Service on the Lirr’s Long Beach Branch was thrown into disruption Wednesday morning after a train struck debris in an East River tunnel, forcing cancellations, reroutes and delays during the commute. Some passengers were being evacuated from affected trains as emergency crews responded.
SkyFOX flew over the tunnel area and showed a disabled train as fire crews reported to the scene. Officials said the incident came after an earlier disabled NJ Transit train in one of the East River tunnels, and preliminary information indicated that the earlier problem left debris on the tracks.
The disruption hit the Long Beach Branch, according to officials, and was based on information from the MTA. The Lirr said the service problems unfolded during the Wednesday morning commute, when delays rippled through a line that many riders depend on to get into work on time.
What remains unclear is how the first train became disabled, and officials had not yet released details on the extent of any damage. That leaves the immediate cause of the tunnel disruption unresolved even as crews worked to clear the scene and restore normal service.
