Thousands stranded on Long Island Rail Road - Fire, Evacuation and delays for evening rush from NYC

[link to morichesdaily.com]

ery limited LIRR service has been restored on all branches but with significant delays, the MTA reported. Earlier, all branches except the Port Washington line were suspended for hours due to a fire in a switching tower east of Jamaica. NYC Transit is honoring LIRR fares between Jamaica and Manhattan/Brooklyn.

Long delays appeared likely for Monday evening rush hour, said MTA spokesman Sal Arena. He wasn’t sure how many commuters were affected. The commuter rail system carries about 265,000 daily riders.

The fire happened at about 11 a.m. No injuries were reported.

The tower, which is manned by workers who control which trains go onto which tracks by flipping a series of levers, was briefly evacuated, an LIRR spokesman said earlier today.