The Long Island Rail Road had to bring in a rescue train to pick up 150 stranded passengers after a combination of snow drifts, icing and equipment failure left them stuck in blizzard conditions for five hours early Sunday morning.
The train, scheduled to reach Ronkonkoma at 4:14 a.m., got stuck at Wyandanch at 6:45 a.m. It was first delayed by snow and ice, then stopped by a passenger car that got stuck crossing the tracks before the locomotive pulling the train broke down, according to the MTA.
The rescue engine towed the car back to Farmingdale where the passengers were transferred to other trains.
Service on the Far Rockaway line was restored at 7:15 a.m. after being suspended for several hours, according to a posted advisory.
The LIRR service has been suspended on the Long Beach line and other temporary suspensions in service are expected due to high snow accumulations.
LIRR spokeswoman Susan McGowan says only limited service is being offered and delays are averaging two hours.
Delays aside, the rails are the safest travel option on the Island right now.
As snow continues to fall, temperatures drop and winds pick up, the National Weather Services warns people to stay off the roads unless absolutely necessary.