Penn Station work pushes LIRR riders to the edge -- literally

Construction work at Penn Station has Long Island Rail Road riders crammed on crowded train platforms.
Riders say they must circumnavigate large construction barricades in Penn Station, and then stand at the edge of the platform to wait for their train. Some images provided by Newsday show the small space in which riders must wait.
Raja Singh, of Hicksville, says overcrowding has always been an issue and that the construction is only exacerbating the situation.
"As soon as people hear the track, they rush down and wait," he says.
Gerard Bringmann, of the LIRR Commuter Council, says the railroad needs to do a better job of crowd control on the platforms.
The MTA released a statement that says in part, "Safety is a core value of the LIRR. We are investigating ideas that could help reduce crowding, including by better monitoring crowding conditions and available space at Penn Station and tailoring our announcements accordingly."