A Long Island Rail Road work train caught fire last Friday morning in Malverne, halting service on the West Hempstead Branch. The incident occurred before 4 a.m. near Ackley Avenue, located east of the Westwood train station.
The fire involved the locomotive of a freight train. Firefighters responded to the scene, extending water lines through nearby backyards to suppress the flames on adjacent tracks.
No injuries were reported among the workers aboard the train. The cause of the fire remains under investigation by authorities.
As a result of the fire department activity and track inspection needs, LIRR service on the West Hempstead Branch was suspended between West Hempstead and Valley Stream. Customers were advised to use alternate branches for travel.
The West Hempstead Branch is noted as the smallest commuter branch within the LIRR system. Crews must inspect the tracks for damage after the train is moved before regular service can resume.
Service disruptions have affected other parts of the transit system recently. MTA service partially resumed on the Hempstead Branch following separate issues.
The train fire in Malverne occurred within Nassau County. Commuters on Long Island Rail Road continue to monitor updates regarding the restoration of service on the affected line.
