Freeporters endure 'summer of hell'

I would advise people who are frustrated with the delays to be patient. When people know that there are problems, they should prepare for them.”

Herb Bradensten, Freeport commuter

After visiting her family and friends in Freeport on July 12, Lanae Ragin noticed that her friends were altering their morning routines to get to work on time. Long Island Rail Road’s “summer of hell,” began as commuters like Ragin have had to carve out more time to prepare for delays and crowded trains.

“My friends complain about leaving the house two hours early and still getting to work late,” Ragin said. “There’s no reason why there should be any delays.”

The LIRR’s rush-hour trains to and from Penn Station were reduced because of repairs, leaving many Freeporters struggling to adjust their commutes. Trains were being rerouted to Jamaica Station in Queens or the Atlantic Terminal in Brooklyn, an added step in what otherwise would be a 40- to 50-minute commute into Penn.

Standing beside the Freeport LIRR tracks next to other Freeporters waiting for a train to Penn, Ragin said she was disappointed with the management that was responsible for reducing the trains. “They need to fire the CEOs or the chairmen, because they see that the transportation for the morning and the afternoon commute has become ridiculous,” she said.

The Babylon line, which runs along Sunrise Highway, is among those that have been affected by repair work. Nine east- and westbound trains were cut because of repairs, leaving South Shore residents dreading their afternoon commutes.

The Freeport station is one stop away from Baldwin, where residents are just as frustrated. “Sometimes in the morning and in the afternoon, the train is jam-packed,” said Jean Saloma, of Baldwin. “You can’t get too comfortable in it. You can’t breathe, and everyone’s annoyed and upset. It’s a difficult commute.”

For some, the inconvenience doesn’t only mean arriving home 40 minutes later. She is also often late to pick up her children at their day care center.

“I would usually get back to Baldwin from taking the train after work around 6:10 [p.m.], and now it’s 6:45, 6:50,” she said. “Then I have to walk all the way to my car and drive and pick up my kids. It’s terrible. It makes me late.”

Despite it all, Freeporters and residents of surrounding communities are finding ways to deal with the delays. Point Lookout resident Marc Latman said he often uses the Freeport station, because it’s convenient for him on his way to Jones Beach. (There is a bus from the Freeport station to the state park.) Latman said he understood people’s concerns, and suggested that they leave later in the morning to beat the crowds.

“This is a mess,” Latman said. “But when I can, I try to travel outside the peak times. I won’t travel between 7 and 8:45 a.m.”

According to Gov. Andrew Cuomo, there are more than 200 buses providing transportation from park-and-rides to the city, as well as ferries out of Glen Cove.

Until the train service resumes without delays, Freeport commuter Herb Bradensten said, he is staying positive. Even though he often wakes up earlier to take the train out of Freeport, he doesn’t let it bother him because he believes there are certain things that are out of his control — like train repairs and cancellations.

“I make it my point to avoid being late in order to deal with the trains this summer,” Bradensten said. “I would advise people who are frustrated with the delays to be patient. When people know that there are problems, they should prepare for them.”