Scheduled track work on the Babylon and Montauk Branches over the weekend of Saturday and Sunday, October 15-16 and again over the weekend of Saturday and Sunday, October 22-23 will mean significant service changes on those branches as the LIRR undertakes a switch replacement project in Freeport, and grade crossing improvements and concrete tie installation east of Babylon. The track outages are expected to affect approximately 25,000 customers each weekend.

On both weekends, buses will replace trains on the Montauk Branch between Babylon and Speonk. Babylon Branch service will be reduced from half-hourly to hourly as will eastbound train service to Forest Hills and Kew Gardens Stations in Queens. The project will also result in some service adjustments on the Long Beach Branch and at St. Albans Station on the West Hempstead Branch.

Customers using the Babylon and Montauk Branches should expect up to 45 minutes of additional travel time.  To avoid the busing and other delays, the LIRR advises that travelers consider using the Ronkonkoma Branch or the Huntington-Port Jefferson Branch instead.

Check the Special Branch Timetables

For specific train times, customers should consult the Special Branch Timetables for the Babylon, Montauk and West Hempstead branches and the Special Timecards for the Long Beach branch and Forest Hills/Kew Gardens service at http://web.mta.info/lirr/Timetable/ or pick up copies at terminals or branch stations.

Here is a summary of the key service changes.

Weekend of October 15-16 & October 22-23

Montauk Branch

Westbound

Trains will operate from Montauk through Speonk only. At Speonk, customers will board express buses to Babylon, where train service resumes to points west. Customers traveling from stations Mastic-Shirley through Bay Shore for points west will also board buses at their station for Babylon, where train service resumes.

Eastbound

Customers traveling east of Babylon for stations Bay Shore through Mastic-Shirley will board buses at Babylon to their stations. Customers traveling east of Speonk will board buses at Babylon for express service to Speonk, where train service will resume to points east. Customers will experience up to an additional 37 minutes of travel time depending on destination.

Babylon Branch

Westbound

• Service between Babylon and Penn Station is reduced from half-hourly to hourly.

Eastbound

• Service between and Penn Station and Babylon is reduced from half-hourly to hourly.

West Hempstead, Long Beach & Service to Forest Hills & Kew Gardens

For specific service changes affecting service on the Long Beach Branch, to St. Albans Station on the West Hempstead and to Kew Gardens and Forest Hill Stations in Queens, customers are advised to consult the Special Weekend Timecards for each branch and station.

Sunday, October 23 Beginning at 5 p.m.

Montauk Branch and Babylon Branch

Eastbound

Beginning at 5 p.m. on Sunday, October 23, customers traveling between western terminals and Babylon will detrain at Rockville Centre for buses, making all local stops to Wantagh where train service to Babylon will resume. Passengers traveling further east will transfer to buses for the remainder of their trip (except for those traveling east of Speonk, who will transfer back to trains at Speonk for stations Westhampton through Montauk). Customers should expect up to 52 minutes of additional travel time.

For Additional Information

For train schedules and real-time train status, customers should download LIRRTrain Time™, the Railroad’s official app available via the Apple Store for iOS devices or Google Play Store for Android along with MTA eTix™ - LIRR’s mobile ticketing app which allows customers to buy LIRR tickets on their mobile device -- anytime, anywhere.  Customers can also sign up for LIRR Service Alerts via text or email by registering at www.mymtaalerts.com. Assistance is also available from the LIRR’s Customer Service Center by calling 511, the New York State Travel Information Line, and saying: Long Island Rail Road. If you are deaf or hard of hearing, use your preferred service provider for the free 711 relay to reach the LIRR at 511.