The LIRR Expansion Project will perform its third bridge installation project of the summer on the weekend of August 17-18, 2019, as crews install a new bridge over South Tyson Avenue in the Village of Floral Park. The bridge, in service since 1958, is being modified.  The new bridge will address a bottleneck at this section of the LIRR’s Main Line – where four tracks merge into two – and accommodate a future third track to increase capacity and improve service reliability.

The new third track will originate from the Hempstead Branch, then merge with the Main Line east of South Tyson Avenue to accommodate a future increase in capacity on the Main Line. Construction of the new South Tyson Avenue Bridge is underway: the extension of abutment and wing wall is in progress, with bridge roll-in scheduled for August 17. The installation will be completed on this single weekend.

On the weekend of August 17-18, 2019 Hempstead Branch service will be suspended east of Floral Park (as well as at Bellerose Station) from approximately 12 AM Saturday to 12:30 AM on Monday as work is performed. During this time, Hempstead Branch trains will continue to operate out of Atlantic Terminal, but will originate and terminate at Mineola Station (instead of Hempstead).

There will be no train service at Bellerose, Stewart Manor, Nassau Boulevard, Garden City, Country Life Press and Hempstead.

As an alternative, customers can use nearby stations, and NICE Bus will cross-honor LIRR tickets for travel between Hempstead and Mineola (N40/N41 bus routes). Visit www.nicebus.com for bus schedules.

Summary of Weekend Service Changes

• Hourly service intervals between Atlantic Terminal and Mineola Station (instead of Hempstead).
• Branch stations with regular weekend service (operating on adjusted schedules): Hollis, Queens Village, Floral Park
• Stations with no service: Bellerose, Stewart Manor, Nassau Boulevard, Garden City, Country Life Press, Hempstead. (Note: We are able to provide service from Floral Park but not Bellerose as Floral Park has a double platform and three tracks.)

Alternate Stations & Parking Options

Consider traveling from other nearby stations such as New Hyde Park, Merillon Avenue and Mineola, or directly from Floral Park or Queens Village.

• Bellerose: Queens Village (west), Floral Park (east)
• Stewart Manor: New Hyde Park
• Nassau Boulevard: Merillon Avenue
• Garden City, Country Life Press, Hempstead: Mineola.

Many Channels for Services Updates

Information about the service changes noted in this press release and all planned service changes is available through the LIRR’s real-time service information sources:

myLIRR.org – Customers can see real-time positions of upcoming trains in real time, on a smartphone-optimized map that refreshes every 3- to 5-seconds, by logging into myLIRR.org.

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 – “Service Status” on the homepage of new.mta.info, and at the left side of www.MTA.info is always the definitive source for the latest status for each branch, updated every minute. In addition, customers can visit www.mta.info/lirr to 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.