LIRR Service Restored
By Joseph Orovic
Commuters were finally given a reprieve from erratic service when Long Island Railroad trains returned to a normal schedule on Sunday at 4 p.m.
A fire at Hall Tower, a rail switching post located yards away from Jamaica Station, knocked out some eastbound train service for much of last week. But according to LIRR spokesman Mike Charles, service has been fully restored.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation. Authorities have not ruled out the possibility of an electrical fire started after heavy downpours last weekend.
“Electricity and water don’t mix; we know that,” Charles said, adding the investigation will aid in preventing future outages.
Still, the point may be moot as the LIRR is converting to a new rail-switching system based around microprocessors. Charles said the new system is still being tested but should be implemented by late October.
Reach Reporter Joseph Orovic at jorovic@queenstribune.com or (718) 357-7400, Ext. 127.