Service on 3 LIRR branches on or close after gas leak, officials say

A gas leak near the Long Island Rail Road tracks in Floral Park caused a brief morning disruption of service on three branches Wednesday, officials said.

Floral Park police and Nassau County fire officials said the leak occurred when a gas main was ruptured during an excavation on non-railroad property near the Floral Park station.

The railroad said service was shut down on one track through the area to allow firefighters and other emergency workers to access the site to address the issue.

The incident caused delays to rush-hour trains on the Port Jefferson, Oyster Bay and Ronkonkoma branches, the railroad said. In addition to average delays of 10 to 15 minutes on trains through the area, there was one eastbound cancellation.

The railroad said normal service resumed at 9:31 a.m.

By John Valenti

john.valenti@newsday.com

John Valenti, a reporter at Newsday since 1981, has been honored nationally by the Associated Press and Society of the Silurians for investigative, enterprise and breaking news reporting, as well as column writing, and is the author of “Swee'pea,” a book about former New York playground basketball star Lloyd Daniels. Valenti is featured in the Emmy Award-winning ESPN 30-for-30 film “Big Shot.”