More LIRR Delays for PM Rush

Another afternoon of delays and packed trains await commuters on the Long Island Rail Road Tuesday.

The will again operate a significantly reduced evening rush schedule of trains from Penn Station. Another 20 of the 87 trains normally operated out of Penn Station during the evening rush will be canceled and combined with other trains, the MTA said.

Delays and crowded trains are likely on the two branches running through Hicksville, the Ronkonkoma branch (toward Bethpage and Melville) and the Port Jefferson branch (through Syosset and Huntington.) To check specific trains, check the MTA website.

While eastbound trains from Penn Station are likely to be packed, the MTA says westbound service into Penn Station will terminate at Jamaica on its main line and, on the Port Washington branch, will terminate at Woodside beginning about 4:30 p.m.. NYC Transit will be honoring LIRR tickets at Jamaica for the E line and at Woodside for the No. 7 line to New York.

Some examples:

Just before 5 p.m., the MTA was reporting the 4:54 p.m. train on the Ronkonkoma Branch from New York is cancelled. Commuters will be accommodated by the 5:01 p.m. train from New York .

And, on the Port Jefferson branch, the 6:30 p.m.train from New York was cancelled. Customers will be accommodated on the 6:35 p.m. from Penn Station to Hicksville. That train will be extended to Huntington, the MTA reported.

The big service disruptions are necessary in order for the LIRR to restore full service on Thursday morning. A normal commute is directly dependent on Amtrak's ability to repair track in an East River tunnel, damaged by a derailment on Sunday.

The LIRR urges customers to allow extra travel time and expect 10- to 20- minute delays Tuesday night. It expects similar service disruptions all day Wednesday.

Among the repairs, Amtrak crews are replacing 275 damaged track ties. Once repairs are completed, testing must also be performed before the tunnel can be restored for train service, the MTA said.