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September 28, 2018
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LIRR to Install New Rail on Port Jefferson Branch, Replace Switch on Babylon Branch to Increase Service ReliabilityBuses to Substitute For Trains Between Port Jefferson & Huntington From 11 p.m. Saturday, September 29, through 12:55 a.m. Monday, October 1; Other Branch Timetables Adjusted This Weekend
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Long Island Rail Road crews this weekend will work to install nearly 588 tons of new rail on the Port Jefferson Branch, as well as replace a switch on the Babylon Branch, in the railroad’s ongoing efforts to fortify infrastructure to increase service reliability. Between Huntington and Port Jefferson stations, LIRR personnel will distribute new continuous welded rail on various sharp curves throughout this corridor using a specialized train, consisting of about 30 cars with special racks that support the rail, as well as special cars to unload the rail from the racks to track level.
The 18 new strings of rail are each 1,440 feet long, some of which will go toward replacing three grade crossings. To allow for this work, buses will replace trains between Huntington and Port Jefferson starting at 11 p.m. Saturday night, September 29, 2018, and continuing all day on Sunday, September 30, until 12:55 a.m. Monday morning. See here for a special Port Jefferson Branch timetable. Eastbound customers can expect up to 22 minutes additional travel time, depending on destination. Westbound customers can expect to leave up to 23 minutes earlier than normal train times from their origin station to Huntington, where train service resumes for all westbound connections.
Also this weekend, LIRR personnel will replace a switch on the Babylon Branch, just east of Freeport Station. During this time, one of two tracks between Freeport and Wantagh will be out of service. Train times on the Babylon Branch and other branches will be adjusted due to this switch replacement. Please see special timetables here: Babylon Branch, Forest Hills/Kew Gardens (additional service included for The National concert), Hempstead Branch, Long Beach Branch, Montauk Branch, Oyster Bay Branch, West Hempstead Branch.
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:
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.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.
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