"It is too early to say how long it will take to restore the system to full service," the release said. "Metro-North Railroad and the Long Island Rail Road must take a close look at hundreds of miles of tracks, switches, railroad crossing and cars and locomotives."
Metro-North Railroad lost electric power from 59th Street to Croton-Harmon on the Hudson Line and east to New Haven on the New Haven Line, the MTA said.
MTA workers "removed dozens of down trees, wires and even removed a 40-foot pleasure boat that washed ashore near Ossining Station on the Hudson Line," the MTA website said.
While a partial restoration of the bus system began at 5 p.m. Tuesday, the train system was not restored.
"Our transportation system has never faced a disaster as devastating as Hurricane Sandy, which has caused an unparalleled level of damage," said MTA Chairperson Joseph J. Lhota in the release.
"The challenge that we face now is one of assessment, inspection, repair and restoration," he continued. "This will not be a short process, but it will be one that puts safety as its major focus."
Downtown Manhattan subway lines were extensively damaged in addition to flooding in several New York City tunnels, the release said.
The recovery process will be "exhaustive" and "time-consuming," the release said. The company’s one goal is “to restore safe and efficient service to 8.5 million daily MTA customers."
Click here to follow Daily Voice Armonk and receive free news updates.