LIRR Reporting 'Scattered Delays' on Rush Hour

The Long Island Rail Road said Wednesday that "near normal" service had been restored on most lines, including Huntington.

Just before 6 p.m., the LIRR reporting experiencing "scattered eastbound delays of 5 to 10 minutes through Jamaica due to congestion caused by an earlier train with equipment problems. This affects all branches except the Port Washington Branch."

Customers were advised to keep an eye on the MTA's website for changes or updates.

Tuesday, it was attempting to keep to a holiday schedule. That return to normal got off to a slow start, with some westbound   that were supposed to be operating hourly instead running well behind schedule.

Platforms and the waiting room at the Huntington station were crowded as people awaited the 10:03 a.m. train to Penn Station.

After waiting on the station side A platform, passengers were told to move to the opposite platform, and people gamely trudged up the stairs, crossed the tracks and boarded a waiting train. But shortly before its then-scheduled 10:36 departure, they were told the train had equipment problems.

So they left that train, crossed back over to the other side and eventually boarded another train, which finally left a little after 11 a.m.

While many took the two moves stoically, several people were clearly displeased, including one man who said, "This is what happens when you have an agency with accountability to absolutely no one."

The railroad had initially suspended most eastbound trains Sunday night because of switching problems at Jamaica caused by the blizzard but later halted trains in both directions as the snow began accumulating on tracks. The railroad says packed ice and snow and frozen switches have been the primary service problems and also cited winds and drifts for problems.

The Huntington line includes stops at Syosset, Mineola and New Hyde Park.