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LIRR Train Derails Between Sunnyside/Woodside, Line’s Entire Service Temporarily Suspended

Image via Citizen

August 1, 2018 By Nathaly Pesantez

A Long Island Rail Road train derailed between Sunnyside and Woodside earlier this afternoon, causing service throughout the entire line to be temporarily suspended.

The incident happened at around 12:45 p.m., when two axles of the train on the Port Washington Branch line derailed at Harold Interlocking, a railroad junction next to Sunnyside Yard, said Aaron Donovan, an LIRR spokesperson said.

The train had left Penn Station at 12:19 p.m., and was supposed to arrive in Port Washington on Long Island at 1:05 p.m.

The agency said the customers onboard were transferred to another train by 1:30 p.m., and that there were no initial reports of injuries. About 400 to 500 people were on board.

New York City Transit is cross-honoring LIRR tickets on several Penn station subway lines, and at the 7 line station at Woodside and Flushing-Main Street., the LIRR said.

Video uploaded to the Citizen app shows FDNY and other personnel near 48th Street and Skillman Avenue, with the derailed train purportedly shown behind.

The agency is investigating the cause of the incident and also evaluating potential impacts to service during the evening’s rush hour.

email the author: news@queenspost.com

9 Comments

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Jimmy Van Pooch

Any truth to the rumor that the train was being operated by a local Councilmember and that’s why it went off the rails?

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Queens streets

We represent all of the people of Sunnyside. On behalf of all residents, businesses, houses of worship, schools, workers, and residents we think Harold should come speak to us.

In a united voice we say: paint the rails green, put up large signs instructing train drivers to look at the rails. This will make it much safer without having to change anything in this relatively safe stretch of rail.

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Tony

There were so many helicopters in the air with the news crews you could hear so many choppers for hours throughout Sunnyside. Glad nobody was hurt.

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Motorized Bike

Not to worry, we won’t need this service. Cause we will be getting bike lanes soon.

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