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August 04, 2018
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Service Advisory: LIRR Double Track Construction Enters Final Weeks, Leading to Increased Reliability, Service on Ronkonkoma BranchTemporary Weekday Peak and Off-Peak Service Changes August 6-10 On Ronkonkoma, Babylon, Far Rockaway, and Port Jefferson Branches as the Double Track Project Moves into Final Phase
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Construction on the Long Island Rail Road's crucial Double Track project along the Ronkonkoma Branch in Suffolk County is entering its final weeks this August, and will require some temporary weekday peak and off-peak service changes starting Monday, August 6, through Friday, August 10, on the Ronkonkoma, Babylon, Far Rockaway, and Port Jefferson branches. Please see the full details via this link, or view them below.
The highly anticipated Double Track Project, a vital component to expanding LIRR service in Suffolk County while bolstering the region’s economy, will improve service and reliability on the LIRR’s Ronkonkoma Branch, as well as for service to Long Island MacArthur Airport. Over the past 25 years, ridership on the Ronkonkoma Branch has doubled -- growing in popularity since the line was electrified in 1988 – indicating the need for expansion.
Construction crews continue to work around-the-clock on the Double Track project, which is expected to be completed this summer. This addition will aid in reducing delays in the event of a service disruption, as the majority of the 18-mile stretch between Ronkonkoma and Farmingdale currently only has one track available to both directions of train traffic. When an issue arises with a train, this stalls all other east and westbound trains because there is currently no way to circumnavigate the stalled train.
The temporary service changes for the week of August 6-10, 2018, are as follows:
Ronkonkoma Branch
Westbound · The 1:45AM off-peak train from Ronkonkoma to Penn Station will depart 2 minutes earlier at 1:43 AM.
· The 5:29 AM and 6:24 AM peak trains from Ronkonkoma to Penn Station will depart 2 minutes earlier at 5:27 AM and 6:22 AM.
· The 6:54 AM peak train from Central Islip will originate from Ronkonkoma at 6:45 AM.
· The 6:56 AM peak train from Ronkonkoma will originate from Farmingdale at 7:22 AM. Customers east of Farmingdale can take the 7:04 AM train from Ronkonkoma to Penn, which will add stops at Hicksville and Mineola.
· The 7:15 AM peak train from Brentwood will be restored to originate from Ronkonkoma at 7:04 AM. This train was temporarily originating from Brentwood since April 30.
· The 7:19 AM peak train from Ronkonkoma will depart 2 minutes earlier at 7:17 AM.
· The 4:03 PM off-peak train from Ronkonkoma will originate at Farmingdale at 4:36 PM. Customers at stations Ronkonkoma through Bethpage will board buses for service to Hicksville, where train service resumes.
· The 4:48 PM off-peak train from Ronkonkoma to Penn Station will depart 14 minutes later at 5:02 PM.
· The 7:45 PM off-peak train from Ronkonkoma to Penn Station will depart 18 minutes earlier at 7:27 PM.
· The 9:11 PM off-peak train from Ronkonkoma to Penn Station will depart 17 minutes later at 9:28 PM.
· The 10:11 PM off-peak train from Ronkonkoma to Penn Station will depart 13 minutes later at 10:24 PM.
· The 11:11 PM off-peak train from Ronkonkoma to Penn Station will depart 15 minutes later at 11:26 PM.
Eastbound
· The 3:15AM off-peak train from Penn Station to Ronkonkoma will depart 22 minutes earlier at 2:53 AM.
· The 5:11 AM off-peak train from Penn Station to Brentwood will terminate at Farmingdale. Customers will board buses at Farmingdale for eastbound service to Ronkonkoma.
· The 7:39 AM off-peak train from Penn Station to Ronkonkoma will depart 21 minutes later at 8:00 AM.
· The 3:09 PM off-peak train from Penn Station to Ronkonkoma will terminate at Farmingdale at 4:01 PM. Take the 4:06 PM off-peak train from Farmingdale to Ronkonkoma.
· The 4:24 PM peak train from Penn Station to Ronkonkoma will terminate at Farmingdale.
· The 4:34 PM peak train from Atlantic Terminal to Ronkonkoma will depart three minutes earlier at Farmingdale and Deer Park and two minutes earlierat Brentwood and Central Islip.
· The 6:53 PM peak train from Penn Station to Ronkonkoma will arrive 5 minutes later at Hicksville, six minutes later at Bethpage and ten minutes later at Farmingdale, Wyandanch, Deer Park, Brentwood, Central Islip and Ronkonkoma.
· The 10:42 PM off-peak train from Penn Station to Ronkonkoma will terminate at Hicksville at 11:27 PM. Customers can take the 11:40 PM train from Hicksville to Ronkonkoma.
Babylon Branch
· The 7:31 AM off-peak train from Penn Station to Babylon will make an added Woodside stop.
Far Rockaway Branch
· The 3:39 AM off-peak train from Jamaica to Far Rockaway will depart Jamaica at 3:16 AM, 23 minutes earlier than usual.
Huntington/Port Jefferson Branch
· The 8:00 AM off-peak train from Penn Station to Huntington will depart three minutes later at 8:03 AM.
· The 8:42 PM off-peak train from Penn Station to Huntington will arrive one minute later than usual at Westbury and two minutes later at Hicksville, Syosset, Cold Spring Harbor and Huntington.
Many Channels for Services Updates Information about service changes noted in this press release and all planned service changes is available through the LIRR’s real-time service information sources: Email and text message service updates – Customers are urged to sign up to receive the alerts by visiting MyMTAAlerts.com. To avoid unwanted messages, a user can tailor the messages to the specific branch, and the specific times of day. MYmta app – Customers who use the new, comprehensive MYmta app will see real-time travel information for LIRR and connecting services all in one place. As a caution, trains that start out their trips on time may experience delays en route. The LIRR Train Time app also remains available for customers to access LIRR train information. MTA.info – The rail tab of the “Service Status” box at the left side of www.MTA.infois always the definitive source for the latest status for each branch, updated every minute. In addition, customers can visit www.mta.info/lirrto see special service notices in the upper center of the page. @LIRR on Twitter – Twitter users can follow @LIRR to receive updates of a similar nature to the email and text alerts, shortened to fit Twitter’s format. The above communications channels can be accessed while at home or on the go. For customers who are located at stations, the LIRR will post the latest service updates on digital signs at station platforms and will make audio announcements over public address systems, and on-board announcements made by train crews. For those who prefer the telephone, information is available from the LIRR’s Customer Service Center by calling 511, the New York State Travel Information Line, and saying: “Long Island Rail Road” Those who are deaf or hard of hearing can use their preferred service provider for the free 711 relay to reach the LIRR at 511. |
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