan is not enough. Has any agency ever considered hiring him for some sort of job? I know with this criminal record, no agency would hire him. However maybe a job is what it would take for him to stop these planned crimes.

xoxo Transit Blogger

The MTA Long Island Rail Road will be providing additional service for customers getting an early start on the Labor Day Weekend on Friday, September 3. There will be eight additional eastbound trains from Penn Station between 2:02 PM and 3:48 PM. The extra service will include: three trains on the Babylon Branch, three on the Port Jefferson Branch, one on the Port Washington Branch and one on the Far Rockaway Branch.

The LIRR will be operating on a weekend schedule on Saturday, September 4th and Sunday, September 5th and a Sunday/holiday schedule on Monday, September 6th. Please note that the additional Sunday afternoon Montauk Branch westbound trains from Montauk and the Hamptons will not operate on September 5th, but instead operate on September 6th(Monday).

The extra trains from Penn Station on Friday, September 3 are as follows:

Port Jefferson Branch to Hicksville and Huntington:

• 2:03 PM stopping at Jamaica, Carle Place and all stops to Huntington

• 2:31 PM stopping at Forest Hills, Kew Gardens, Jamaica, New Hyde Park, then all stops to Huntington

• 3:24 PM stopping at Jamaica, Mineola, Westbury and Hicksville

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Babylon Branch:

• 2:23 PM express to Lynbrook, then all stops to Babylon

• 2:48 PM stopping at Jamaica, Rockville Centre, then all stops to Babylon

• 3:31 PM express to Rockville Centre, then all stops to Babylon

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Port Washington Branch to Great Neck:

• 3:40 PM stopping Woodside, Flushing Main St., then all stops to Great Neck

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Far Rockaway Branch:

• 3:48 PM stopping at Locust Manor, Laurelton, Rosedale, Valley Stream, then all stops to Far Rockaway

——-

Cars will also be added to selected regularly scheduled trains.

Labor Day, Monday, September 6:

On Monday, September 6, the LIRR will operate on a Sunday schedule.

Darius McCollum being taken out of the 59th St.-Columbus Circle station by cops in June 2008. Photo courtesy of Hiroko Masuike for The New York Times

For some people, bad habits are just too hard to break. This is especially true when it comes to Darius McCollum who has a long history of run-ins with the law involving his obsession with all things involving public transportation, especially the MTA.

He was the focus of 2 entries on here in 2008. The first was in June as he was busted for impersonating a track worker & entering a restricted area at the 59th St-Columbus Circle station. This was not the end of his run-ins with the law as in October, as he was busted for impersonating a federal agent when he flashed a bogus badge & id to a LIRR conductor after boarding a train at Penn Station.

The career criminal who became famous around the region for stealing an E train & driving it from 34th St-Penn Station to the World Trade Center when he was 15, has once again been arrested. His latest misdeed occurred on Tuesday morning after he stole a Trailways Bus from a maintenance facility in Hoboken, New Jersey. Pete Donohue of the New York Daily News has more:

He’s back on the bus – and back under arrest.

Darius McCollum, whose mass transit misdeeds include 26 arrests over the last 30 years, was busted driving a stolen bus on the Van Wyck Expressway on Tuesday morning, police said.

McCollum, 45, of Harlem, was behind the wheel of the empty Trailways bus when he was stopped near Exit 10 in Queens by the NYPD at about 9:15 a.m., police said.

The cops were responding to a call from New York state police about a bus stolen from a maintenance facility in Hoboken, N.J.

A bus dispatcher checking the GPS found the vehicle was off-site and driving in New York City, said Trailways vice president Anne Noonan.

Police tracked the bus using its GPS, and McCollum was arrested without incident on the northbound Van Wyck. He was charged with grand larceny auto and possession of stolen property, police said.

City transit officials, well-acquainted with McCollum’s obsession, said its employees had been “on the lookout for this career transit worker wannabe,” said NYC Transit spokesman Paul Fleuranges.

“We applaud the NYPD’s recent arrest, and hope he is punished to the fullest extent of the law and kept far away from anything with wheels,” Fleuranges said.

Click here for the complete report.

It is a shame that Darius continues to do these things. As I stated 2 years ago, jail is the answer for him. He clearly needs help that for whatever reason he has not received. Whatever help he has received clearly failed him & needs to be reevaluated.

I also noted that it is a shame that he can’t get a job with the MTA. I know that they would never hire him with his past history. However he seems to clearly love transportation & has a lot of knowledge about the system. Maybe just maybe they could find a position that could keep him off the streets & from run-ins with the law.

xoxo Transit Blogger