Westbury Wreck 02/26/2019

[edflyerssn007]

Hearing reports of car vs train, at least two cars derailed involved and at least 2 DOA's. Looks like one train collided with the platform as well.

Prayers for all involved.

[DutchRailnut]

Officials say three occupants of the truck were killed in the crash. No one on the train was injured, according to the LIRR.

[Crabman1130]

Officials say three occupants of the truck were killed in the crash. No one on the train was injured, according to the LIRR.

I saw people being loaded into ambulances. They were alive, so I'm guessing they were taken off the train.

About 40 to 50 feet of the east end of the west bound platform has been destroyed. First two cars of the train have derailed.

[Kelly&Kelly]

Looks like School Street.

[adamj023]

Hearing reports of car vs train, at least two cars derailed involved and at least 2 DOA's. Looks like one train collided with the platform as well.

Prayers for all involved.

Owch. Isn’t this the mainline that is scheduled to have all the railroad crossings closed? The project can’t come soon enough! Hopefully LIRR can rebuild these trainsets or expand the M9 order to make up for the losses. These accidents are totally avoidable. The LIRR should better prioritize which crossings should be closed first on the line.

http://www.amodernli.com/project/school ... imination/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Looks like it won’t be ready till 2021. That is a long time from now.

[DutchRailnut]

https://www.facebook.com/News12LI/video ... DQwMDk4OQ/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[MACTRAXX]

Everyone:

The MTA website is reporting that the 6:36 PM westbound train from Ronkonkoma (#2065) struck
a truck on the School Street Crossing in Westbury and that service east of Mineola is suspended.
From looking at a current Ronkonkoma Branch timetable about 7:15 PM is when it happened.

http://www.mta.info/status/lirr/Ronkonkoma/25853943" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

There looks to be significant damage to the east end of Platform A at Westbury - as the picture
posted by Ed above shows the derailed M7 cars were 7425-7426. My condolences to all involved.

MACTRAXX

[rspenmoll]

This is probably a very stupid question but I have almost no familiarity with LIRR operations. Why can't trains to and from Port Jefferson and Ronkonkoma be detoured via the Babylon and Central Branches? Are there just not enough spare diesel locomotives to pull this off, even after the peak travel time, or is there another reason as well?

[adamj023]

Everyone:

The MTA website is reporting that the 6:36 PM westbound train from Ronkonkoma (#2065) struck
a truck on the School Street Crossing in Westbury and that service east of Mineola is suspended.
From looking at a current Ronkonkoma Branch timetable about 7:15 PM is when it happened.

http://www.mta.info/status/lirr/Ronkonkoma/25853943" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

There looks to be significant damage to the east end of Platform A at Westbury - as the picture
posted by Ed above shows the derailed M7 cars were 7425-7426. My condolences to all involved.

MACTRAXX

Predictable but will be eliminated in 2021 so it never happens again. Increased traffic means these incidents happen more which is why the third rail project and grade crossing eliminiation project is necessary. Whether its restricted height overpasses or whatnot, incidents are on the rise where its necessary to increase height or remove grade crossings and the like.

[freightguy]

Nassau Police were reporting pretty early once again a vehicle went around the downed gates. PTC more or less would do nothing to prevent this crash if that’s accurate. As stated this is a crossing slated for removal with the third track project. Glad to see the crews and passengers are okay looks like it could’ve been a lot worse!

[edflyerssn007]

This is probably a very stupid question but I have almost no familiarity with LIRR operations. Why can't trains to and from Port Jefferson and Ronkonkoma be detoured via the Babylon and Central Branches? Are there just not enough spare diesel locomotives to pull this off, even after the peak travel time, or is there another reason as well?

Central Branch Detour is one way. As we saw earlier today with the Pedestrian struck in freeport, equipment from the Babylon branch goes to Penn and may end up in other locations than the Babylon on its return leg. These combine such that there isnt enough equipment in the right spots if either the main or central branch go down.

As of tonight they are running trains to hicksville, switching folks to a shuttle and diverting them to the Babylon Branch. From their Facebook "Service remains suspended west of Hicksville on the Ronkonkoma and Huntington/Port Jefferson Branches following a collision between a train and a motor vehicle at the School Street crossing in Westbury. The LIRR is providing some limited shuttle train service between Babylon and Hicksville, where customers can catch eastbound shuttles to Huntington and Ronkonkoma. However, we advise customers to take alternate branches including the Babylon, Hempstead, Montauk and Oyster Bay branches. We will provide more information as it becomes available."

[Head-end View]

This is why the Central Branch should have been electrified long ago.

There were minor injuries on the westbound train and some were transported to hospitals by the numerous ambulances that responded from several area fire depts. Don't know if there were any injuries on the eastbound train.

[rspenmoll]

It’s going to finally get electrified by 2024, correct?

[MACTRAXX]

This is probably a very stupid question but I have almost no familiarity with LIRR operations. Why can't trains to and from Port Jefferson and Ronkonkoma be detoured via the Babylon and Central Branches? Are there just not enough spare diesel locomotives to pull this off, even after the peak travel time, or is there another reason as well?

RS: There is not enough C3 equipment and DM30 locomotives to allow a service via the Central Branch on weekdays without running other diesel trains with short cars or even some outright cancellations. Off peak hours such as overnights this would be a more viable option.

When services ran from Ronkonkoma via the Central Branch due to Main Line trackwork west of Hicksville (Example: when the Post Avenue Bridge in Westbury was replaced) it was weekends when this equipment was available: 4 "8 sets" for through trains - two each from Port Jefferson and Speonk that had to be deadheaded to and from Friday and Sunday nights at the conclusion of a given weekend track work program.

From a recent LIRR public meeting President Phil Eng stated that the Central Branch is going to be electrified in the upcoming Capital Program - and he described that it would give flexibility that is not available right now. With the Main Line likely blocked off for the cleanup in the aftermath of this accident for a possible extended period this route would have been a reasonable alternate.

More then likely a "bus bridge" between Hicksville and Mineola will have to be organized as has been done on past trackwork programs such as again the Post Avenue Bridge outage - but on a weekday substitute buses and drivers may be harder to get to protect service.

The NICE N22 and N24 (Hicksville-Jamaica) bus is another alternate service available. Problem is that the N22 runs somewhat close to the School Street crossing on Union Avenue before the routing goes onto Maple Avenue west towards Carle Place. The N24 uses Old Country Road and would likely be the better of these two bus routes depending on how congested Westbury will be with the School Street crossing and area near Westbury Station closed off.

This cleanup and investigation is going to take some time - I noticed on an airview around 100 feet or at least one 85 foot car length of Westbury Platform A was demolished by the train and will have to be removed and replaced as part of the service restoration.

MACTRAXX

[R36 Combine Coach]

Nassau Police were reporting pretty early once again a vehicle went around the downed gates.

Only makes me wonder if the surviving kin of the driver would attempt to pull off an Ellen Brody and sue the railroad for some reason?