LIRR to Restore Service on Six Branches Starting at 4 a.m. for Tuesday Morning Rush Hour
Metro-North Railroad to Operate Two-Thirds of Regular Weekday Service With Enhanced Saturday Schedule
Efforts to Restore Staten Island Railway Service Underway
Several Detours Remain in Effect Across Bus Routes to Prioritize Road Snow-clearing Efforts
View B-Roll of LIRR's 'Darth Vader' Snow-Clearing Machine on Greenport Branch East of Ronkonkoma
View Photos of MTA Crews Working Through the Blizzard
Following a severe blizzard that covered the New York metropolitan area with heavy snowfall – setting records in some locations, including 29.5 inches on parts of Long Island – the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), today provided updates ahead of the Tuesday morning commute, along with progress of restoring normal service.
MTA crews across subways, buses, railroads, and bridges and tunnels have been working around the clock to keep service running where possible or clearing snow from rails and tracks to allow efficient restoration of service when conditions permit. Personnel remain deployed throughout the operating region spreading salt and clearing surfaces of snow, keeping signals, switches, and third rails operating, and attending to any weather-related challenges.
Service updates by MTA agencies follow.
Long Island Rail Road
The LIRR plans to operate limited service beginning 4:00 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 24, on the Ronkonkoma, Huntington, Babylon, Oyster Bay, Montauk, and Port Washington branches. Montauk service will be limited to trains between Speonk and points west. Oyster Bay service will operate westbound in the morning and add eastbound after the morning rush.
Westbound service will resume in the 4:00 a.m. hour, eastbound service will resume in the 5:00 a.m. hour. The Port Washington and Ronkonkoma branches will run on an hourly schedule, Babylon and Huntington branches will operate on a half-hourly schedule. Port Jefferson Branch trains will run every hour and a half. Oyster Bay Branch trains will run every two hours, with the first westbound train scheduled for 5:26 a.m. The first eastbound train will leave at 10:45 a.m. Service to Jamaica and Atlantic Terminal will run every 20 minutes.
Customers should check the TrainTime app before traveling or sign up for email/text alerts.
Crews are running patrol and de-icing trains to prevent ice buildup on the third rail, working on interlockings, and clearing fallen trees from tracks caused by high winds. The LIRR will work to restore service on the other branches throughout the day tomorrow and service will resume on a rolling basis as conditions allow.
The scheduled suspension prioritized passenger safety and allowed crews to focus on snow-clearing efforts from this extreme winter weather event, which impacted Long Island more than any other part of the MTA service area.
Metro-North Railroad
For Tuesday, Feb. 24, Metro-North Railroad will operate an enhanced Saturday schedule on the Hudson, Harlem and New Haven Lines. This modified schedule provides two-thirds of regular weekday service.
The Hudson Rail Link connecting bus will resume tomorrow, along with the shuttle buses that have been substituting for the Haverstraw-Ossining Ferry.
New York City Subway
Some express service will continue to run on the local tracks for the morning rush hour, along with modified service in the Rockaways, with shuttle trains running between Euclid Avenue and the Rockaways, serving all stations.
NYC Transit is working to restore service on the Staten Island Railway as quickly as possible. Customers are strongly encouraged to check MTA.info or the MTA app before traveling for the current status of all subway lines.
Crews continue to monitor switches and tracks to ensure they are working properly, along with salting and clearing snow from elevated station platforms, exposed stairs and subway entrances. Field personnel remain at critical locations including stations and yards, addressing snow conditions.
New York City Buses
Buses continue to run a winter weather schedule with routes subject to detours and curtailments based on road conditions in local areas.
Longer accordion-style buses remain off the road and continue to be replaced with 40-foot standard buses operating with chained wheels.
Customers should expect slower travel times and rolling service modifications while efforts to improve road conditions are underway. Customers are encouraged to check the MTA app or mta.info for the latest service information and updates.
MTA Bridges and Tunnels
The ban on empty tractor-trailer and tandem trucks on MTA bridges and tunnels ended at 12:00 p.m. Monday, Feb. 23.
Ways to Stay Informed
MTA.info – The definitive source for real-time arrival information and service change information for each line or route in the MTA system. Customers can find current statuses on mta.info and upcoming planned service changes using the lookup tool at mta.info/alerts.
MTA app – Customers who use the comprehensive MTA smartphone app will see real-time train, bus and rail arrival times, and can chat with our customer care team all in one place. The app is available in the Apple Store and in Google Play.
TrainTime app – The MTA’s TrainTime app is the essential companion to navigating the commuter rail system. Customers can plan their trip, purchase tickets, check train status, and chat with customer service, all in one app. The app is available in the Apple Store and Google Play.
Email Alerts – Customers can sign up for email alerts tailored to their specific commutes and travel times. They can also sign up for MTA newsletters like The Weekender, a weekly newsletter that covers major weekend planned service changes. Customers can sign up here.
511 – Customers who prefer to contact the MTA by telephone, information is available by dialing 511. Those who are deaf or hard of hearing can use their preferred service provider for the free 711 relay to reach the MTA at 511.