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I have moved to Long Island 6 years ago and am on the Long Beach branch (sometimes, I take train on Babylon branch as the stops are equidistant from my house).
I have noticed that for the past 3-6 months, the performance ahs been dismal and I know many people say that LIRR sucks, but in the 6 years, I experiences only occasional delays. Now, every day there are delays due to either equipment problems, switch troubles, train derailment, not a day goes by without something happening.
Of course, the system is not a spring chicken and shows its age, the corruption is rampant, but up till recently, it still did not have such a bad effect on a daily commute, now, it feels that something is being grossly mismanaged.
Alot of the delays are caused by a train striking a person or vehicle...someone committing suicide or someone trying to beat the warning signs. Last month there was a plane crash by the tracks, and another freight train derailment. This kind of thing is uncommon and out of the hands of the rail road. There was also a passenger who fell into the gap...moron!
The signal and equipment problems need to be addressed for sure
I have noticed that for the past 3-6 months, the performance ahs been dismal and I know many people say that LIRR sucks, but in the 6 years, I experiences only occasional delays.
It does seem like the LIRR has gotten worse. Every day it seems a major problem, today it was switch trouble at West Side Yard and in Mineola, the other day it was a East River tunnel power problem. The system is not being well maintained (I guess the NICE Bus disease has spread).
There are huge potholes at Mineola on the south platform, have complained to the MTA several times about it and they have yet to fix all of them.
This would seem like a huge tripping hazard, something you'd think the MTA would be concerned about since they should be worried about being sued. Generally its gotten bad all over, but I have noticed the Babylon Branch seems to fare the best. It's interesting the LIRR has spent millions on renovating Massapequa, Seaford, and now Wantagh platforms, but little has been done for the much more aging and busier Main Line stations. Unlike the Babylon Branch most of us don't even have canopies! Babylon gets the most trains and the best stations and its hardly a coincidence that this part of Nassau County often has the most power in the State Senate GOP, whereas the middle of the island is less important, politically. Now that those aformentioned South Shore areas now have become rich and full of finanicial industry folks, it shouldn't come as a surprise they get the best service. Of course when we are talking about the LIRR which is considered PUBLIC transportation yet they aren't neccesarily providing the best service to the busiest areas.
Of course failures at & around Penn screw everybody. This is just another example of a Government agency failing to meet the needs of the population it is supposed to service. Instead, it serves itself. Privatization, however, is not the answer, we just have to look at NICE Bus to see that.
The other day there was a pigeon in the train while I was boarding it at Penn Station. A heroic man chased it away off the train while the rest of us were screaming like little girls. I'm sure the bird caused some sort of delays. He also got a free ride to Penn.
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