The Long Island Rail Road train derailment in Queens Thursday morning that left 13 people injured will require repairs that could disrupt some service through Friday, Governor Kathy Hochul said.
The train, which left Grand Central Station at 10:43 a.m. on Aug. 3 on its way to Hempstead, was disabled east of the Jamaica Station at around 11:15 a.m., according to the MTA. No one was critically injured, and passengers were transferred to alternate trains.
“Nine of the injuries are minor, two of them are moderate, and two are more serious—but all of them are stable at this time and all of them are going to be ok,” said FDNY Commissioner Laura Kavanagh, who spoke at a press conference near the scene.
The FDNY said that eight train cars derailed about half a mile east of the Jamaica Station in the vicinity of 175th Street and 93rd Avenue.
Janno Lieber, chairman and CEO of the MTA who also spoke at the press conference, said MTA personnel were currently on the scene with equipment to get the derailed train back in order. He said that there was also some infrastructure damage to the rails that will take time to repair.
“There are going to be impacts to this evening’s p.m. rush and in all likelihood to tomorrow morning a.m. morning rush hour as well,” Lieber said.
But later that afternoon, Hochul reported that customers should anticipate track changes and possible delays through midday Friday. Lieber urged riders to visit the MTA website and use its TrainTime app to check the LIRR schedule.
Meanwhile, all eastbound Hempstead Branch trains are skipping Hollis and Queens Village. LIRR tickets are being cross-honored for service on the Q2, Q3, Q8 and Q110 buses between Jamaica and Queens Village.
Updated on Aug. 3 at 5:35 p.m.
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