Amtrak releases service changes for Penn Station repairs

The Latest on rail delays at New York's Penn Station (all times local):

5:10 p.m.

Amtrak has announced service changes and cutbacks for this summer, when it plans to make extensive repairs at New York's Penn Station.

Among the changes are reductions to service between New York and Washington, D.C., and between New York and Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

The railroad's premium Acela service will be unchanged.

Amtrak didn't say Tuesday how its Empire Service between Albany and New York City would be affected. Reports have said those trains could be diverted to Grand Central Station.

An announcement is expected soon on how the Long Island Rail Road and New Jersey Transit will be affected. The two commuter lines carry hundreds of thousands people each weekday.

The summer repairs are expected to close three of the station's 21 tracks at a time for approximately seven weeks, beginning in July. The work was ordered after two recent derailments and numerous other delays.

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12:30 p.m.

Amtrak says it's working to determine the cause of a power problem that left two Long Island Rail Road trains stranded in an East River tunnel for over an hour and resulted in systemwide rush-hour delays.

LIRR conductors handed out drinking water Tuesday morning as passengers aired their ire on Twitter.

NYC Transit cross-honored fares on the E and 7 subway lines.

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority said the outage involved an electrified third rail that's maintained by Amtrak.

Recent problems have plagued LIRR and New Jersey Transit commuters who use Penn Station.

Amtrak said last week that three tracks at a time will be closed as part of extensive repair work that's expected to inconvenience thousands of rail commuters this summer.

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10:10 a.m.

The Long Island Rail Road says a power problem left two of its trains stranded in an East River tunnel for over an hour and resulted in other rush-hour delays.

LIRR conductors handed out drinking water Tuesday morning. Passengers aired their ire on Twitter.

NYC Transit cross-honored fares on the "E'' and "7'' subway lines.

Recent problems have plagued LIRR and New Jersey Transit commuters who use Penn Station.

Amtrak said last week that three tracks at a time will be closed as part of extensive repair work that's expected to inconvenience thousands of rail commuters this summer.

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9:30 a.m.

The Long Island Rail Road says a power problem left two of its trains stranded in an East River tunnel for over an hour and resulted in other rush-hour delays.

NYC Transit cross-honored fares on the "E'' and "7'' subway lines on Tuesday morning.

Passengers aired their ire on Twitter. LIRR conductors handed out drinking water.

Recent problems have plagued LIRR and New Jersey Transit commuters who use Penn Station.

Amtrak said last week that three tracks at a time will be closed as part of extensive repair work that's expected to inconvenience thousands of rail commuters this summer.