The Long Island Rail Road is suspending service Sunday.
Long Island Rail Road service will be suspended system-wide as of 7 p.m. Sunday along with the rest of the trains, buses and subways run by the MTA before “frankenstorm” Hurricane Sandy hits the region, officials said.
Buses replaced trains on the Montauk Branch while LIRR crews began the process of securing equipment and taking down crossing gates so that they don’t blow away. Riders are urged not to wait for the last trains to avoid being stranded.
“This storm will batter the MTA, but the precautions we take now will allow us to recover much more quickly,” said Joseph Lhota, chairman and CEO of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.
LIRR crews have been clearing drains, readying heavy machinery and securing loose construction equipment in prepration for the storm, which is forecast to impact the Island starting early Monday morning.
Amtrack began cancelling trains on the East Coast on Saturday. Flights in and out of New York and Washington are also expected to be cancelled Monday.
LIRR, bus and subway service was also suspended when Tropical Storm Irene hit LI last August. The MTA suspends service when sustained winds of more than 39 mph blow through town. Sandy is churning up the Atlantic as a Category 1 hurricane with 75 mph susained winds.
New York City Transit, Metro-North and the LIRR will cross-honor each other’s passes Sunday. Service will be restored once the MTA deems it safe to do so.
Riders can go to the mta.info or call 511 for the most current service information.
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