A single fallen tree turned the Wednesday morning commute into a slog for Long Island Rail Road riders, as a blockage near Kew Gardens forced trains on the Main Line to skip key Queens stops and left commuters juggling cancellations, packed cars and longer trips into the city.
According to News 12 Long Island, the MTA said a downed tree east of Kew Gardens forced eastbound Main Line trains to bypass Woodside, Forest Hills and Kew Gardens and triggered cancellations on most lines. The outlet also reported that the Port Washington Branch was not affected and advised riders to lean on the TrainTime app for real time updates.
CBS New York reported that westbound Main Line trains were also bypassing Kew Gardens, Forest Hills and Woodside during the morning rush, extending the disruption across Queens just as commuters tried to get to work.
How riders can get around
Per MTA guidance, the subway is accepting valid LIRR tickets at nearby stations so passengers can keep moving toward Manhattan without paying a second fare. Show your LIRR ticket or pass to a station agent for entry. The agency lists Kew Gardens Union Turnpike, Forest Hills 71 Av, 61 St Woodside and 34 St Penn Station among the points where cross honoring is available when trains are skipping those stops.
Riders are being urged to build in extra travel time, consider detouring via the 7 or F subway lines, or switch to a different LIRR branch if that is an option. Check the TrainTime app or MTA service alerts before heading out for up to the minute status and reroute suggestions, and keep proof of fare handy to show station staff when using alternate service.
Local context
As the MTA has outlined, Kew Gardens, Forest Hills and Woodside have already been the focus of planned weekend work to upgrade platforms and accessibility, and that construction has at times required LIRR trains to skip the same stations. That backdrop helps explain why the agency regularly rolls out cross honoring and rerouting procedures when something blocks the right of way and why crews may need time on scene to safely clear tracks. For word on when full service is restored and which schedules are shifting, riders should stick with official MTA channels and local news outlets.
