Expect train suspensions, major service changes this weekend across the LIRR for ongoing signal work
Normal service on all branches will resume at 4:30 a.m. Monday.
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Major disruptions are scheduled to take place across many Long Island Rail Road branches starting tonight and continuing throughout the weekend as the MTA does major infrastructure work.
This summer, the MTA has been installing new switches and signals near Elmont-UBS Arena to establish more reliable service and increase speeds for eastbound Huntington and Ronkonkoma trains.
As a result, Hempstead Branch trains will not run at all starting at 8 p.m., Oyster Bay Branch trains will not run at all starting at 10 p.m. and Port Jefferson and Ronkonkoma Branch trains will only run from Hicksville eastbound starting at 10 p.m.
This weekend, the MTA is encouraging riders to use the Babylon, Montauk, Port Washington, or West Hempstead branches.
Normal service on all branches will resume at 4:30 a.m. Monday.
Ronkonkoma Branch
Trains from Ronkonkoma will run once an hour and will end at Hicksville.
Riders can transfer there for shuttle train service to Babylon, where trains to and from Penn Station will be available. This rerouting will add up to an hour to normal travel times, according to the MTA.
The last train to Ronkonkoma departs Penn Station at 9:34 p.m. today.
Hicksville through Port Jefferson
Trains from Huntington and Port Jefferson will end at Hicksville.
Transfer there for shuttle train service to Babylon, where trains to and from Penn Station will be available. This rerouting will add up to 45-60 minutes to normal travel times, according to the MTA.
The last train to Huntington departs Penn Station at 9:39 p.m. tonight.
Riders going east of Huntington will need to take the 9:15 p.m. train from Penn Station.
New Hyde Park through Westbury
A nonstop shuttle bus will run between the Jamaica and Mineola stations.
There will be no service at New Hyde Park, Merillon Av, Carle Place, or Westbury stations.
NICE Bus will accept LIRR tickets on the nearby n22 and n24 routes, with limited overnight shuttle bus service available when NICE does not run.
The last train to these stations departs Penn Station at 9:39 p.m. tonight.
Hempstead Branch
A shuttle bus service will run between Jamaica and Hempstead, stopping at Floral Park, Stewart Manor, Nassau Blvd and Garden City stations only.
There will be no service at Hollis, Queens Village, Elmont-UBS Arena, Bellerose, or Country Life Press stations.
The last train to Hempstead departs Penn Station at 7:20 p.m. tonight.
Oyster Bay Branch
Shuttle bus service will run between Jamaica and Oyster Bay in two zones: Stopping at Jamaica, Mineola, East Williston and all stops to Greenvale, or stopping at Jamaica, Mineola, Glen Head and all stops to Oyster Bay.
Local travel along the branch between stops in different zones is not possible.
The last train to Oyster Bay departs Jamaica at 10:09 p.m. tonight.
Future summer work
Switch installation work is expected to take place during weekends throughout the rest of the summer, including Aug. 1-3, Aug. 8-10, Aug. 15-17 and Aug. 22-24, from approximately 12:15 a.m. Saturday until 3:30 a.m. Monday.
The MTA said disruptions on those weekends will include many minor schedule adjustments across the system, with more significant impacts to the Hempstead Branch.
Overnight and early morning Huntington and Ronkonkoma branch riders will also see significant schedule changes throughout the summer during this work to give MTA crews short, uninterrupted work windows on all the tracks at the same time.
Daytime Huntington and Ronkonkoma service will run as usual with some minor schedule adjustments.
Work officially began on July 11.
The MTA declined News 12's request for an interview with Long Island Rail Road President Rob Free today.
